Images

The "Arco" in Antigua Guatemala with the Agua volcano in the background, May 2010

A view across the Main Plaza of Arroyo de Piedra, May 2010

Stela 1 re-erected as a fibreglass replica on the Main Plaza, May 2010

A detail of the original Stela 1 laying close by, showing part of the headdress, May 2010

A replica of Stela 2 planted on the Main Plaza, May 2010

The ruler's face on the original Stela 2 preserved under a palapa, May 2010

The main façade of Structure I-A containg the stucco frieze, March 2002

The central stucco figure from Structure I-A sub dating from the Early Classic, March 2002

The front of Structure VIII as seen from the top of Structure IX, March 2002

The front of Structure IX as seen from platform of Structure VIII, March 2002

The upper plattform of Structure VIII is decorated with a K'inich mask, March 2002

The inner court of Structure X with the ballcourt superstructure at its southwestern corner, March 2002

The back side of Structure I on the southeast plaza with two false towers, March 2002

The acropolis of Bonampak with (left to right) Stelae 7 and 1 in the foreground, 2 and 3 on the stairways, Structures 3 and 1 on the first level and 8 and 7 in the background, July 2010

Detail of Stela 1 showing ruler Chan Muwaan, July 2010

Detail of Stela 2 showing the elaborate headdress of Chan Muwaan, July 2010

Detail of the façade of Structure 1 (Las Pinturas) in the upper register between doorways 2 and 3, July 2010

A capture scene on Lintel 1 in the doorway to Room 1 of Las Pinturas, July 2010

Structure 1, Room 1, Figures 51 to 58 in the lower register, July 2010

Structure 1, Room 1, Figure 9 in the middle register, July 2010

Structure 1, Room 2, Figures 55, 56 and 61 in the middle register, July 2010

Structure 2, Room 2, Figures 105 and 94 in the middle register, July 2010

Structure 1, Room 3, Figures 5 and 6 in the middle register, July 2010

View from Structure VII over the Great Plaza to Structures II (right) and I (left) towering above the forest, March 2002

Structure II is one of the most massive temple platforms in the Maya area, measuring nearly 120 metres at its base, March 2002

The principal façade of Structure II with stelae 38-42 in front of the staircase, March 2002

The Early Classic Stela 114 has been reset in a special niche close to the base of Structure II, March 2002

The west side of Structure I, still being investigated, March 2002

Most of the 117 Calakmul stelae are badly weathered or damaged by looters, like Stele 89 erected by Yuknoom Took' K'awiil atop Structure 1, March 2002

Stela 88 in front of Structure XIII displaying an unknown royal woman, March 2002

The great cenote of the Calcehtok grotto, April 2002

Structure XX features monster mouth doorways in the lower and upper front, March 2002

The corners of the upper level of Structure XX are decorated with four superimposed masks, March 2002

Structure I shows two false towers and cross panels similar to Structure IV in Becán, March 2002

Structure II as a beautiful example of the Chenes regional style, March 2002

Mural Painting 1 is located on the right side of the main entrance of Structure II, March 2002

The Castillo, also named Temple of the Feathered Serpent, dominates the central plaza, April 2002

In the buried temple of the Castillo, the Chac Mool collects peso coins, in the background the Red Jaguar Throne, April 2002

The Temple of the Warriors (center) and the Group of the Thousand Columns (to the right) seen from the Castillo, April 2002

Looking northward the Great Ballcourt, with its 178 metres in length the largest in Mesoamerica, April 2002

Detail of the center east Ballcourt relief showing two players in action, April 2002

The so-called Tzompantli Platform located opposite the Ballcourt is decorated with piled skulls, April 2002

Thousand of offerings have been thrown into the famous Sacred Well, about 25 metres deep to the water level, April 2002

The Caracol, here the east side, is an astronomical aligned temple, April 2002

The buildings in the Nunnery Quadrangle are executed in the "florescent" Puuc-Style, April 2002

A detail of a façade ornament of the Temple of the Owls in Chichén Viejo, April 2002

To the bottom of the stairway of the Iglesia de Santo Tomás, flowers, candles and incense are sold, May 2010

