PXL_20250420_153121817

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 07:49:22 +0100

The western Yucatan Peninsula can be divided
into three large architectural regions: the Puuc
style of the northern part; the Chenes style of
the central-eastern part and the Río Bec style in
the south. But Edzna cannot be classified as any
of them, it represents its own architectural style,
with examples of the early Classic style of the
Peten and other of the later developments of
the Puuc style and Chenes architecture.

The Maya of Edzna analyzed and transformed
their environment to solve problems of water
scarcity and flooding, mobility inside and
outside the city, developing, like the rest of the
Maya area, a great intellectual and artistic
refinement to be considered the most brilliant
culture of Mesoamerica.

Edzna had continuous occupation since
approximately 600 BC until the arrival of
Europeans in the 16th Century. The city
greatest boom took place between 600 and
900 AD. The archaeologists estimate that
the population reached between 25000
and 30000 people and that the city
extension was 25 km2.

The study of diverse archaeological
materials and architecture reveals that
Edzna kept a very wide commercial
exchange network which included areas
such as the Gulf Coast, the Center of Mexico
and Michoacan.

As of 1200 AD the buildings stopped
receiving maintenance and the population
gradually diminished due to the emergence
and growth of other urban centers. This
provoked migrations and the dispersal in
smaller settlements. During these last years
the monument area was still visited in
rituals for those who deposited the different
offerings.