Hormiguero Structure II Pyramid — Chenes-Rio Bec
Hormiguero Structure II · Hormiguero Pyramid · Structure II Hormiguero
Late Classic Maya, c.600-800 CE (Chenés–Río Bec transitional)·Maya (Chenés–Río Bec)·🇲🇽 Campeche, Mexico
About
About Hormiguero Structure II Pyramid — Chenes-Rio Bec
Hormiguero Structure II: 45 m long palatial pyramid (8 m high) with central monster-mouth portal identical to Chicanná Structure II but more elaborate Chenés masks (up to 2.5 m nose) plus Río Bec corner towers. Excavated by INAH Torrescano 1970-80s. Structure V is larger oval pyramid. Hormiguero is dispersed Río Bec city 22 km northeast of Xpujil with 7 elite groups. Covers Classic collapse puzzle: Hormiguero abandoned c.800 CE earlier than northerly Yucatán cities.
Why it mattersKey Maya (Chenés–Río Bec) pyramid with stratified sequence and regional importance.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether Hormiguero masks are most baroque of Chenés — style vs chronology
- 02Why dispersed Río Bec cities like Hormiguero never nucleated into Teotihuacan-like center
Theories
- 01Hormiguero Structure II as maximal theatricality — non-functional pyramid as elite stage
- 02Chenés–Río Bec hybrid as Calakmul periphery exploiting Classic collapse frontier
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.630-750 CE (Late Classic, Chenés–Río Bec hybrid)
- Period
- Late Classic Maya, c.600-800 CE (Chenés–Río Bec transitional)
- Culture
- Maya (Chenés–Río Bec)
- Purpose
- Hybrid Chenés–Río Bec pyramid Structure II at Hormiguero: monster-mouth facade with full Chaak long-nose masks and Río Bec false towers, second pyramid of dispersed city
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.630 CE
Structure II built — Chenés monster mouth phase
c.730 CE
Río Bec towers added — hybrid refurbishment
c.800 CE
Abandonment
1933
Ruppert-Denison recording
1970s
INAH Torrescano excavations
On the ground
Structures & features
18.5250° N · 89.4850° W · 260 m · 2 mapped features
Structure II Chenés monster-mouth facade
facadeFull façade Chenés witz mask with 2.5 m long hooked nose (Chaak), false stair and corner Río Bec towers
18.5251° N · 89.4849° WSouth pyramid Structure V
pyramidSouthern pyramid group Structure V oval pyramid with twin temples, 10 m high
18.5248° N · 89.4852° W