frequent variants maya archaeological site mexican state deep greater region kilometres border largest powerful ancient cities uncovered maya major maya power northern region yucatán_peninsula southern mexico administered large domain marked extensive distribution emblem snake head sign read seat dubbed snake kingdom reigned classic period estimated population people governance times places far away kilometers ancient structures identified largest great pyramid site structure metres high making tallest maya tombs located pyramid like temples pyramid increased size building existing temple reach current size size central monumental architecture approximately square kilometres site covered dense residential structures square kilometres classic period maintained intense rivalry major city south political cities likened struggle maya rediscovered air biologist december find reported march etymology modern according named site maya means means adjacent signifies artificial mound pyramid city adjacent ancient times city core known meaning stones associated site larger area lords identified snake connection title actual site ambiguous location located state southeastern mexico kilometres north border guatemala kilometres north ruins ruins kilometres southwest linked causeway kilometres south contemporary city approximately kilometres southwest city located rise metres large seasonal swamp lying west known spanish word region denote low lying area seasonal swamp measures approximately kilometres important source water rainy season linked sophisticated water control system including natural artificial features canals encircled square kilometre area site core area considered location edge provided additional advantages fertile soils edge swamp access abundant flint city situated formed natural metre high limestone dome rising surrounding dome artificially maya classic periods settlement concentrated edge classic period structures built high ground small islands swamp flint worked beginning 21st century area remained covered dense forest 1st millennium area received moderate regular rainfall surface water available south guatemala located acre km2 population extent height late classic period city estimated population inhabitants covered area square kilometres city capital large regional state area square kilometres city population declined dramatically rural population level late classic population density calculated square mile site core square mile periphery area square kilometres true urban city elite centre surrounded residences site core known ancient times stones pyramid structure kingdom included secondary centres large cities total population secondary centres estimated kingdom included large number sites fairly small consisting number groups arranged larger rural sites situated ridges edges include temples palaces total rural population kingdom calculated million people entire population kingdom including city rural population square kilometres area regional state calculated million people late classic period greater distribution emblem maya city found texts including administered large domain marked extensive distribution emblem snake head sign read seat dubbed snake kingdom times city governance places far away kilometers known rulers kings known divine lords snake kingdom list continuous archaeological record incomplete dates peak 7th century known interesting know title place regional powerhouse political state title idea collapse state refugees migrated north founded new studies monuments prior 7th century emblem snake bat different ruled emblem associated found site east late 6th early 7th century moved order establish strategically placed capital power 8th century rule appears bat emblem resurgence remain new studies fill gaps history long history excavations revealed evidence right causeway network linked cities suggest strong political links cities begun important cities continued classic period powerful city region largest powerful ancient cities uncovered maya history maya classic period dominated rivalry likened struggle maya earlier times tended dominated single larger city early classic moving position dominance late middle rival city equivalent resources challenged supremacy engaged strategy surrounding network allies second half 6th century late 7th century gained upper hand failed power completely able turn tables great rival decisive battle took place half century later able gain major victories important allies eventually cities succumbed spreading classic maya collapse great rivalry cities based competition resources histories reveal different origins intense competition powers ideological grounding dynasty ultimately derived great city dynasty profoundly affected intervention distant central mexican metropolis exceptions monuments allies place great emphasis single male rulers monuments allies gave greater prominence female line joint rule king queen large city period early history obscure list extends ancestral past dynasty reconstructed late classic region great cities mean ultimately inherited political authority cities dynasty originating late relocating classic period collapse cities early classic cities survived classic period early texts found structure record probable king records non royal site ruler gap records lasts century dynasty experienced major expansion power time lack inscriptions recording events period fact dynasty located time monuments later destroyed earliest texts referring kings dynasty come excavations large city far north depicts bound captives names dates captured king exact context king unclear captives captured enemy rulers captured king dates uncertain fall 5th century nearby site text including date indicates city control dynasty middle 6th century assembling far reaching political alliance activity brought city conflict great city influence extended deep king oversaw vassal taken captive banks king known sky witness installed ruler site played major political events maya region overlord city south previously vassal according damaged text sky witness defeated sacrificed king ending branch royal dynasty catastrophic defeat began year hiatus reflecting extended period dominance event marker divide early classic late classic mentioned site north reference sky witness occurs dated text damaged probably records death powerful king late classic war quickly succeeded mentioned text celebrating ending ruled years king engaged aggressive campaign western maya region attacked april ally lord small city