Transcript Uxmal

Ancient Civilizations of the
Americas Lecture 16
The Mayan Cities of the
Puuc Hills
The Puuc hills are some of the few hills of the north
Yucatan plain. This region has exceptionally rich
soil but no standing or flowing sources of water
Rainfall is highly variable, and the region has
a long dry season (Nov. – April).
Populations flowed into the region after 700
AD.
Water scarcity was solved by the chultun, a
Mayan cistern, which concentrated water
that fell during the rainy season.
Puuc centers fluoresced between 750-900 AD,
the same period during which the Classic
Mayan centers to the south were collapsing.
Survey around the centers has revealed a sixtiered settlement hierarchy. Population
densities were 290 persons per sq. km.
Uxmal
• Few hieroglyphic texts. Ethnohistorical
sources have the dynasty founded by Ah
Kuy Tok Tutil Xiu. The Xiu dynasty was to
become dominant in northern Yucatan for
centuries.
• One of his successors was Lord Chak, who
bore the title k’ul ajaw. Between 900-950
AD the various centers of the region came
under the domination of Uxmal, under Lord
Chak.
Most building at Uxmal were constructed
under Lord Chak.
The population collapsed precipitously
between AD 950 and 1000.