Tulum - Riviera Maya, Mexico
Posted by: 
denben
N 20° 12.877 W 087° 25.738
16Q E 455188 N 2235289
Tulum is a city located on the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. It is known for its very well preserved remains of an ancient Mayan port city. The main building consists of a massive stone construction, called the Castillo (castle).
Waymark Code: WM17XV8
Location: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Date Posted: 04/18/2023
Views: 2
Tulúm is the Yucatan Mayan word for fence, wall or trench. The walls surrounding the archeological site allowed the Tulum fort to be defended against invasions. Tulum had access to both land and sea trade routes, making it an important trade hub, especially for obsidian. From numerous depictions in murals and other works around the site, Tulum appears to have been an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending god.
Through later investigations done by Sanders and Miller, it has been determined that Tulum was occupied during the late Postclassic period around AD 1200. The site continued to be occupied until contact with the Spanish was made in the early 16th century. By the end of the 16th century, the site was abandoned completely.
El Castillo which is 7.5 m (25 ft) tall, was built late in the thirteenth century, during what is known as the Mayan post-classic period. El Castillo was built on a previous building that was colonnaded and had a beam and mortar roof. The lintels in the upper rooms have serpent motifs carved into them. The construction of the Castillo appears to have taken place in stages.
One of the many information boards at the archeological site reads:
"Tulum is surrounded by a huge wall that had served both for defense and to delimit a sacred area. Its height is irregular since it follows the contours of the land; it has the shape of a rectangle but with only three sides, because the side facing the sea is naturally protected.
The wall has only five entrances: one to the west, two to the north and two to the south. From the inside you can climb it with stairs built for the purpose."
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