The Iglesia de Santo Tomás with its doorway darkened by censing was build on top of a pre-Columbian platform, May 2010

A Maximón figure in a morería to whom money, cigarettes, and booze are being offered, May 2010

The Paskual Ab'aj shrine on a hilltop south of the city centre where a chuchqajaw just held a ceremony, May 2010

Front of the pyramid La Iglesia, main structure of the Cobá group, April 2002

The Ball Court of the Cobá group just north of La Iglesia (visible in the back), April 2002

The Conjunto las Pinturas is located between the groups Cobá and Nohoch Mul, April 2002

The El Xaibé pyramid is an unusual oval structure resembling the false towers of the Río Bec region, April 2002

Front of Nohoch Mul pyramid, the main pyramid of the Nohoch Mul group, April 2002

While most stelae in Cobá are badly eroded, the standing king of Stela 20 is clearly visible, April 2002

Temple 1 borders the northern side of the North Plaza as the largest temple structure, resembling the Palenque Temple of the Inscriptions in style, August 2001

Temple 2 is the only excavated structure at the east side of the North Plaza, August 2001

Unique in the Maya area are the clay brick buildings of Comalcalco, decorated with stucco applications like this head, August 2001

Major parts of the site remain unrestored, at the left, Structure A-1 as the principle building is visible, March 2002

The three-tired Structure A-1 features a Chenes-Style false temple on the pyramidal base, March 2002

While surrounded by three rings of defensive walls, one of five entrances to the site core is this arch, March 2002

Structure 17 Las Gamelas is situated between the arch and the ballcourt while enroute to the Main Acropolis, March 2002

Structure I El Torre is the tallest building in Ek Balam, where a marvellous stucco façade (under the roof) was uncovered, March 2002

The central doorway of the buried stucco façade of Structure I showing the maw of an earth monster, March 2002

Detail of the figure on the top right corner of the central portal, March 2002

The front side of Stela 1 displays a richly adorned ruler, March 2002

From the top of Calakmul Structure II, the colossal Monos, Danta and Tigre Groups of El Mirador, more than 40 km away, can faintly be seen at the horizon, March 2002

Structure 2 is the only pyramidal platform with a temple atop, July 2010

Structure 4 with its colonnades is considered as an administrative or public building, July 2010

The east side of the island village of Flores, the Pre-Columbian Noh Petén, as seen from the Lago Petén-Itzá, June 2010

Altar 1 of the site of Ixlu, close by the eastern tip of the Lago Petén-Itzá, is on display in Flores' central park, June 2010

A Fragment of Ixlu Stela 1 is also located in the parque central of Flores, June 2010

Structure II (or East Palace) displaying a huge Itzamná mask typical for the Chenes style, March 2002

A detail of the upper façade on the right side of the main entrance of Structure II, March 2002

Structure V is part of a row of buildings running from east to west along the north side of the plaza, March 2002

Structure II is a typical example of the Río Bec style with is two false towers, March 2002

The façades left and right to the false towers of Structure II are decorated with monster ornaments in front view, March 2002

The right part of the sceletal maw and ear of the Itzamná portal of Structure II, March 2002

The northern façade of Structure V features a laterally "compressed" monster mouth motif, March 2002

The western face of Str. 2C-6 the 46 m long Palace of the Masks (or Codz Pop) with the Altar de los Glífos in front, February 2002

A typical Itzmná mask from the facade of the Codz Pop, February 2002

Though not the most artistic examples, the number of the masks of the Codz Pop exeeds all other, February 2002

On the rear face of the Codz Pop, Toltec like figures are part of the roof decoration, February 2002

The front of Structure 2C2 and adjacent buildings the so-called palace of Kabah, seen from atop Structure 3, February 2002

This structure is a fine example of the late (fully-developed) Puuc architectural style, February 2002

This portal, marking the end of the sakbe to Uxmal, is the largest free-standing arch in Maya architecture, February 2002

A causeway leads directly from the Arch to the Palace, February 2002

The two-terraced Palace as a typical example for usual Puuc-Style, February 2002

A variant of the usual Itzmná masks with a deity emerging from the mouth, February 2002

