| Tulum |
 |
 |
 |
|
In Yucatec Mayan, the name Tulum translates to wall, fence or fortification. The Yucatan's Tulum is indeed a fortified city, surrounded on three sides (North, West, and South) by a "Great Wall" of stone. To the East lies the beautiful Caribbean Ocean. Originally, the city of Tulum was called Zama which means "to the dawn" or "sunrise". Here, high atop majestic cliffs, overlooking powdery sands and turquoise waters, sunrise is indeed a spectacle to behold. Tulum was most active from 1200 - 1521 A.D., when it was a principal commercial port, joining the land and sea trade routes . Evidence still remains of her Early Post Classic marketplace, tucked in among her jagged cliffs and dotting her white sand beaches. The oldest artifact from this site, Tulum Stela 1, dates to the Early Classic period approximately 564 AD/CE, although it was most likely imported from nearby XelHa. Likewise, Stela 2 (dated 761 AD), was brought in from the Late Pre-Classic town of Tanach. Most buildings on site were added to during the Late Post Classic era, but date originally to the Early - Post Classic period. For a detailed description of Tulum's major structures, visit our internal links, easily accessed via this image map. History:Tulum Timeline: Modern Explorers and their Tales |
