Archaeological Ruins.
North of Merida
On The Yucatán Peninsula, Yucatán, México.
Travel & Tour
Pictures, Photos, Images, Information, & Reviews.
George & Eve DeLange
Google Map To The Dzibilchaltún Archaeological Ruins.
About 15 km North of Merida, Yucatán, México.
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Dzibilchaltun (see-bee-ell-chahlt-toon) or (tzee-beel-chahl-toon) : "Place where there is writing on the stones." (Templo de las Siete Muñecas).
The archaeological site of Dzibilchaltun is located about 15 kilometers north of the city of Merida. Dzibilchaltun is identified as one of the most ancient Mayan Centers in the northern zone, the name signifies "Place where there is writing on the stones."
It was inhabited from about 500 years B.C. until the arrival of the Spaniards. Its ancient inhabited area covered close to 17 square kilometers and it was connected to other Mayan population centers by stone roads called sacbes.
According to hundreds of vestiges found in the area, Dzibilchaltun had about 40 thousand inhabitants in its apogee and carried on commerce because of its close proximity to the seacoast. It carried on intensive trade with products such as salt and fish.
Its principal source of water supply was the sinkhole X´lakah, which during the 1950´s was explored by a group of scientific investigators headed by the archaeologist, E.Willys Andrews, under the sponsorship of Tulane University. In the cenote´s depths they found fossils and Mayan ceramic shards.
The Temple of the Seven Dolls is an outstanding structure to which the archaeologist, Victor Segovia, assigned the purpose of the ceremonial rites dedicated to the sun and the moon with devout masses of the general population in attendance. In fact, "The Temple of Seven Dolls" has an alignment with the sun during equinox.
One theory concerning the ceremonies is that the governing class carried out various ceremonies of light and shade to reinforce their roles as the intermediaries between the sun god and the general populace.
Probably, one of the two most important events that you can see in the Yucatán Peninsula is the archaeo-astronomical phenomenon on March 21 and again on September 21 of each year during the solar equinox as the sun rises. To see it, get there early. Often before 5:00 AM. A lot of people attend this event. Be considerate, it has deep religious meaning to many people.
At the moment of sunrise; sunlight begins illuminating the length of the Sacbe (the sacred road of light) and it also illuminates the main east door of the Temple of the Seven Dolls with the glow of the sun as it appears from the horizon and,
then as the sun rises through the doorway, the light illuminates a precisely placed stela, marking the first day of the year.
If you are watching from the West Wall of the "Temple of the Seven Dolls", you will see a brilliant flash of sunlight; as it comes through both the east and west wall at the same instant.
We have never witnessed it, but we have seen many photos, and it is awesome! This solar event can be observed in its entirety from a stone platform at the opposite end of the sacred sacbe.
A second such event takes place at Chichen Itza's, "El Castillo." Except, at Chichen Itza, a great snake crawls down the steps of "El Castillo", during the equinox. Thousands view that event each year.
When you view the Colonial Spanish Catholic Church note that it is open to the outdoors. That is because the local native population were used to outdoor worship services and this was another way to use local customs to bring them into the Catholic Faith during the 16th Century.
You can drive to Dzibilchaltun village by taking the Mérida-Progreso highway north. Then after about 7 miles, you will see a right hand turn sign. Take the turn and go for about 2 more miles. You will see signs directing you to turn right after you pass the village.
We usually hire a combi (collective taxi) on Calle 69 between 62 and 64 to take you there. This is at the San Juan Park where they go directly to Dzibilchaltún.
Dzibilchaltún has various services for the visitor including: a small restaurant, a gift shop, information booth, medical services, telephone, handicapped facilities, restrooms, and parking.
While you could tour the site all on your own; we recommend hiring a guide at the site to explain the archaeological and astronomical wonders of Dzibilchaltún.
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About Touring The Yucatán Peninsula In Mexico. No Obligation!
The Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport, formerly known as Mérida-Rejón Airport (IATA: MID, ICAO: MMMD) is the international airport located in the Mexican city of Mérida, Yucatán. It is located on the southern edge of the city.
