About Edzna Archaeological Site in the state of Campeche, Mexico

Edzna is a Maya archaeological site in the north of Mexican state of Campeche. The site is open to visitors. The most remarkable building at the plaza is the main temple. Built on a platform that is 40 meters high, it provides a wide overview of the surroundings. Another significant building located in the plaza is the ball court. Two parallel structures make up the ball court. The top rooms of the ball court were possibly used to store images of the gods associated with the events, along with items needed for the games.  

Brief history of Edzna

Edzna was founded between 600 to 300 B.C. and was abandoned in 1500 AD. During the time of occupation a government was set up whose power was based on the relationship between governors and deities. In the late classic period Edzna was a part of the Calakmul government. Edzna was discovered in 1907. The first excavations started in 1958. In 1986, coordinating agencies began to employ Guatemalan refuges in the excavation, restoration and maintenance and Edzna.  

Tourism in Edzna

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The name Edzna, “House of the Itzas”, comes from the Itza a lineage of Chontol origin.  When you visit the ruins you will find a surprising system of damns and canals which were built to distribute water. Located at the bottom of a valley Edzna used to flood in the rainy season. As a solution  to the problem they built a complex network of canals used to transport goods and people and to defend them from outside attack. If you go to Edzna in the afternoon when the sun sets, it is worth seeing the light and sound show. This is called the, “light of the itzas” and it recalls the splendor of the site and the customs of the Mayans who inhabited it. The event is put on every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday around 8pm in the summer and 7pm in the winter. The cost to attend this show is 41 pesos which is approximately $3.20 in US dollar. The great plaza of Edzna is spectacular with many reconstructed buildings around it. Some of these structures are The Great Acropolis which is on the east side of the great plaza. Approached by a wide monumental stairway flanked by the Northwest and southwest temples the structures of the great acropolis are dwarfed by the great pyramid. This building is unique to Edzna.  It is built in five different stages and began as an early classic pyramid. There are inscriptions on the bottom level that have the date of 652 AD. Adjoining the five level pyramid is the house of the moon. This is a 26 feet tall platform mound. To the south of this is the small acropolis which contains the temple of the stelae and the temple of the old woman. A structure that is associated with the small acropolis is the temple of the stone masks. It has two giant stucco faces representing the god Kinich Ahau, in the right mask he is an old man and in the left he is a young man. As you can see there is a lot of see at this beautiful ancient ruin site and there will be something to delight everyone that visits. 
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