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Nestled in the rolling plains of the northern Yucatán Peninsula, about 24 miles east of the state of Yucatán’s capital of Mérida, lies the ancient Maya site of Aké, a place that whispers tales of a sophisticated civilization, yet remains overshadowed by its more famous neighbors like Chichén Itzá and Uxmal. While Aké may not draw the same crowds as these iconic ruins, its unique architecture, strategic importance, and lingering mysteries make it a captivating subject for those intrigued by the ancient Maya world. For professional researchers and armchair archaeologists alike, Aké offers a perfect blend of history, archaeology, and unanswered questions that continue to puzzle researchers and visitors. This episode of Mexico Unexplained delves into the story of Aké, exploring its origins, structures, cultural significance, and the enigmatic threads that weave it into the broader tapestry of Maya civilization.
The Maya civilization, one of the most advanced in the pre-Columbian Americas, flourished across what is now southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador from roughly 2000 BC to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. Aké, located in the modern Mexican state of Yucatán, was a significant regional center during the Classic period from around 250 to 900 AD. Evidence suggests occupation as early as the Preclassic period from around 2000 BC to 250 AD and continuing into the Postclassic period, up until the Spanish conquest. While not as sprawling as Chichén Itzá or as architecturally ornate as Uxmal, Aké’s strategic location and unique features suggest it played a vital role in the world of the ancient Maya, possibly as a trade hub, political center, or fortified stronghold.
Aké’s modern name, derived from the Yucatec Maya word for “place of reeds,” is purely descriptive based on features of the local terrain. The site’s name glyph – found at other Maya sites – is a hand holding a fish and has been interpreted as meaning “Bringer of Water.” Aké is situated in a fertile region surrounded by cenotes—natural sinkholes that provided water in the otherwise arid Yucatán—and was likely a key node in the ancient Maya’s extensive trade and communication networks. Its position along ancient sacbes, or raised stone causeways, connected it to other major centers, underscoring its importance in regional dynamics. Yet, despite its historical significance, Aké remains relatively understudied, leaving much of its story shrouded in mystery.
The “lost city” of Aké was first described by Stephens and Catherwood in 1842. The famous due shared their Mesoamerican explorations with the outside world in a series of books, articles and illustrations. The site would be visited again by researchers some 40 years later by an expedition led by French archaeologist Désiré Charnay. A decade or so before Charnay’s arrival, a henequen plantation called “Hacienda Ruinas de Aké” had been established among the remains of the ancient city and a small village to house agricultural workers cropped up west of the main plaza of Aké. During the late 1800s and early 20th Century much of the site had been disturbed by people taking away materials from crumbling buildings for use in modern construction projects and the hacienda grew massively. Some of the aspects of the ancient city described by Stephens and Catherwood and even by Charnay were wrecked or obliterated during the building and expansion of the henequen plantation and associated worker settlement. Aké appeared on the radar of archaeologists again in 1949 when the first formal survey was conducted at the site followed by the first formal archaeological digs there in the mid-1950s. Restoration work began at Aké in the late 1970s under the direction of Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology and History. Today, the site is only partially accessible to tourists as a big chunk of this important Maya city is still in the hands of private owners.
Aké’s archaeological site covers approximately 2 square miles, with its core featuring several monumental structures that reflect the Maya’s architectural prowess and cultural priorities. Unlike the grand pyramids of Chichén Itzá or the intricate stucco work of Palenque, Aké’s architecture is characterized by a rugged, utilitarian aesthetic that suggests a more practical focus on defense and connectivity. The site’s most prominent features include the Great Plaza, Structure 1 also known as The Palace, the Pyramid of the Columns, and the network of sacbes that radiate outward like arteries of an ancient urban system.
The heart of Aké is its Great Plaza, a vast open space surrounded by low platforms and structures that likely served as administrative or ceremonial spaces. Dominating the plaza is Structure 1, often referred to as “El Palacio” or “The Palace.” This massive, multi-level building measures approximately 150 feet long and 60 feet wide, with a series of interconnected rooms and corridors. The Palace’s design, with its thick stone walls and elevated platforms, suggests it was a residence for elites or a center for political activities. The structure’s strategic placement overlooking the plaza indicates it was a focal point for public gatherings, rituals, or governance. What makes Structure 1 particularly intriguing is its robust construction, which contrasts with the more ornate styles of other Maya sites. The walls are built with large, roughly hewn stones, giving the building a fortress-like appearance. Some archaeologists speculate that Aké’s architecture reflects a need for defense, possibly due to its role as a frontier settlement or a contested trade hub. The Palace’s layout, with its maze-like interior, also raises questions about its function. Could it have been designed to confuse intruders, or was it a symbolic representation of the Maya cosmos?
The most iconic structure at Aké is the Pyramid of the Columns, also known as Structure 2. This stepped pyramid, standing about 45 feet tall, is topped with a platform that likely supported a temple or ceremonial space. What sets this pyramid apart is what we find after climbing its larger-than-normal stairs. The top of the pyramid is lined with dozens of massive stone columns arranged in parallel rows. These columns, some standing over 10 feet tall, are unlike anything found at other Maya sites and have sparked debate among scholars. Were they purely decorative, or did they serve a structural or symbolic purpose? One theory suggests the columns supported a massive thatched or wooden roof, which, if true, would mean this was the largest roofed structure in the Classic Maya world. The roof could have created a covered walkway or a shelter for a marketplace thus serving as a testament to Aké’s role as a commercial center. Another possibility is that the massive columns were part of a defensive system, perhaps serving as a barrier or a symbolic marker of the city’s power. The columns’ sheer size and number indicate significant labor and resources, suggesting Aké was a prosperous and well-organized community capable of mobilizing large workforces. Their alignment also hints at astronomical significance, as the Maya often oriented structures to celestial events like solstices or equinoxes.
