Edzná
Edzná (edzna-campeche-site)
Maya Classic (Puuc)·Maya (Puuc/ Petén)·🇲🇽 Mexico, Campeche, Mexico
About
About Edzná
Edzná — hydraulic Maya capital with 12 km canal network, Great Acropolis and Pyramid of Five Stories 31 m high controlling Campeche plain. Five-story pyramid with corbel vaults and Great Moat. INAH 1968–1990s excavations exemplify Maya hydraulic engineering with 25 ha plaza, 12 km of canals and aguadas, and Chenes vaulted architecture.
Why it mattersExemplifies Maya hydraulic engineering — 12 km canals and reservoirs.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether Edzná canals were defensive moat vs irrigation
Theories
- 01Edzná as Chenes-Puuc hydraulic capital
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.400 BCE–1500 CE (Preclassic to Late Classic)
- Period
- Maya Classic (Puuc)
- Culture
- Maya (Puuc/ Petén)
- Purpose
- Five-story pyramid with hydraulic canal and reservoir system
- Abandoned
- c.1500 CE
- Rediscovered
- 1927 S. Morley; excavated 1968–1990s INAH
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.400 BCE–1500 CE (Preclassic to Late Classic)
Initial construction
c.900 CE
Major phase
1970s
Modern excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
19.5965° N · 90.2303° W · 20 m · 2 mapped features
Edzná — Principal structure
structurePrimary structure at Edzná
19.5975° N · 90.2293° WEdzná — Ancillary plaza
complexSecondary plaza at Edzná
19.5954° N · 90.2311° W