Oxkintok Archaeological Zone
Oxkintok — Puuc Labyrinth · Oxkín Tok
Early Preclassic–Postclassic Puuc (300 BCE–1500 CE, zenith 475–750)·Maya (Early Puuc – northwestern border)·🇲🇽 Yucatán, Maxcanú Municipality, Mexico
About
About Oxkintok Archaeological Zone
Strategic Puuc border capital (300 BCE–1500 CE, florescent 475–750 Classic Early Puuc) northwest tip of Puuc, controlling Mérida–Uxmal–Calakmul corridor: 3 major groups (Ah Canul, May, Dzib) over 50 ha, enigmatic Labyrinth (Satuuc) 3-story vaulted maze of 14 vaulted chambers, proto-Puuc pyramid 17 m high and early Long Count Stela 9 (475 CE earliest in northern Yucatán). First excavated by Tello & Pollock 1940; Miguel Rivera, Carmen Varela 1980s CNRS–INAH revealed re-entrant vault style linking central Petén to Puuc.
Why it mattersPossesses earliest Long Count in Puuc (475 CE), proving early northern Maya literacy; Satuuc labyrinth is unique vaulted maze prototype for Puuc architecture; border/fronterizo culture definition.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Labyrinth function – sweat bath vs initiation maze vs tomb
- 02475 CE stela external origin
Theories
- 01Garrison town securing Uxmal-Calakmul contested border
- 02Immigrants from Petén introducing vault technology to Puuc
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.300 BCE, major 300–600 CE
- Period
- Early Preclassic–Postclassic Puuc (300 BCE–1500 CE, zenith 475–750)
- Culture
- Maya (Early Puuc – northwestern border)
- Purpose
- Frontier capital guarding Puuc-Northwest passage and salt route
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.300 BCE, major 300–600 CE
Initial construction
c. 1382 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
20.5624° N · 89.9535° W · 35 m · 2 mapped features
Satuuc Labyrinth (Structure CB5)
structure3-story 14-vaulted-chamber maze 40×30 m
20.5627° N · 89.9532° WAh Canul Pyramid and Stela 9
pyramid17 m proto-Puuc pyramid with Long Count Stela 9 475 CE plaza
20.5620° N · 89.9538° W
Gallery