Aké is crisscrossed by sacbes, the white stone causeways that connected Maya cities across the Yucatán. These elevated roads, some stretching for dozens of miles, facilitated trade, communication, and military movements. At Aké, one prominent sacbe extends from the Great Plaza toward the nearby site of Izamal, a major Maya city known for its massive pyramid. This connection underscores Aké’s role in the region’s economic and political networks, as sacbes were not merely roads but symbols of power and unity. The presence of sacbes also raises intriguing questions about Aké’s relationship with other Maya centers. Was it a vassal state to a larger power like Izamal or Chichén Itzá, or did it assert its own influence? The lack of extensive hieroglyphic records at Aké makes it difficult to pinpoint its political status, but the sacbes suggest it was deeply integrated into the Maya world, perhaps serving as a gateway between coastal and inland settlements.
Aké’s strategic location near fertile lands and cenotes made it an ideal hub for agriculture and trade. The Maya cultivated maize, beans, and squash, and Aké’s proximity to water sources ensured a stable food supply. Archaeological evidence, including pottery and obsidian tools, suggests the city was part of a broader trade network that spanned Mesoamerica, exchanging goods like jade, feathers, and marine shells. As previously mentioned, the Pyramid of the Columns complex may have been part of a marketplace, where merchants gathered to trade goods or pay tribute to local rulers. Religiously, Aké likely served as a ceremonial center, though its modest size compared to sites like Tikal or Calakmul suggests it was a regional rather than a pan-Maya hub. The Pyramid of the Columns and other buildings may have hosted rituals dedicated to deities like Chaac, the rain god, or Kinich Ahau, the sun god, both central to Maya cosmology. The alignment of the columns and other structures with celestial events points to the Maya’s obsession with astronomy, a hallmark of their culture. However, the absence of detailed inscriptions or stelae at Aké leaves much of its religious life speculative, adding to its enigmatic allure.
For a site of its significance, Aké is surprisingly understudied, and many questions remain unanswered. Why did Aké decline, and when? Like many Maya cities, it was largely abandoned by the 10th century, possibly due to a combination of changes in environmental conditions, overpopulation, and warfare. The fortress-like design of Structure 1 suggests Aké may have faced external threats, but from whom? Rival city-states, internal factions, or non-Maya groups like the Toltecs? Without extensive hieroglyphic records, these questions remain open. The Pyramid of the Columns is another puzzle. The sheer number and size of the columns are unprecedented in Maya architecture, and their purpose is still debated. Were they a display of wealth, a defensive feature, or a symbolic representation of the cosmos? Some researchers have even speculated about non-Maya influences, given Aké’s proximity to trade routes that connected the Yucatán to central Mexico. Could the columns reflect cultural exchanges with the Toltecs or other Mesoamerican groups? Another mystery lies in Aké’s relationship with Izamal, its larger neighbor located some 25 miles to the eest of the site. The sacbe linking the two ancient cities suggests a close connection, but was Aké a subordinate settlement, a rival, or an independent ally? The lack of written records makes it difficult to reconstruct Aké’s political history, leaving room for speculation about its role in the Maya world.
Today, Aké is a quiet archaeological site, far less visited than Chichén Itzá or Tikal, which adds to its charm for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience. The site is accessible via a short drive from Mérida, and visitors can explore the Great Plaza, climb the Pyramid of the Columns, and walk along the ancient sacbes. The surrounding area, dotted with haciendas from the colonial era, offers a glimpse into the region’s layered history, from Maya city to Spanish plantation. Aké’s relative obscurity also raises questions about its preservation and future study. While sites like Chichén Itzá benefit from global attention, smaller sites like Aké often struggle for funding and conservation efforts. Recent advances in LiDAR technology, which has revealed hidden Maya cities like Valeriana and Ocomtún, could shed new light on Aké’s unexcavated areas. What other structures or secrets lie buried beneath the jungle or fields surrounding the site?
For the curious, Aké embodies the mystery and resilience of the Maya civilization. Its massive columns, fortress-like palace, and ancient causeways tell a story of a vibrant community that thrived in a challenging environment, yet its decline and unanswered questions evoke the broader enigma of the Maya collapse. Was Aké a bustling trade hub, a fortified outpost, or a sacred site aligned with the stars? The truth likely lies in a combination of these roles, but without more archaeological work, Aké remains a tantalizing puzzle. Visitors to Aké today can feel the weight of its history in the silence of its ruins, where the echoes of Maya rituals, markets, and political intrigues linger. For those drawn to the unexplained, Aké offers a chance to step into a world where the past is both tangible and elusive, inviting us to imagine the lives of the people who built this remarkable city. As we continue to uncover the secrets of the Maya, Aké stands as a reminder that even the lesser-known corners of this ancient civilization hold stories waiting to be told.
REFERENCES
Andrews, George F. “Aké, Yucatán: An Architectural Survey.” In Arqueología Mexicana: Ciudades Mayas del Noroeste de Yucatán, edited by Eduardo Matos Moctezuma, 45–60. Mexico City: Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, 1998.
Roys, Lawrence, and Edwin M. Shook. “Preliminary Report on the Ruins of Ake, Yucatan.” Memoirs of the Society for American Archaeology, no. 20 (1966): ii–54.
Stephens, John Lloyd and Frederick Catherwood. Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, Volumes I and II. Createspace, 2017. We are Amazon affiliates. Buy the book on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/40EyQ6O