El Mirador, the main pyramid of Labna, features an usual roofcomb, once decorated with stucco figures, February 2002

The famous Arch as the terminus of a causeway, leading to an inner courtyard, February 2002

Carved into the cliff directly beside the cave entrance is a Pre-Classic relief, February 2002

The Loltún cave features a huge labyrinth and numerous dolines, February 2002

Structure 95 has a vivedly painted stucco floor with liminal animals, note the fish, caiman, and snake in the foreground, March 2002

Structure 80 with its colonnaded front features a richly painted interior, March 2002

The Castillo resembling the architecture of Chichén Itzá with an adjoining columned hall, March 2002

Structure 160, just east of the Castillo, features this stucco frieze as well as several sacrifical frescos, March 2002

The Caracol also is an obvious copy of the same-named structure at Chichén Itzá, March 2002

One of the Itzamná masks of the platform from Structure 151, a colonnaded building south of the Caracol, March 2002

The site of features the greatest amount of Teotihuacan-Style talud-tablero architecture in Northwestern Yucatán, as seen here in the North Group, April 2002

Lintel 1 bears the earliest Long Count date in Northwestern Yucatán, dating 9.2.0.0.0, April 2002

A number of three atlantean figures are ranged in front of the Pop Palace, April 2002

Panorama of Palenque showing the Temple of the Inscriptions and the Palace from the east, July 2001

The Temple of the Inscriptions from its northern front side after restauration, July 2010

View into the crypt of K'inich Janaab Pakal in the Temple of the Inscriptions with the famous sarcophagus lid, July 2001

View of the Cross Group from north of the Palace: The Temples of the Cross, Foliated Cross, and Sun, July 2001

View of the Palace from atop the roof of the Temple of the Inscriptions, July 2001

Portrait medallion 10 of the Gallery of House A, with still visible traces of colour, July 2001

House C of the Palace seen from the East Court showing the Hieroglyphic Staircase, July 2001

Captive 4 from the west side of the East court with his hieroglyphic caption, July 2001

Detail of the mural paintings from House E of the Palace depicting a blossom, July 2001

View of the northern side of the Palace with House A-D atop the platform, July 2001

The North Group as seen from the platform of the Temple of the Count, November 2011

The ruler Upakal K'inich Janaab Pakal on the fallen stucco pier from Temple XIX during restauration in the bodega, July 2001

The ruler K'inich Ahkul Mo' Naab III on the south side of the hieroglyphic bench from Temple XIX, November 2011

A detail of a supernatural being from the hieroglyphic bench found in Temple XXI, July 2010

The Otolum river running down the cascades north of the site core, July 2010

View across the Lago Atitlán from Panajachel with the Tolimán volcano to the left and the San Pedro volcano to the right, May 2010

The Tolimán volcano is the second tallest around the lake with 3,159 m, in the foreground is the Cerro de Oro, place of an ancient Tzutujil settlement, May 2010

The Museo Lacustre del Lago Atitlán in Panajachel displays a variety of subaquatic archaeological findings, including this Post-Classic censer, May 2010

View of the North Acropolis from one of the lower terraces with the row of structures flaking the inner platform, December 2011

The most prominent structure in the North Acropolis, featuring a stone roof resembling a palapa, December 2011

The second room of the "palapa" structure features a number of graffiti incised into the stucco walls, December 2011

Opposite to the North Acropolis is another architectural ensemble on an overbuilt natural karst hilltop, December 2011

One of the structures in the South Acropolis features a well preserved, painted stucco relief with a winged serpent, December 2011

The same structure also has rests of a text incised into the stucco covering, December 2011

The port of Río Lagartos in dusk as seen from the lagoon, March 2002

The Lower Court of the palace with the junction between Structures II (right) and III (left), June 2010

The graffito of a snake with Chahk features incised into the stucco of one of the palace structures, June 2010

Structure XIV (with its twin Str. XV) face the Palace and divide the Main Plaza from the Southern Plaza, June 2010

The North Palace is the most roomed elite residential building in the Puuc region, February 2002

