Calakmul Structure I Pyramid (Peten)
Calakmul Structure I · Calakmul Pyramid I · Calakmul Structure 1 · North Plaza Pyramid Calakmul
Late Classic Maya (550–800 CE peak Calakmul Snake Kingdom, Kaan polity)·Maya (Classic, Calakmul/Kaan dynasty, Snake Head emblem)·🇲🇽 Campeche, Calakmul Biosphere Reserve deep forest 35 km north Guatemala border, interior Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
About
About Calakmul Structure I Pyramid (Peten)
Northern pyramid at Calakmul Snake Kingdom capital (500 BCE–900 CE): Structure I 40 m high (second highest at site after Structure II 55 m) at north edge of Great Plaza, 70×50 m base with stairway and temple with tomb of King Yuknoom Yich'aak K'ak' (Jaguar Paw) inside (jade mask, burials). Forms Great Plaza axis with Structure II south. Overlooks Petén forest canopy. Calakmul superpower rival to Tikal with 117 stelae. Excavated Morley-Ruppert 1931, Folan and INAH 1980s–present, and Milwaukee team. Biosphere UNESCO 2002.
Why it mattersSecond pyramid of Calakmul capital vs Tikal; Yuknoom K'ak' jade mask burial; Great Plaza north-south axis; 117 stelae largest Maya stela corpus.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Structure I vs II construction sequence
- 02Yuknoom K'ak' tomb looted vs intact masks
Theories
- 01Calakmul–Tikal north-south pyramid axis mirroring Petén cosmogram in rival capitals
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.600–700 CE Structure I pyramid built over earlier phases
- Period
- Late Classic Maya (550–800 CE peak Calakmul Snake Kingdom, Kaan polity)
- Culture
- Maya (Classic, Calakmul/Kaan dynasty, Snake Head emblem)
- Purpose
- Northern Great Plaza pyramid with royal tomb — Snake Kingdom capital axis and Yuknoom K'ak' burial
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.600–700 CE Structure I pyramid built over earlier phases
Initial construction / foundation
c. 850 CE
Major use phase and refurbishment
20th century
Modern archaeological survey and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
18.1040° N · 89.8100° W · 260 m · 3 mapped features
Structure I pyramid
pyramid70×50 m pyramid 40 m high with stairway north plaza
18.1040° N · 89.8100° WYuknoom Yich'aak K'ak' tomb
tombCrypt inside temple with jade mosaic mask
18.1041° N · 89.8102° WGreat Plaza axis
plaza500×150 m plaza linking Structure I north to II south
18.1035° N · 89.8105° W