kilometres east defeating queen city defeat recorded series steps event initiated long lasting survived battle ruled years paid tribute maintained alliances cities east depicted supervising event involving king city occurred sacked april personal direction ruled king gained sort independence provoking new invasion immediate aftermath second victory involved deaths important nobles city high ranking member royal family possibly ruler died march months later deaths soon city suggests demise directly linked triumph suffered lengthy decline fortunes date able recover disastrous war wars undertaken order seize control wealthy trade routes passed western maya region rebellion king supervised event records accession throne erected texts badly damaged reveal names royal couple involved approximately time vassal broke away king died relatively soon death independent twice defeated attempting bring control attempts brought end death new king finally regained control texts relate king captive day city overrun punishment day described word meaning tortured eaten conquered city march exact site unknown dynasty originally established located 7th century city experienced highest achievements reign king called great scholars years old came throne significant increase production city began reign commissioned king probably responsible construction palace complexes form major site core founded region kilometres southwest military outpost order control trade course installed throne new outpost age years served loyal vassal fighting brother king attacked gained overwhelming victory included death lord captured instead sacrificed throne vassal king went attack forcing king temporarily abandon city rulers continued use emblem probably felt legitimate claim throne reason installed new ruler instead stayed driving exile lasted years tried area dominated allies driving throne probably aided gained important victory description battle describing pools blood piles heads troubles continued east renewed conflict completely defeated dynasty disappeared years daughter founded new dynasty indicating probably intervened decisively place loyal vassal throne patronage overlord recorded range important cities including oversaw installation king strengthened tie marriage princess king power extended far north shore lake recorded vassal 7th century traditionally aligned commanded loyalty generations kings kilometres south supervised king involved directly indirectly king moral west nobles supervised ritual bank died probably beginning died powerful city central maya succeeded april recorded monuments born likely son predecessor held high office named king responsible major successes reign retained loyalty gained installed throne age texts sculpted monuments reveal complexity diplomatic activity revealed painted depicts ambassador king kneeling king delivering tribute years later august states war led warriors catastrophic battle saw defeat capture image deity named unknown happened sculpture shows captive king mentioned accompanying certain captive king person event marked end diplomatic activity dropping away fewer cities recognising king overlord remain standing site core recording broken buried structure later kings ruler mentioned pair carved bones tomb king ruling november known legitimate member dynasty placed throne known king number variants referred different segments outside partial reading erected seven celebrate event named year presumably demonstrating vassal continued vassal installed new king unknown date received queen remained loyal commissioned seven mark ending new defeat hands evidenced sculpted altar city probably dating depicting bound lord possibly names historical record vague poor state heavily eroded monuments city reduced political presence wider maya stage named southern periphery traditionally vassal southern neighbour king installed throne vassal shown longer subordinate started refer holy lord instead lesser term subordinate lord time began use emblem local act rebellion appears larger political struggle years later received visit oldest allies timing visit king highly significant falling accession throne vassal outright rebellion follow strongly suggests sponsored rebellion order weaken gain access rich trade route likely contact initiated soon throne captured powerful elderly king inscription difficult interpret suggests capture took place april seized burned wooden images patron deities captured lord taken public ritual late classic alliance frequently associated promise military support fact powerful city failed vassal implies feared military intervention far away afraid falling directly power vassal state likely sent warriors help defeat alliance instead mutual advantage managed weaken powerful ally gained independence collapse large raised king responsible labelled presence wider maya area continued city major allies suffering defeats hands defeated year later resulted final collapse powerful alliance network underwent resurgence power erected finished paired portrait queen mentions called time king raised mentioned sites north showed reduction influence time new architectural styles influenced sites north yucatán_peninsula monument raised ruler responsible preserved raised monument erected commemorate important ending probable political authority collapsed time important cities time erected monuments raised continued producing new monuments late process paralleled events strong evidence elite presence city continuing possibly later mentioned ruler named attended ending ceremony recorded broken unlikely existed state meaningful way late date final activity took place end 9th century beginning 10th new erected date records day date recorded day fall date likely monuments appear later style crude representing efforts remnant population maintain classic maya tradition inscriptions late monuments meaningless writing dating period uncommon outside site core suggesting population city concentrated city centre final phase occupation majority surviving population probably consisted occupied elite architecture site core continued erection early 10th century presence high status imported goods metal jade shell indicate continued occupation royalty final abandonment city speaking lived region time spanish contact early 16th century descendants inhabitants modern history reported year later informed site existence presence visited ruins behalf 1930s surveys mapped site core recorded investigations stopped archaeologists return site directed project behalf working