Chichen Itza, Tulum, Calakmul, Copan, Uxmal, Coba,Tikal, Kohunlich, Xunantunich, Quirigua, Uaxactun, Seibal, Aguateca, Palenque, Yaxha, El Mirador, Dos Pilas, Bonampak, Caracol and Caminal Juyu.
They are distributed throughout southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and the western regions of Honduras. This geographic area is known by archaeologists as Meso-America, which also includes El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
The entire region is covered by hundreds of large cities and thousands of smaller ones. Built with carved limestone and stucco, many of them combined ceremonial centers, commercial and residential areas.
The beauty of the architecture, the walls and sculptures covered with perfectly executed inscriptions demonstrate the artistic ability of the ancient Maya.
The Mayan ruins have been studied for more than 200 years. The first to do so with scientific precision was Alfred Maudsley, whose plans and elaborate drawings form the basis of later studies. Archaeologists have revealed that various cities were continually occupied throughout the three periodsof the Ancient Mayan civilisation.
Architectural development:
Mayan architectural styles follow similar patterns in their development and had common features, for example the false arch, the use of open spaces (courtyards), and the integration of sculpture into the architecture.
They can still be seen today on different types of construction including temples, pyramids, ceremonial platforms, palaces, ball game courts and observatories.
Some Mayan ruins also share characteristic elements from other cultures, such as the talud tablero. This common feature of Teotihuacan culture - identified as a platform structure (tablero) topped by a sloped talud, an example can be seen on a structure behind temple Great Jaguar at Tikal.
It was introduced here around the Early Classic period,and is likely a result of direct contact with Teotihuacan - either through trade or conquest.
The rise of great cities starts after the Maya settled into sedentary communities and perfected the cultivation of maize, beans, squash and chillies.
This was a crucial step in the development of this meso-american culture, and led to the construction of permanent buildings during the Pre-Classic period (1200BC - 250AD).
By the end of this period the first administrative complexes and temples had been built, examples of which are currently being excavated at the El Mirador ruins in what is now northern Guatemala.
The appearance of monumental and more complex buildings occurred during the Classic period (250 - 900AD). Mayan settlements developed into city states, with regional control and inter-regional alliances that allowed cities like Tikal to become powerful.
The construction of buildings ends with the fall of these political alliances in the period known as the Post - Classic (900 - 1500AD), best known for the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.
The last Mayan city to be conquered was Tayasal, home to the Itza' people. Today the ruins of Tayasal's centre are found underneath the town of Flores, in the El Petén department of Guatemala.
Building Materials:
The principal material used for the construction of their cities was limestone, which they extracted from quarries. For mortar they used stucco, a form of cemment made by burning limestone, that was also used for molding into reliefs, decorative patterns and for the smooth and even finish of structures.
Lintels and crossbeams were made of the Chico Zapote tree, a hardwood that is resistant to termites.
For residential dwellings they used wattle and daub with limestone render, wood for the roof framing and huano palm leaves for thatch. Nowadays these kinds of buildings still can be seen in Yucatan, Mexico and Guatemala. Upon the arrival of the Spanish many of Mayan cities were abandoned, and to present day it is not known with certainty the reasons why.
Experts believe that the cause of abandonment may have been 'climate change', 'epidemic disease' 'overpopulation' or 'foreign invasion'.
Today, these Mayan ruins and tribal groups are the legacy of an amazing ancient culture.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the places and moments that take our breath away.” Anon
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