A façade detail from the North Palace showing the "Diving God" motive, February 2002

The El Mirador pyramid is located along the sakbe between the North and South Palace of Sayil, February 2002

One doorway of Structure 3B1 is decorated with a still undeciphered inscription, February 2002

The South Palace features a façade in the fully developed Puuc style, February 2002

The Early Classic Structura A-1, the main pyramid in Group A on top the Cerro de Cartografía, the north eastern part of the site core, May 2010

Structure B-31 is the Late Classic main pyramid in Group B, at its base was once the now looted Hieroglyphic Stairway 1, May 2010

Another looted Hieroglyphic Stairway (No. 2) was once the access to the platform top of Structure B-44, May 2010

Group B contains a patio-type palace building which access can be seen here, right to Structure B-64, May 2010

The so called Panel 4 (in a night photograph) rests in Structure B-44 and could have been a stairway alfarda, May 2010

Clearing a looter's trench in Structure 5QR-14 (Op. TM24D) in Group 5QR-c, a walled complex with a gateway, June 2010

The north-eastern side of the Cerro El Tortuguero with the limestone quarry, July 2010

The eastern hillslope of the Cerro El Tortugurero to which feet the ceremonial center described by Blom was located, July 2010

The beach of Tulum shortly after sunrise at the height of Cabañas Don Armando, April 2002

Tulúm is not only known for its ruins, but also for its beaches ideal for sknorkling, April 2002

General view of the ruins look east showing the Castillo and two palace-like structures in the foreground, April 2002

View southwards with the Castillo above the Caribbean, April 2002

Structure 21 is decorated with various god masks at the corners and Diving God motives, April 2002

The interior of Structure 21 is decorated with Post-Classic wall paintings, April 2002

Detail of the roof of Structure 5, the Temple of the Diving God, April 2002

The ball court of Group B, June 2010

Fragment of Stela 14 on the Main Plaza of Group B, June 2010

Northwestern facade of Structure E VII-sub, a Pre-Classic platform to observe the soltices and equinoxes, June 2010

View from Str. E VII-sub (with Stela 20 in foreground) to the E-group temples I-III (with Stelae 18 and 19), June 2010

A view across the platform of Structures E I-III towards Structure E X, June 2010

Structure E X north of the E-group, June 2010

One of the hundreds of ceramics on display in the Museo El Chiclero, June 2010

The House of the Magician, here the rear side, is an unusal oval shaped pyramid with a Chenes style temple, February 2002

The Nunnery Quadrangle (here northwestern corner) features probably the most impressive Puuc architecture, February 2002

The façades of the Nunnery Quadrangle display the finest examples of Puuc mosaic decoration, February 2002

Just west of the Magician Pyramid, a small courtyard features a building with bird decoration on the roof, February 2002

General view south from the Nunnery Quadrangle towards the Palace, the House of the Turtles and the Great Pyramid, February 2002

One side of the inscribed ring No. 1 from the ballcourt stating its dedication, February 2002

View onto the House of Doves down from the platform of the Great Pyramid, February 2002

The nearly 100 m long Palace of the Governors thrones on a high terasse above the site core, February 2002

East side of the south wing of Structure A-1, the two-terraced palace with stairs to the inner court, February 2002

The south and main (north) wings of Structure A-1 as seen from the inner court, April 2002

The north wing of the Palace with its stairway to access the second storey, April 2002

The front face of Structures B1 and B1 as seen from the inner patio of the pyramid group, April 2002

Two views of Structure B20: during excavation, February 2002, and after reconstruction, April 2002

View south over the four excavation trenches covering structures B23a, B23b, B23c, B29, B28, and B27a, March 2002

Structure B23a, a C-shaped platform after excavation and consolidation, April 2002

The interior of Chultun 23 is decorated with a diving turtle made out of stucco, March 2002

This interment has been found underneath a plaster floor between Structures B28 and B27a, March 2002

The main façade of the palace in Xlapak, February 2002

The front side of Structure I with its unique third tower in a Río Bec style building, March 2002

The back side of the middle false tower of Structure I, March 2002