Where is Tulum and why was it so important to the ancient Maya?

Why is Tulum famous? Well anyone who’s ever heard of the place knows it as a buzzy resortthe hippest alternative to Cancun (80 miles north), and for the past few decades an increasingly popular (and crowded) destination for foodies, influencers and tourists in general.

But the ancient Mayans were in Tulum long before it got chilly. Actually, bone remains found in nearby cenotes and underwater cave systems indicate that the area was populated by Aboriginal people 10,000 or more years ago.

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Where is Tulum?

More recently, around 1,500 years ago, it was here, on the Caribbean coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, that the Maya built a city like no other. They called it Zama, which means Sunrise Or dawn — appropriate for a city facing east across a glistening expanse of sea. Located in a protected area just a few miles from the modern city center, the once overlooked and neglected archaeological site of Tulum has become one of Mexico’s top Mayan destinations. Here’s what we know about ancient Tulum.

Although there may be larger Maya settlements or sites with more impressive structures – Chichen Itzafor example, or near Coba — Tulum was nevertheless an important city and considered the last great colony built by the Maya.

Its location was not chosen solely to enjoy the sunrise or catch the Caribbean breeze. Tulum was a port, the only known city the Maya built on the coast. Historians and archaeologists note that Tulum was an important trade hub for land and sea, dealing with such precious resources as turquoise, jade and obsidianas well as textiles, ceramics and other commodities.

Ancient Tulum was built as a fortress

For its size and location, Tulum was extremely well fortified. It is estimated that the construction of the city began in the 6th century AD, during what is called the Classic period for the Maya. Even today, it is obvious to the most casual visitor that the careful and strategic construction of Tulum took a long time.

While one side faced the sea and was therefore protected by steep cliffs, the rest of the city was bounded by particularly thick stone walls – up to 26 feet – and up to 16 feet high at some locations. If you traded in luxury goods, it made sense to protect them, but many archaeologists have concluded that walls were not so much a preventative measure against theft and raids as a barrier between social classes. Apparently only the ruling and religious elite resided within the city walls, while the commoners lived outside.

Tulum was abandoned in the 16th century

Tulum reached its peak in the 13th and 14th centuries. Visitors at this time would have seen a bustling city with buildings painted in vibrant shades of red, blue and green. One of the site’s most fascinating structures, the Temple of Frescoes, still features evidence of carved deities and wall paintings depicting scenes derived from Maya culture and mythology. If social media influencers had existed back then, they would have spent a field day taking selfies.

The port city continued to prosper for another century or two. SO, in 1518a very different kind of influencer has arrived in Yucatan: The conquistadors. And they weren’t tourists, they were here to stay.

Learn more: Why did the Mayans abandon their once bustling cities?

In a short time, disease, conflict and other depredations of colonization helped wipe out the Maya civilization as we (and they) would know it. The thick walls of Tulum ultimately offered little defense; the fortified port became a ghost town at the end of the 16th century.

Ruins of Tulum: how they were discovered

In the mid-19th century, English explorer Frederick Catherwood and American diplomat John Lloyd Stephens traveled through the Yucatan, writing an influential book that would introduce much of the Western world to Mayan culture. In 1841, they first saw the ruins of ancient Zama. Impressed by the thick barriers surrounding the settlement, they named the site Tulum, which means ripe Or fence in the Mayan language.

And the ancient city was still off the beaten track for the next 150 years. However, the rise of Cancún in the 1970s and the general development of what came to be called the Riviera Maya region over the next 20 years, all but assured that Tulum would once again regain its place in the region.

Why is Tulum famous?

In the middle of the 20th century, the resident population of Tulum was estimated at a few hundred people. By the turn of the millennium, the population had grown to over 12,000, a figure that has nearly quadrupled in the past 20 years. But that’s still a tiny number compared to the more than 2 million annual visitors who descend on the region today.

Archaeological site of Tulum

While many of these tourists may be confined to the resort area, the ruins of Tulum are still one of Mexico’s most popular archaeological sites. Fortunately, the government has taken steps to prevent the ruins from being hugged to death by so many modern “explorers”. Where once visitors could climb among, to the top and even inside some of the still standing ruins, today the most sensitive areas are restricted.

But this ancient port city is still worth a visit, whether to marvel at the architecture and art of a civilization long gone, or to bask in the sunrise and Caribbean breezes of a settlement. unique whose charm and mystery have once again made it the crossroads. Trade.

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