Uaymil facts for kids

Uaymil was an ancient Maya city located on a small island. This island is found near the coast of northern Campeche, Mexico. It was an important place during the later times of the Maya civilization.

Discovering Uaymil

Archaeologists have studied Uaymil to learn about its past. Rafael Cobos from the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán led some of these studies. They found many interesting things about this ancient city.

What Was Found?

During their work, archaeologists found 15 different buildings. Eight of these buildings were built around a central open area, like a town square. In the middle of this square, they found an altar. An altar is a special stone structure often used for ceremonies. They also found other important stone carvings called monuments and stelae. Stelae are tall, carved stone slabs that often tell stories or record events.

Uaymil's Role

Scientists looked at old pottery pieces found at Uaymil. These pieces helped them understand when the city was most active. Uaymil was mainly important during the Late and Terminal Classic periods of Maya history. This was a time from about 600 to 900 AD.

By studying the pottery, stone tools, and buildings, experts learned that Uaymil traded with other big Maya cities. It had strong connections with Uxmal and Chichén Itzá. These were two very powerful Maya centers. Uaymil mostly worked as a port, a place where goods could be shipped in and out. It was closely connected to Uxmal and depended on it for trade.

See also

In Spanish: Isla Uaymil para niños