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Location: Usumacinta River, Mexico/ Guatemala border
Who Considers it Sacred? Lacandon tribe (descendants of the Mayans)
Significance: Contains hieroglyphic record of early Maya civilization; is an ancient Mayan worship site still used by the Lacondon Indians. The temples are auspiciously located next to river meanders, potent sources of energy. From the 4th through the 10th centuries A.D., the Mayas created these temples, inscribing them with hieroglyphics that archaeologists are still trying to decipher. At Piedras Negras, they have learned about Shield Jaguar and his son, Bird Jaguar, important Maya gods.
The Threat: Industrial development
Preservation Status: A planned hydroelectric dam could flood this area, destroying these valuable records of the Mayans. The dam project has been delayed for a 12-year period, and so danger is averted for the moment; however, international awareness must be brought to bear in order to protect these monuments permanently.
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1 thought on “Mayan Temples of Yaxchilan & Piedras Negras”
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WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO GO TO WORK TO BRING THIS PLACE PIEDRAS NEGRAS BACK INTO THE LIGHT? DON’T YOU THINK THAT TOURISTS WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS MAYAN TEMPLES, THIS ONE IS SO MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL IF YOU COULD SEE WHAT IT REALLY IS? IT LOOKS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUNGLE. DON’T YOU THINK THAT THEY SHOULD START WORKING ON THIS BIG TIME?