The Puuc ruins are well studied, and I do not plan to spend too much time here. Nevertheless, the studies of Puuc architecture are classics, and it is the only area of the Maya that has received thurough studies. Studying these texts at the ruins has been very There are so many Puuc ruins it is hard to imagine. In the Yucatan, most building still standing are Puuc, and most of these are probably in about a 15mile radius, so there is a lot to see. They are very easy to get to, and are very beutiful. I road out past the Lotun caves which I hope to see later. And past the community of Yaxhom, where there is a very large ruin someplace in the orchards, I hope to see these too, but I wanted to see the ruins of Labna. Labna is a Puuc site known for its beutiful decorations, and this site is maintained more like a park. It even has a peacock.
The palace is the main attraction, a large two story structure.
Mosaic masks, masks made of many carved stone elements are a hallmark of the Puuc style. The masks at Labna are somewhat more fluid and complex than most Puuc sites, likley and influnce from the south. Labna is on the southern side of the Puuc area.
This is the same mask as above showing some detail in the carved blocks. These masks would have been covered in a thin layer of plaster with additional fine detail.
These designs, also typical are believed to be an abstract geometric mask. Two eyes, a 'V' nose and a door for a mouth.
So much nature too!
This looks like a small temple on top of a pyrimid, but the door is only one of three that once existed, the rest of the structure has collapsed. The waffle-like wall on top is called a roof comb. Roof combs are typical on Maya structures, but almost always are the first to collapse first. In the late 19th century, this building was still completly standing. the roof comb still had stucco sculpture on it depicting a Maya ball game. On the lower left a buiried structure has become unearthed. While all othere structure here (in my photos) are Classic Puuc, 750-950AD), this and a number of others here are Early Puuc 650-750AD.
This is an arch thought to be the formal enterance to the city.
Notice the decorative huts above both doorways. You can see the remains of a roof comb on this structure too.
Fancy!
Xlapak is a small site just down the road from Labna with just one complete structure that is very well preserved.
The main structure. A wasp tried to sting me here too, but my hair was too big. I just am not going into any rooms with wasps anymore.
The stacks of masks are very impressive.
The back side of the building here is actually from an earlier constuction phase.
Reconstruction work is going on here. Unlike other regions, the Puuc mass produced these decorative elements. You can just dig them up and put them back together. These have been pulled from the rubble and sorted.
Miles road: 60km
Trip Total: 662km
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