Tenam Puente Archaeological Site
A Classic-period Maya archaeological site located 13 km from Comitán on a hill that was modified to create a series of terraces on which the buildings, plazas and ball courts are laid out.
The main period of occupation corresponds to the Classic and Early Postclassic periods (between 300 and 1200 A.D.). Its strategic position, on the route connecting the Chiapas Highlands and Guatemala, gave it access to important trade networks, as demonstrated by the presence of objects that arrived from great distances, such as alabaster vessels, seashells and metals. Around 60 structures make up its nuclear zone, which extends over 30 hectares.
One standout feature is the construction technique that uses perfectly fitted limestone blocks placed without mortar or lime. The importance of Tenam Puente lies in the fact that it represents the transition from the Classic to the Postclassic and one of the least studied stages of Chiapas archaeology.
From Tenam Puente you can enjoy an exceptional panoramic view of the plains of Comitán. The landscape is enhanced by the presence of trees covered with epiphytic plants whose growth is favored by the moisture that the hills capture from the winds.
* Tenam in the Nahuatl language means fortification, and Puente was the name of the old hacienda that once stood there.
The main period of occupation corresponds to the Classic and Early Postclassic periods (between 300 and 1200 A.D.). Its strategic position, on the route connecting the Chiapas Highlands and Guatemala, gave it access to important trade networks, as demonstrated by the presence of objects that arrived from great distances, such as alabaster vessels, seashells and metals. Around 60 structures make up its nuclear zone, which extends over 30 hectares.
One standout feature is the construction technique that uses perfectly fitted limestone blocks placed without mortar or lime. The importance of Tenam Puente lies in the fact that it represents the transition from the Classic to the Postclassic and one of the least studied stages of Chiapas archaeology.
From Tenam Puente you can enjoy an exceptional panoramic view of the plains of Comitán. The landscape is enhanced by the presence of trees covered with epiphytic plants whose growth is favored by the moisture that the hills capture from the winds.
* Tenam in the Nahuatl language means fortification, and Puente was the name of the old hacienda that once stood there.
