"Mayan civilization flourished in the greater Yucatan Peninsula and adjacent highlands from as early as 300 B.C. and continued until the Spanish Conquest in the sixteenth century, although its origin almost certainly reaches considerably farther in time"(Gallenkamp 1985:35). Remnants of the ancient civilization can be found in the form of art and architecture. The archaeological site at the Mayan city of Uxmal has many examples of Mayan Art and architecture.

The Mayan civilization had remarkable artistic and intellectual achievements in architecture, sculpture, hieroglyphic writing, astronomy and mathematics. They were also know for their farming techniques, their use of chultunes, which are cistern style reservoirs that held rain water, and their extensive trade.

Uxmal means "Thrice Built"; it was named this way because of three clearly visible construction epochs. It is considered as one of the most beautiful Mayan cities. Located at about 80 km south of Merida on, what is now, road 261 within the Puuc region of the northwest Yucatan. "Taking advantage of the variances of the terrain, it was built with great symmetrical precision" (Kowalski 1987:27). The urban center has

The Mayan ruins at Uxmal are also important because of the sculptures, art, and astrological meaning given to many of the buildings. "The entire city is aligned with reference to the position of the planets then known, with Venus predominating, and that the pyramid of the magician is oriented so that its stairway on the west faces the setting sun at the time of summer solstice" (The Salmons: 11/19/2000). The buildings are also adorned with masks of Chaac, the god of rain, criss-cross lattices, geometric designs, monster serpents and masks just to name a few things.

At Uxmal you would find many massive structures that were built by the Mayan people. The largest of these buildings is called the Palace of the Governor. At Uxmal there are also structures named The Nunnery, the Pyramid of the Magician (also called the Pyramid of the Dwarf), and the house of the Turtles. There is also a Ball Court and many other smaller structures.

a series of quadrangular buildings and open spaces. Given the dimensions, it is clear in its time, Uxmal had great political, social, cultural and economic impact. "Its building process surely demanded an efficient organization of the labor force and the intervention of specialists such as stone

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Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)