Hormiguero, Mexico facts for kids
Hormiguero was an ancient Mayan city that was most active during the Late Classic Period, from about 650 to 850 AD. It is located in the Mexican state of Campeche, about 22 kilometers (13.7 miles) south of another Mayan site called Xpuhil.
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Discovering Hormiguero: An Ancient Mayan City
Hormiguero is a fascinating archaeological site. Even though archaeologists know about 84 different buildings there, only a few of them have been fully dug up and studied. This means there's still a lot to learn about this ancient city!
Important Buildings at Hormiguero
Two buildings at Hormiguero are especially impressive and have been explored more than others:
Structure II: The Monster Portal Building
Structure II is the most completely excavated building at Hormiguero. It's known for being very dramatic and unique among buildings from the Rio Bec style of Mayan architecture. This building is a rectangular platform with two tall, fake staircase towers. These towers are just for show and cannot actually be climbed.
Between these two towers is a huge entrance designed in the Chenes style. It looks like the open mouth of a giant monster! Inside Structure II, there are several large rooms.
Structure V: The Towering Pyramid
Near Structure II is an area called the Central Group. This area has many large temples, but most of them haven't been excavated yet. Among those that have been, Structure V stands out. It's a very tall pyramid with a well-preserved temple at its top. This temple is also built in the Chenes style, similar to the monster portal of Structure II.
Life in Hormiguero
During the Late Classic Period, Hormiguero was a busy city. The people who lived there were part of the advanced Mayan civilization. They built impressive structures like pyramids and temples, showing their skill in architecture and engineering. These buildings were likely used for religious ceremonies, important meetings, or as homes for rulers and priests.
Archaeologists continue to study Hormiguero to understand more about the daily lives, beliefs, and history of the ancient Mayans who lived in this remarkable city.
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