Kohunlich

Kohunlich is a Classic Maya archaeological site in southern Quintana Roo, Mexico, notable for its plazas and the famous stucco ‘masks’ on a pyramidal temple. The site sits within lowland tropical forest and is significant for its sculptural and architectural remains.

The Temple of the Masks with five large stucco faces dating to roughly the 6th century AD, multiple open plazas, an acropolis complex and ballcourt areas laid out around formal public spaces. The forest setting and relatively low visitor numbers make the architecture and sculptures the main draw.

The site was occupied during the Preclassic and Classic periods of Maya history and reached its principal florescence in the Classic era; construction phases include monumental masonry and stucco work associated with regional Maya polities during the first half of the first millennium AD.

Kohunlich lies inland in the southern part of Quintana Roo within the Maya lowlands; it is accessed by road from regional centres and is set among seasonally forested terrain rather than on the Caribbean coast.

• Masks: Five large polychrome stucco masks are mounted on the face of the principal pyramid and date to around the 6th century AD; they are the single most recognizable feature at the site.

What to See #

• Temple of the Masks: A pyramidal, stucco-faced temple with five large masks that date to the sixth century AD and are the site's best-known architectural feature.
• Acropolis and plazas: Several formal plazas, an acropolis zone and at least one ballcourt laid out across a clearing in lowland rainforest, with raised platforms and ceremonial architecture typical of Classic Maya urban centers.