Yaxchilan Has a Story to Tell

It seems that all the settlements along the Usumacinta River were destined to do two things: become large and important, and fight it out forever. Yaxchilan is another of these cities along the shores of the river that’s also home to Bonampak and Palenque. Sure, it has big and impressive structures like the others, but it’s also home to texts, lintels, and other sources of hieroglyphics that tell the story of this and the neighboring great cities.

Yaxchilan’s unique location

Mayans sure had a thing for Chiapas. Unlike the rest of the big cities along the Usumacinta River, Yaxchilán enjoys a unique location. Calling dibs on a bend in the River, it enjoys a naturally-made moat, leaving only one of its sides open to the land.

Art-rich structures

Yaxchilan is home to more than 120 structures that include plazas, temples, palaces, and pyramids, all of which allow the visitor to imagine what everyday life was like in one of the most important cities of the area.

However, their many extensive decorations have really opened a window to the past. Murals, carvings, lintels, doorways, and many other artforms are documents to tell the story of this city and area, especially because they’re some of the best-preserved.

More than 120 in total, these documents tell of the most significant events, such as wars or alliances formed. What’s more, they’re in detail. That means, they not only tell of the events but who participated in them. This has led the archeologists to establish a timeline of characters and warriors who once may have ruled Yaxchilan.

Stepping into this ancient city you might think you’re visiting an ancient place of worship. However, that’s still true to this day, as some local Maya still travel to Yaxchilan for their rituals to their gods.