The airport handles both domestic and international flights, and is open 24 hours a day.
We suggest flying into Mérida and staying in one of their many fine hotels when touring Dzibilchaltún and the ruins in the surrounding area.
There are many very good hotels and motels in the area, and if you need a place to stay; Priceline.com can arrange that for you. In fact, we think they are the best way to do it!
We have personally, booked flights, hotels, and vacations, through Priceline.com and we can highly recommend them. Their website is very easy to use!
We have some links to Priceline.com on this page, since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car.
We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active.
We also have links on this page, that will connect you with several of the best hotels in Mérida. Hotels that we have personally used!
We could, also suggest getting a hotel, and then letting them arrange for either a car, or a tour of Mérida. If you call their Concierge Services, ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you.
We have used this method, many times, when traveling in Mexico. We have found it to be safe and it works!!! We have never experienced a problem, doing it this way!
Temple Of The Seven Dolls, Also Called The Observatory
Temple Of The Seven Dolls, Also Called The Observatory
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About Touring Dzibilchaltun In Mexico. No Obligation!
The Cenote, X'lacah
Provides Fresh Water
By An Underground River. This Is A Nice Place To Swim In
During Warm Weather
180 Feet Average Depth.
One Tunnel 4,265 Feet Long. 
Audrey DeLange
Looking Out
Door Of The Observatory. The Stele. 
Buildings Are All Over The Area. Steps Go Up
To Many Temples
In The Area! 
Temple Ruins Everywhere! Audrey DeLange
Exploring Dzibilchaltun Ruins. 
Photo From Observatory.
Sacbee In Distant Background George DeLange
Looking Out Of Observatory. 
Audrey DeLange
Inside Observatory. Inside The Observatory. 
Laurine & Noel DeLange
At The Catholic Church. Noel DeLange At
The Back Side Of The Church. 
The Spanish
Built The Church
The Catholic Chapel Built For
Franciscan
Missionaries Around 1600 AD.
From Dzibilchaltun's Stones. A Hacienda Located Nearby.
We Are Proud Of Our SafeSurf Rating!
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About Touring In Mexico. No Obligation!
Here Are Some Links To The Very Best & Most Popular Items Sold On Amazon.Com
To Learn More! Click The Links Below. No Obligation, Of Course!
Back To Mexico Trips Main Page
Back To DeLange Home Page
Dzibilchaltun (see-bee-ell-chahlt-toon) or (tzee-beel-chahl-toon) : "Place where there is writing on the stones." (Templo de las Siete Muñecas). The archaeological site of Dzibilchaltun is located about 15 kilometers north of the city of Merida. Dzibilchaltun is identified as one of the most ancient Mayan Centers in the northern zone, the name signifies "Place where there is writing on the stones." It was inhabited from about 500 years B.C. until the arrival of the Spaniards. Its ancient inhabited area covered close to 17 square kilometers and it was connected to other Mayan population centers by stone roads called sacbes. According to hundreds of vestiges found in the area, Dzibilchaltun had about 40 thousand inhabitants in its apogee and carried on commerce because of its close proximity to the seacoast. It carried on intensive trade with products such as salt and fish. Its principal source of water supply was the sinkhole X´lakah, which during the 1950´s was explored by a group of scientific investigators headed by the archaeologist, E.Willys Andrews, under the sponsorship of Tulane University. In the cenote´s depths they found fossils and Mayan ceramic shards. The Temple of the Seven Dolls is an outstanding structure to which the archaeologist, Victor Segovia, assigned the purpose of the ceremonial rites dedicated to the sun and the moon with devout masses of the general population in attendance. In fact, "The Temple of Seven Dolls" has an alignment with the sun during equinox. One theory concerning the ceremonies is that the governing class carried out various ceremonies of light and shade to reinforce their roles as the intermediaries between the sun god and the general populace. Probably, one of the two most important events that you can see in the Yucatán Peninsula is the archaeo-astronomical phenomenon on March 21 and again on September 21 of each year during the solar equinox as the sun rises. To see it, get there early. Often before 5:00 