​​​​​welcome to the mayan ruins website .

gongora group N4970E4925                            brap

may pech gongora groups map                                              brap

chenes mask  N4810E4950 magana group                             brap

platform group main pyramid                                                  brap                                            

stela 1 nohoch ceb group                                     brap                   

platform group carved stone

stelae 2 & 3                                                              brap

gongora group N4970E4925                                              brap

NE group structure N5064E4250

3d map                                                                                    brap

structure N4645E5170                                                            brap

puuc mask structure N4810E5335                                       brap

structure N49204E4840                               brap

stone phallus nohoch ceb group                                          brap

nohoch ceb stela1                                                             brap

stela 4                          brap

nohoch ceb site map                                                             brap

stela 3 and altar                                                                     brap

​​HUNTICHMUL, Bolonchen District, Yucatan 

DESCRIPTION
Huntichmul is a large Maya archaeological zone located within the greater Bolonchen Archaeological Zone about midway between the sites of Kiuic and Labna. It was a contemporary of both sites and was most likely well-integrated within the social/political history of the Bolonchen area. The site is larger than Kiuic with several groups spread out over a large area in a pattern similar to that seen at Kiuic. Many structures retain standing architecture and feature the same Puuc architectural style as found at both Kiuic, Labna, and Sayil.

HOURS: not officially open to the public. Check first at Kiuic with the Millsaps college research center
ENTRANCE FEE: none, though there may be an ejido and/or guide fee
GUIDES: Request arrangements at the on-site Kiuic research center
SERVICES: none-Bring food, drink & insect spray
ON-SITE MUSEUM: no
ACCOMMODATIONS: Day trip from Merida
GPS: 20d 07’02”N, 89d35’20”W
MISC:

HISTORY AND EXPLORATION
Huntichmul has a long occupation history beginning in the Middle Preclassic (800-300 BCE) through to its abandonment sometime around 950/1000 CE in the Terminal Classic. The area borders the Puuc Hills, and has geographical features that include low, cone-shaped hills interspersed by flat areas.  The entire Puuc Archaeological Zone is noted for its outstanding stone workmanship and distinctive architecture.

Four stelae with glyphic text have been recovered here possibly indicating a more pronounced ruling class than seen at nearby Kiuic. Stela 1 has a probable, reconstructed date of 10.1.0.0.0 5 Ajaw 3 Kayab- November 28, 849 CE. A ruler has been identified as Kan Tok. The text mentions a Period Ending event, and the erecting of the stela.

Huntichmul may have been under the influence of Labná, about 3.75 miles miles/6 km to the north, which in turn was likely subordinate to the regional capital at Uxmal.

Huntichmul was first reported on by Teobert Maler who explored and photographed the site in January of 1887 including Structure N4970E4925. He reported that this structure had a series of glyphs on the central lintel and a relief of a warrior figure on its inner surface.

Edward H. Thompson reported in 1888 that he had already visited and photographed the site. There followed investigations by the Carnegie Institution in the 1930’s and 40’s, among others. Dunning sketched the first site map in 1994.

The Labná-Kiuic Archaeological Project (LKAP) under the direction of William Ringle of Davidson College began investigations in 2001. For the past 20 years the Bolonchen Regional Archaeological Project (BRAP) under the direction of George Bey III of Millsaps College and Tomás Gallareta Negrón of INAH, have been conducting extensive investigations, excavations, consolidations, and restorations throughout the site. This college program offers undergraduates a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in field archaeology studies.

STRUCTURES
Huntichmul is spread over a broad area featuring several large groups, numerous, smaller platform groups, and many individual structures. The structures exhibit standing Puuc style architecture and designs. The identity tags of the structures employed here by archaeologists, like at Kiuic, are quite long and can be confusing.

The civic/ceremonial portion of Huntichmul is located within a flat valley surrounded by a series of low hills on its south, east, and west sides, with the north end mostly open. The most important groups are located atop the modified summits of the low hills. The flat areas between the low hills are somewhat free of structures which could indicate that these areas may have been used for agricultural purposes. The platform groups tend to meld into one another making a precise determination on who belongs to who a bit of a challenge at times for this report. The site has two well-defined sacbeob that connect the main civic/ceremonial groups with numerous elite residential groups.

The largest and most impressive group is the Magaña Group. The principal structure is a multi-level pyramidal mound that rises to a height of over 79 feet/24 m from the surrounding terrain. The stepped-level basal platform measures 275.5 feet/84 m by 295 feet/90 m. The upper structures are reached by a north-facing, central stairway and arranged upon at least three levels, though only a few still retain standing architecture.

Structure N4810E4950 is a 6-chamber temple that faces to the north and crowns the summit. It exhibits the remains of a Chenes style zoomorphic mask that once surrounded the central door of the structure. This type of decorative design represents the furthest example of Chenes architecture into the Puuc area.

Structure N4850E4955 is set on the first terrace of the pyramidal mound and houses 10 chambers. A central stairway leads up to a second story. Set behind the palace, and at a higher level is a six-room building, Structure N4810E4950. Two rectangular platforms extend to the north from the base of the basal platform towards the May Group.