subject large scale project history direction site description site core covers area approximately square kilometres area contains remains roughly structures periphery occupied smaller residential structures site core covers area square kilometres archaeologists mapped approximately structures matches great city size estimated population density city appears greater city stone construction site soft limestone resulted severe erosion site sculpture city built strongly concentric fashion divided zones moves centre site zone covers area approximately square kilometres contains monumental architecture mapped structures built vaulted stone masonry structures built large laid city core bordered north metre high wall controlled access north defensive function residences built edge swamp west site core high status residences public buildings interspersed area residences water control site surrounded extensive network canals major including largest example measuring metres reservoir filled small seasonal river rainy season continues hold water archaeologists modern times thirteen identified combined capacity estimated litres imp gal quantity water supported people evidence crops largest surface area hectares located mapped identified visually ground identified remote sensing numbered causeway network linked local satellite sites distant allies rivals great cities cross land elevated surrounding wetland tend support vegetation surrounding forest metres long lined filled stone located mapped urban area site core mapped 1930s metres long mapped urban area site core built packed earth discovered archaeological excavation nearby quarry causeway built transport stone quarry order build structures extends kilometres northeast site core visible summit structure discovered runs kilometres southeast site core visible summit structure discovered runs westwards main hole seasonal swamp carries total distance kilometres runs southwest links kilometres southwest additional kilometres located south kilometres long runs swamp west swamp appear cross site core structures structure structure metre high pyramid east site core number erected base built low hill structure appears higher structure case structure structure massive north facing pyramid temple largest base measures metres square stands metres high common temple cultural region pyramid increased size building pre existing temple order increase bulk core building structure pyramid dating late period ancient building forming highest point structure early classic massive extension added pyramid covering earlier covered building north new built extension structures access structure central shrine east west facade possessed large masks set arranged vertically central structure similar date size design pyramid associated similar later time buildings erected base facade contained 8th century structure large pyramid stepped facade covered giant masks later facade built 8th century stepped frontage finished late classic room palace built pyramid supporting roof painted relief decoration rooms arranged groups room positioned entire late classic palace measured metres rows rooms rooms food preparation found room southwest room structure structure iii known palace southeast structure east building multiple rooms structure structure group temples east divided sections labelled structures central structure built dating period structure opposite plaza buildings form group determine structure structure large building located plaza north structure surrounded dated 7th century building erected period structure structure west structures forms astronomical complex observations verified march sun rose structure seen structure structure structure vii temple pyramid north faces south stands metres high plain erected south pyramid underwent construction phases late pyramid topped room temple possessed tall covered roof game board carved floor room temple structure structure viii small building located north east structure associated altar murals structure rich sites maya region site contains largest total region paired sets representing rulers wives carved produced soft limestone eroded interpretation elaborate murals discovered murals represent activities elite class depict elaborate market scenes people preparing consuming products tobacco items sold murals describing actions occurring prominent figure murals identified appears scenes brings world maya marketplace vibrant life archaeologists highly beneficial resource maya archaeological understanding remains composition materials identifies region specifically produced snake emblem found sites evidence identify ties control site associated altar located structure records celebration event erected death thin slate monument dated text describes birth king gives royal title erected earliest monuments survive late classic depict royal couple texts poorly preserved reveal names erected records event reign father event celebrated stands base structure located base structure dates set vaulted chamber near base structure text damaged carries early spelling non royal noble title monuments erected final decline city bears crude executed portrait best preserved monument depicts dates dates depicts wife tall erected paired stands east structure second pair erected erected east structure late monument bearing took badly eroded portrait shortened date form equivalent date probably unfinished carved mark ending ceremony bears damaged pair monuments dated badly eroded date reign king monuments erected bears inscription imitation writing probably dates early 10th century paired monument image queen unknown appears mentioned dates stands structure late monument probably dating early 10th century like bears inscription meaningless imitation writing dates early classic moved antiquity reset base structure long text resisted translation probably commemorates royal date reign broken buried structure associated royal burial tomb royal burial tomb set floor structure 8th century richest burial known tomb contained male skeleton wrapped jaguar partially preserved tomb contained rich offerings included jade ear ornaments handed early classic jade mosaic mask shell bone shells eccentric blades fine remains wooden objects plate text specifically named king owner remains offering placed arched wooden carved elaborate decoration painted variety colours completely decayed left impression mud packed plate possible association burial tomb believed late 7th century king
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