Thousands flock to the region of southern Meso-America every year. There they see ruins of ancient civilizations. It is not difficult to see why. These ruins are bursting with culture and history. Bordering the Caribbean Sea, on the Yucatan Peninsula, is the Mexican city Cancun. The city of Cancun is surrounded by some of the best Mayan ruins such as the Las Ruinas del Rey or El Rey Ruins. These ruins are somewhat inexpensive to see. Also, they are nestled for your convenience right in the middle of the Cancun hotel zone. Here are some facts about Las Ruinas del Rey and the Mayans that used to occupy it.
The Mayan Ruins – Las Ruinas del Rey is Ancient
Las Ruinas del Rey or the “ruins of the king” may date as far back as the 3rd to the 2nd century BC. They were inhabited by Mayans as early as 900 AD. They were first noticed by Western civilization in the 16th century. During the times when Europeans first came to the Americas. Yet, it wasn’t until 1910 that archaeologists began to explore the Mayan ruins. In 1954 excavations began and restoration work on the 47 structures began in 1975. These were done along with sponsorship from the Mexican government. In 2006 a skeleton was uncovered there with a ceremonial mask honoring the Mayan Sun God. Many have speculated that this was a former Mayan king, hence the name “ruins of the king”.
The Mayans and Las Ruinas del Rey
Well known for their prediction that the world would end in 2012. The Mayans were a complex civilization that we are still learning new things about today. They were one of the original civilizations of the Americas. Their society lived for more than 3000 years. Mayan architecture is still littered around the Yucatan peninsula today. It includes world-famous sites such as Coba, Chichen Itza, and of course Las Ruinas del Rey. Las Ruinas del Rey itself consists of 47 fascinating ancient stone structures. The site held great religious significance. There is a long pathway that connects the buildings on the site. Lots of large plazas surround the buildings. It is an incredibly interesting site.
Las Ruinas del Rey Wildlife is Great
In the modern world, unfortunately, there are no Mayans still occupying Las Ruinas del Rey. The ruins have now become home to hundreds of iguanas. Not to worry, they are not aggressive. In fact, a large number of visitors of the Mayan ruin site and the staff, feed the iguanas. Making them quite friendly towards people. The iguanas have become one of the most appealing attractions of this Mayan ruin. The iguanas are particularly popular with children. Some of them can grow to be pretty large as well. Peacocks, occasionally frequent the area.
