Etnohistoria del patrimonio arquitectónico maya

The Yucatán Peninsula presents a unique morphology originating in physico-chemical processes, which led to the formation of calcareous stones that the earliest human groups transformed into building elements. The inhabitants of the central-eastern region in particular have used stone and wood as their main building materials, bequeathing architectural methods and techniques for urban planning, most notably the construction of monumental civil and religious buildings intended to display the new social order. These cultural expressions reflect the creativity of the Maya builders, who adapted and created splendid buildings that bear witness to the history of the region. Today, Maya architectural heritage is classified into two types: archaeological, referring to the constructions inherited from pre-Columbian splendour, and historical architecture, referring to constructions from the period of Spanish rule as well as buildings from the centuries following the formation of the nation state.