AM. A lot of people attend this event. Be considerate, it has deep religious meaning to many people. At the moment of sunrise; sunlight begins illuminating the length of the Sacbe (the sacred road of light) and it also illuminates the main east door of the Temple of the Seven Dolls with the glow of the sun as it appears from the horizon and, then as the sun rises through the doorway, the light illuminates a precisely placed stela, marking the first day of the year. If you are watching from the West Wall of the "Temple of the Seven Dolls", you will see a brilliant flash of sunlight; as it comes through both the east and west wall at the same instant. We have never witnessed it, but we have seen many photos, and it is awesome! This solar event can be observed in its entirety from a stone platform at the opposite end of the sacred sacbe. A second such event takes place at Chichen Itza's, "El Castillo." Except, at Chichen Itza, a great snake crawls down the steps of "El Castillo", during the equinox. Thousands view that event each year. When you view the Colonial Spanish Catholic Church note that it is open to the outdoors. That is because the local native population were used to outdoor worship services and this was another way to use local customs to bring them into the Catholic Faith during the 16th Century. You can drive to Dzibilchaltun village by taking the Mérida-Progreso highway north. Then after about 7 miles, you will see a right hand turn sign. Take the turn and go for about 2 more miles. You will see signs directing you to turn right after you pass the village.
We usually hire a combi (collective taxi) on Calle 69 between 62 and 64 to take you there. This is at the San Juan Park where they go directly to Dzibilchaltún.
While you could tour the site all on your own; we recommend hiring a guide at the site to explain the archaeological and astronomical wonders of Dzibilchaltún.
|
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About Touring The Yucatán Peninsula In Mexico. No Obligation!
The Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport, formerly known as Mérida-Rejón Airport (IATA: MID, ICAO: MMMD) is the international airport located in the Mexican city of Mérida, Yucatán. It is located on the southern edge of the city.
The airport handles both domestic and international flights, and is open 24 hours a day.
We suggest flying into Mérida and staying in one of their many fine hotels when touring Dzibilchaltún and the ruins in the surrounding area.
There are many very good hotels and motels in the area, and if you need a place to stay; Priceline.com can arrange that for you. In fact, we think they are the best way to do it!
We have personally, booked flights, hotels, and vacations, through Priceline.com and we can highly recommend them. Their website is very easy to use!
We have some links to Priceline.com on this page, since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car.
We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active.
We also have links on this page, that will connect you with several of the best hotels in Mérida. Hotels that we have personally used!
We could, also suggest getting a hotel, and then letting them arrange for either a car, or a tour of Mérida. If you call their Concierge Services, ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you.
We have used this method, many times, when traveling in Mexico. We have found it to be safe and it works!!! We have never experienced a problem, doing it this way!
Temple Of The Seven Dolls, Also Called The Observatory
Temple Of The Seven Dolls, Also Called The Observatory
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About Touring Dzibilchaltun In Mexico. No Obligation!
The Cenote, X'lacah
Provides Fresh Water
By An Underground River. This Is A Nice Place To Swim In
During Warm Weather
180 Feet Average Depth.
One Tunnel 4,265 Feet Long. Audrey DeLange
Looking Out
Door Of The Observatory. The Stele. Buildings Are All Over The Area. Steps Go Up
To Many Temples
In The Area! Temple Ruins Everywhere! Audrey DeLange
Exploring Dzibilchaltun Ruins. Photo From Observatory.
Sacbee In Distant Background George DeLange
Looking Out Of Observatory. Audrey DeLange
Inside Observatory. Inside The Observatory. Laurine & Noel DeLange
At The Catholic Church. Noel DeLange At
The Back Side Of The Church. The Spanish
Built The Church
The Catholic Chapel Built For
Franciscan
Missionaries Around 1600 AD.
From Dzibilchaltun's Stones. A Hacienda Located Nearby.
We Are Proud Of Our SafeSurf Rating!
