May 5, 2011

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Ek Balam is a Yucatec Maya name which may be converted as “the black jaguar” or “bright star jaguar.” The enormous dimensions on the buildings on this site are what be noticed, and also the indisputable fact that two walls surround the central part – an infrequent attribute. The most important structures are found inside the walled enclosure of less than one square kilometer and so are distributed within two large, connected plazas termed as the Central and South Plazas. Numerous constructions of numerous sizes are found around these. The walls have five entrances in several parts of its periphery and five sak be´oob (roads) which depart with the entrances in the direction of the 4 cardinal points. The South side of the wall is a special case. It has two entrances and two sak be´oob. The most important cultural period at Ek Balam was the Late Classic (700 – 1000 A.D.), however the early inhabitants remained living there until after 900A.D., as shown by a few small constructions built next date. Their characteristics are extremely different constitute the older buildings which make it clear that the society suffered some changes and dedicated less resources and work to construction.

Commander Juan Gutiérrez Picón relates while in the “Account of Ek Balam – 1579,” that Captain Francisco de Montejo granted him the administrative centre from the district of Tiquibalon (Ek Balam containing five villages) for having been one of many conquerors of the region. İn accordance with this account, it is also stated that Tiquibalon was founded and populated from the great man called Ek Balam, who built most of the five structures to begin. Other captains under his orders constructed the remaining.

Structure 17 (above) which we call the twins, is situated to the West of the South Plaza to represent the best conserved architectural characteristics at Ek Balam. It is formed with a large foundation where two others were created to support two vaulted buildings of 4 rooms each. The dwelling measures 40 m. in length, 17 m. wide and is approximately 6 m. high.

Structure 10 (above right) measures 43 m. in length, 30 m. wide and is roughly 5 m. high. You’ll find three more structures on its upper part. Two of most are low platforms with no construction on top of them and also the other is a small vaulted temple with thick walls and an alter located in its interior. Because of its architectural characteristics, it’s associated with the “miniature temples” of the East coast of Quintana Roo. Even though the base corresponds to the Late Classic (700 – 1000 A.D.), top of the structures were not built prior to the Post Classic (1200 – 1542 A.D.)

The decoration of Ek Balam’s building facades wasn’t completed with carved figures within the stones as it was at Uxmal and Chichen Itza, though stucco and limestone mortar modeled into distinct forms and painted. Throughout the excavation, two stucco masks put together which formed area of the decoration. The only decorative stone elements in this particular building include the small hoops in the corners of the rooms.

The optimum time to travel to Ek Balam is during a trip to the ruins of Chichen Itza, or even the colonial city of Valladolid in the interior of Yucatan. Ek Balam archaeological zone is roughly a 2 hour drive on the Riviera Maya and is located 40± kms north of Valladolid in relation to Rio Lagartos. From Tulum it’s easiest to accept the Coba road west, stay right with the Coba ruins exit and continue on the street to Chemax and Valladolid. From Cancun it is easiest to take the Cuota road toward Merida and exit at Valladolid, then go north. There exists a sign up the exit bring.

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