Mayapán

Mayapán is a Maya archaeological site in the central Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. It was one of the largest and most influential Maya cities during the Postclassic period and served as the political and ceremonial capital of the League of Mayapán, a confederation of Maya polities that dominated the northern Yucatán from around 1200 to the mid-15th century.

The site’s core comprises a fortified ceremonial precinct surrounding plazas, with a central pyramid–temple complex, palaces, and several ballcourts, all connected by a network of causeways and streets. Surrounding residential groups and administrative buildings formed a densely populated urban layout. The architecture features lime plaster finishes and sophisticated masonry, typical of late Maya urban centers. Water management and other public works supported the city’s large population.

Chronology centers on a rise after the decline of Chichen Itza, with Mayapán reaching its peak in the 13th and early 14th centuries. The League of Mayapán coordinated religious rites and political decisions among member towns until its fragmentation and the city’s decline around the mid- to late 15th century.

Today, Mayapán is an important archaeological site studied by INAH and others. It is protected as a cultural resource and open to visitors, contributing to understanding of postclassic Maya politics, religion, and urban planning. The meaning of the name Mayapán is uncertain; scholars generally refer to the site by this Yucatec Maya toponym, with Mayapan as a common variant.