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About Touring In Mexico. No Obligation!
Here Are Some Links To The Very Best & Most Popular Items Sold On Amazon.Com
To Learn More! Click The Links Below. No Obligation, Of Course!
Back To Mexico Trips Main Page
Back To DeLange Home Page
The Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport, formerly known as Mérida-Rejón Airport (IATA: MID, ICAO: MMMD) is the international airport located in the Mexican city of Mérida, Yucatán. It is located on the southern edge of the city. The airport handles both domestic and international flights, and is open 24 hours a day. We suggest flying into Mérida and staying in one of their many fine hotels when touring Dzibilchaltún and the ruins in the surrounding area.
There are many very good hotels and motels in the area, and if you need a place to stay; Priceline.com can arrange that for you. In fact, we think they are the best way to do it! We have personally, booked flights, hotels, and vacations, through Priceline.com and we can highly recommend them. Their website is very easy to use! We have some links to Priceline.com on this page, since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car. We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active. We also have links on this page, that will connect you with several of the best hotels in Mérida. Hotels that we have personally used! We could, also suggest getting a hotel, and then letting them arrange for either a car, or a tour of Mérida. If you call their Concierge Services, ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you. We have used this method, many times, when traveling in Mexico. We have found it to be safe and it works!!! We have never experienced a problem, doing it this way!
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| Temple Of The Seven Dolls, Also Called The Observatory |
|---|
|
| Temple Of The Seven Dolls, Also Called The Observatory |
|---|
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About Touring Dzibilchaltun In Mexico. No Obligation!
The Cenote, X'lacah
Provides Fresh Water
By An Underground River. This Is A Nice Place To Swim In
During Warm Weather
180 Feet Average Depth.
One Tunnel 4,265 Feet Long. Audrey DeLange
Looking Out
Door Of The Observatory. The Stele. Buildings Are All Over The Area. Steps Go Up
To Many Temples
In The Area! Temple Ruins Everywhere! Audrey DeLange
Exploring Dzibilchaltun Ruins. Photo From Observatory.
Sacbee In Distant Background George DeLange
Looking Out Of Observatory. Audrey DeLange
Inside Observatory. Inside The Observatory. Laurine & Noel DeLange
At The Catholic Church. Noel DeLange At
The Back Side Of The Church. The Spanish
Built The Church
The Catholic Chapel Built For
Franciscan
Missionaries Around 1600 AD.
From Dzibilchaltun's Stones. A Hacienda Located Nearby.
| |
| The Cenote, X'lacah Provides Fresh Water By An Underground River. | This Is A Nice Place To Swim In During Warm Weather 180 Feet Average Depth. One Tunnel 4,265 Feet Long. |
|---|---|
| |
| Audrey DeLange Looking Out Door Of The Observatory. | The Stele. |
| |
| Buildings Are All Over The Area. | Steps Go Up To Many Temples In The Area! |
| |
| Temple Ruins Everywhere! | Audrey DeLange Exploring Dzibilchaltun Ruins. |
| |
| Photo From Observatory. Sacbee In Distant Background | George DeLange Looking Out Of Observatory. |
| |
| Audrey DeLange Inside Observatory. | Inside The Observatory. |
| |
| Laurine & Noel DeLange At The Catholic Church. | Noel DeLange At The Back Side Of The Church. |
| |
| The Spanish Built The Church The Catholic Chapel Built For Franciscan Missionaries Around 1600 AD. From Dzibilchaltun's Stones. | A Hacienda Located Nearby. |
We Are Proud Of Our SafeSurf Rating!
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About Touring In Mexico. No Obligation!
Here Are Some Links To The Very Best & Most Popular Items Sold On Amazon.Com
To Learn More! Click The Links Below. No Obligation, Of Course!
Back To Mexico Trips Main Page
Back To DeLange Home Page
To Learn More! Click The Links Below. No Obligation, Of Course!
|
|
|---|
| Back To Mexico Trips Main Page
|
| Back To DeLange Home Page |