Directly to the east of the Magaña Group is a smaller plaza group termed Nohoch Ceb/Cep. This group is ringed around a medium sized plaza. It has a pyramidal mound, Structure N4805E5165, on the southwest side crowned with a single-chamber temple. An elongated platform stretches out to the north. The northern end of the platform marks the terminus of Sacbé 1 which runs northwest to the May Group.

Across the plaza to the east is a triadic arrangement with a pyramidal structure, Structure N4850E5245, set on the east side of a basal platform. The finely crafted Stela 1 was located at the foot of the pyramid. This stela has been tentatively dated to 10.1.0.0.0 5 Ajaw 3 Kayab- November 28, 849 CE. The stela has three horizontal registers showing a deity, and a ruler identified as Kan Tok separated by a glyph band. Sacbe 2 extends to the northeast from the pyramid platform to the generic group known as Platform P4940E5260. Located just south of the Nohoch Ceb/Cep pyramid a large stone phallus was recovered which gives this group its name.

Sacbe 1 leads northwest to the May Group. Interspersed atop the sacbe are three platform structures. The May Group is set around a raised central plaza with low platforms supporting vaulted structures on the east, south and west sides. The main structure here, Structure N4990E5055, is a large, pyramidal mound located on the north end of the plaza. A single vaulted temple, accessed via a central stairway, crowns the pyramid facing to the south. A low walkway extends southward from the stairway to a circular platform in the center of the plaza. Stela 4 was recovered at the southern end of the plaza. The stela depicts two figures separated by a central mat glyph symbol depicting royalty. A long glyph band graces its border. In front of the southwest corner of the plaza at ground level is a large, oval mound.

Behind the May Group to the northwest is a residential complex known as the Chanchich Group. Several small structures ring a plaza on flat ground. The structures had roofs made of perishable materials.

Located a short distance to the west from the May Group is the small group known as the Pech Group, an early Puuc civic complex. The north and south sides have remains of single and double chamber buildings. The west side of this group faces across to a palace known as the Gongora Group. This group is situated atop a modified hilltop facing East back across to the May Group. A long stairway extends down to ground level. Two linear structures flank the stairway just above ground level.

The Góngora Group features the previously mentioned Structure N4970E4925, a large two-story palace structure housing 14 chambers. The structure sits atop a modified hilltop. Within one of the chambers a lintel has been recovered that depicts a standing ruler facing to the left displaying a large headdress. A single line of glyphs is carved into the side of the lintel. The structure was fairly well preserved when photographed by Maler c1897. The central chamber of this East-facing structure has since collapsed. 

To the southwest of the Gongora group is a three-chamber building, Structure N4920E4840, set on a small hilltop. The fine workmanship of the Puuc artisans is clearly evident on this building.

Sacbe 2, as previously mentioned, runs between the Nohoch Ceb/Cep Group to the generically named Platform N4940E5260 Group. This group is situated atop a raised basal platform base. The main structure, Structure N4960E5260, is a pyramid crowned by a single chamber. Two stela, Stelae 2 and 3, were recovered in the small plaza in front of the pyramid base. Stela 3 shows a single individual facing to the left with a glyph band above his head. The stela is bordered by what appears to be an intertwined rope, and is associated with a small alter directly in front of the main pyramid. Stela 2 is associated with a small altar on the southeast corner of the main pyramid. This stela exhibits a single figure with a band of glyphs above.

Directly east of the Platform Group are several platforms housing single and multi-chamber residential, masonry structures. The main group here is the Cocom group. Three platforms house structures on the north, east, and west sides forming a small plaza, with each structure comprised of 3-4 chambers. 

South of the Cocom Group, and east of the Nohoch Ceb/Cep Group is a small platform group, Platform P48155320. It houses three structures set around a small plaza. The east side features the “Mascarones” building, Structure N4810E5335. This three-room building has the remains of a Puuc mosaic mask in front of one of the rooms. The south side of the platform plaza has a nice three-room structure in Puuc colonnette style, Structure N4805E5320.

Northeast of the Platform Group is a large residential group here called the Northeast group. Three platforms form this group with the west platform housing an 11-room palace, Structure N5335E5340. The north platform features a 4-chamber structure, Structure N5065E5425, with a central stairway that extends down to the valley floor. The south platform is the smallest exhibiting a 3-chamber building, Structure N5000E5390.

The Xiu Group is a residential area located southeast from the Nohoch Ceb/Cep Group. This group is made up of several platform structures displaying some standing architecture.

There are dozens of smaller platform groups and individual structures interspersed throughout the site, many that await formal archaeological investigations. When these reports become public, the results will be reported here.

gongora group palace N4970E4925                           maler c1897

mask platform structure                                                         brap

HUNTICHMUL

gongora group N4920E4840                                                 brap

site map                                                                          brap

structure N 4920E4840                                                                                                                                                                        brap

may group stela 4                                                                  brap