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Chichen Itza, in the nearby State of Yucatan, is the most important and most visited archaeological site of the Mexican Caribbean. The ruins are located at 2 hours from Cancun, and the site comprised some of the most majestic structures ever built by Mayas, such as the Great Pyramid of Kukulcan.
History:
Chichen Itza is certainly one of the most explored and studied Mayan ruins. From the artifacts recovered, it appears that a first settlement appears between 700 and 900AD in the area and is responsible for most of the structures build in the southern area of the site. The main structures, such as the Great Pyramid, the Ball Game, the Temple of the Warriors have a Toltec inspiration and were built later, around 980AD. The decline of the city is recorded in the Maya Chronicle in 1221 after a civil war. The city was abandoned shortly after. Chichen Itza remains buried until it was discovered again by Francisco de Montejo in 1531. Several excavations were realized between 1839 and 1895, but serious works only start in 1924 with the Carnegie Institution.
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