Nadzca'an is a

Maya Maya may refer to: Ethnic groups * Maya peoples, of southern Mexico and northern Central America ** Maya civilization, the historical civilization of the Maya peoples ** Mayan languages, the languages of the Maya peoples * Maya (East Africa), a p ...

archaeological site located in the Balam Kú Biosphere Reserve of

Campeche Campeche, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Campeche, is one of the 31 states which, with Mexico City, make up the Administrative divisions of Mexico, 32 federal entities of Mexico. Located in southeast Mexico, it is bordered by the sta ...

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

. Nadzca'an was a classical period Maya city and ceremonial center built over an artificial plateau. It is located approximately 12 km northeast of the Maya site of Balamku. Numerous stelas have been found inside the main structures of the site, a mention to the emblem glyph of

Calakmul Calakmul (; also Kalakmul and other less frequent variants) is a Maya civilization, Maya archaeological site in the Mexican state of Campeche, deep in the jungles of the greater Petén Basin region. It is from the Guatemalan border. Calakmul w ...

is found carved on a monument from Nadzca'an.

Architecture

The archaeological site of Nadzca'an is divided into three architectural groups named Ah Kin, Chi'ik and Río Bec, which host two plazas, a ball court and several monumental buildings. The Ah Kin group is the main architectural group of the site and has structures from the early Classic to the late Classic periods.

History

Nadzca'an occupation began at the end of the Preclassic period and extended until the late Classic period, the development of the city covers approximately between the years 200 AD to 1000 AD. During this long development period, the site presented an important architectural change and evolution from the Peten style to the stylish

Río Bec Río Bec is a pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site located in what is now southern portion of the Mexican state of Campeche. The name also refers to an architectural style (Río Bec Style) that first appeared at Río Bec and subsequently sprea ...

style. The site was discovered in 1993 near the Escárcega–Chetumal highway and the community of Conhuas inside the thick jungle of Campeche. The site is now part of the protected zone of the Balam Kú Biosphere Reserve.

References

{{Maya sites Maya sites Maya sites in Campeche Former populated places in Mexico Archaeological sites in Campeche Maya Classic Period 1993 archaeological discoveries