One of the pyramids on the upper terrace of Yaxchilan.

Yaxchilan (also sometimes historically referred to by the names Menché and City Lorillard in honor of Pierre Lorillard who contributed to defray the expense of an expedition into the Maya zone) is an ancient Maya city located on the Usumacinta River in what is now the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1310 KB) An image of one of the pyramids in the upper level of Yaxchilan Photo © 2004 Jacob Rus An image of one of the pyramids in the upper level of Yaxchilan. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 1310 KB) An image of one of the pyramids in the upper level of Yaxchilan Photo © 2004 Jacob Rus An image of one of the pyramids in the upper level of Yaxchilan. ... The Maya civilization is a historical Mesoamerican civilization, which extended throughout the northern Central American region which includes the present-day states of Guatemala, Belize, western Honduras and parts of El Salvador, as well as the southern Mexican states of Chiapas, Tabasco and the entirety of the Yucatán peninsula. ... The Usumacinta River, taken from Chiapas. ... Chiapas is a state in the southeast of Mexico, and Kevin Shanley is a shark. ...

The ancient name for the city may have been Izancanac.

Yaxchilan means Green Stones in Maya.

Ancient Yaxchilan

This was a large center, important throughout the Classic era, and the dominant power of the Usumacinta area. It dominated such smaller sites as Bonampak, and was long allied with Piedras Negras and at least for a time with Tikal; it was a rival of Palenque, with which Yaxchilan warred in 654. Yat-Balam, founder of a long dynasty, took the throne on 2 August, 320 when Yaxchilan was a minor site. The city-state grew to a regional capital and the dynasty lasted into the early 9th century. Yaxchilan had its greatest power during the long reign of King Shield Jaguar II, who died in his 90s in 742. Bonampak. ... Piedras Negras is the modern name for a ruined city of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization located on the north bank of the Usumacinta River in the Peten department of Guatemala. ... Tikal is the largest of the ancient ruined cities of the Maya civilization. ... The Palace, Ruins of Palenque Palenque is a Maya archeological site not far from the Usumacinta River in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, about 130 km. ... Events King Reccaswinth issues Visigothic law code. ... This earthenware dish was made in 9th century Iraq. ... Events Chinese poet Li Po is presented before the emperor and given a position in the Imperial court. ...

Yaxchilan is known for the large quantity of excellent sculpture at the site.

Rediscovery and Modern History of Yaxchilan

Lintel 24, structure 23, Yaxchilan (drawn by Charnay). The sculpture depicts a sacred blood-letting ritual which took place on 26 October 709. King "Shield Jaguar" is shown holding a torch, while Queen "Lady Xoc" draws a rope through her pierced tongue.

The first published mention of the site seems to have been a brief mention by Juan Galindo in 1833. Professor Edwin Rockstoh of the National College of Guatemala visited in 1881 and published another short account. Explorers Alfred Maudslay and Désiré Charnay arrived here within days of each other in 1882, and they published more detailed accounts of the ruins with drawings and photographs. Teoberto Maler visited the site repeatedly from 1897 to 1900 and published a detailed two volume description of Yaxchilan and nearby sites in 1903. Lintel 24, structure 23, Yaxchilan, as published by Charnay, 1885 This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Lintel 24, structure 23, Yaxchilan, as published by Charnay, 1885 This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... October 26 is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 66 days remaining. ... Events Saelred becomes king of Essex Ceolred becomes king of Mercia after his cousin Cenred abdicates to become a monk in Rome A storm separates the Channel Islands of Jethou and Herm Births Emperor Konin of Japan Deaths May 25 - Aldhelm, bishop and scholar Categories: 709 ... Juan Galindo (1802-1839) was a Central American explorer and army officer. ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1881 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Alfred Maudslay (1850-1931) was a British colonial diplomat, explorer and archaeologist. ... Claude-Joseph Désiré Charnay (2 May 1828 - 24 October 1915) was a French traveller and archaeologist notable both for his explorations of Mexico and Central America, and for the pioneering use of photography to document his discoveries. ... 1882 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Teoberto Maler or Teobert Maler (12 January 1842 – 22 November 1917) was an explorer who devoted his energies to documenting the ruins of the Maya civilization. ... 1897 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1900 is a common year starting on Monday. ... 1903 has the latest occurring solstices and equinoxes for 400 years, because the Gregorian calendar hasnt had a leap year for seven years or a century leap year since 1600. ...

In 1931 Sylvanus Morley led a Carnegie Institution expedition to Yaxchilan, mapped the site and discovered more monuments. 1931 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Photo taken c. ... The Carnegie Institution of Washington (CIW) is a foundation established by Andrew Carnegie in 1902 to support scientific research. ...

The Mexican National Institute of Anthropology & History (INAH) conducted archeological research at Yaxchilan in 1972 - 1973, again in 1983, and further INAH work was conducted in the early 1990s. The Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History, known as INAH from its Spanish-language abbreviation) is a federal government bureau established in 1939 to guarantee the research, preservation, protection, and promotion of the prehistoric, archaeological, anthropological, historical, and paleontological heritage of Mexico. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... 1973 was a common year starting on Monday. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... // Events and trends The 1990s are generally classified as having moved slightly away from the more conservative 1980s, but otherwise retaining a similar mindset. ...

Yaxchilan has always been inaccessible: Until recently, no roads existed within 100 miles. The only ways to get to the site were hundreds of miles by boat, or else by small plane. Since the construction of the Border Highway by the Mexican Government in the early 1990s, it is possible for tourists to visit. To reach the site, it is necessary now only to take an hour long boat ride down the Usumacinta River.

Further Reading

• Yaxchilan, The Design of a Maya Ceremonial City, by Carolyn E. Tate, University of Texas Press, Austin, 1992. ISBN 0-292-77041-3