BECAN

You can also get to Becán from Hopelchén driving on the highway which leads to Xpujil town and then drive on federal highway 186 Escárcega-Chetumal going to Escárcega and you can find the site on 5 kilometers ahead.

Becan is clasified by investigators as a Regional Capital, it is one of the most important architectural sites in Campeche, on Río Bec region.

This ancient city is sorrounded by a ditch which is unique in the Mayan area. Some experts presume that it was used as protection against other cities for posible war attacks, Some others believe that it represented a social class division in which the elite built the monumental structures inside the area.

On the other hand, you can access to Structure VIII, which is clasified as one of the greatest architectonic structures, through a tunnel which links two of the main Plazas of the city.

The evidence of human occupation in Becan yields to the year 600 BC. However its most prosperous period was between 600 and 1000 AD, when the city was considered as the capital of the region due to its strategic location (almost in the middle of the base of the peninsula), where goods and services from sorrounding towns were concentrated. Afterwards the population slowly declined to its total desertion in 1450.

Becán in Mayan means "Ravine formed by water", name which clearly describes the site. A ditch sorrounds the main architectural structures, the highest and most voluminous buildings. This characteristic leads to presume that the entrance to the area was restringed to a certain social group and that the common people entered only in special festive days. In the outside of the furrow, minor constructions served as dwelling, silos sanctuaries, and agricultural terraces for the rest of the population who supported the ruling dynasty of Becán.

The access to this prehispanic city was posible by way of 7 entrances, three to the North, one to the West, two to the South and one to the East, which is the present passage to the site.

The elite resided in the area sorrounded by the ditch in which the Mayan constructed their monumental buildings encircled as plazas. In Plaza A or East Plaza you can find the magestic Structure I with its two dense lateral towers which reach 15 meters high. On its higher part there are 4 breaches which probably where made for astronomical obsrvations. On the Southern side or this structure, the Mayan built two levels of rooms with vault ceilings over a rocky elevation.

Structure II encloses the Plaza on its West side. Several rooms can be seen on its front and sides. The rear rooms where probably dwellings as they contain benches. The facade is embellished with high and low-reliefs in calcarous material, as well as sunken crosses on the walls that look fringed.

Structure III has a central stairway witn stone rooms on its sides in two levels. Right in front of the stairway there is a circular altar which must have been used for offerings.

Structure IV located on the northern side of Plaza A, also has a central staircase which gives access to an upper patio, and the rounded corners of the base and the building itself.

At the top one can find the bases of several rooms facing the patio. The facade is embellished with animal shaped masks made with stone mosaic.

Plaza B or Central Plaza's area is open in 2 sections and it is sorrounded by Structures VIII, IX and X.

Structure VIII is a voluminous building in one sole level, with towers on its end and an enormous mask on the central facade. It apparently had 9 inner rooms on its upper part with no ventilation or natural illumination at all, as they were probably used as storerooms of for religious purposes in which darkness and isolation was required (faste, to prey, self-sacrifices etc.)

Structure IV is the highest building on the site ( 32 meters high) which apparently had a wide frontal stairway which leaded to a temple on the top. This building was probably the main sanctuary in Becán.

Structure X had 12 rooms arranged in 2 levels around an enormous central mask of which today remains curved elemets of stucco painted in red and blue. The lintel which divides the two central rooms still retains and above it there is a crest decorated with stucco motifs in different colors.

Plaza C or West Plaza is bordered on one of its sides with two parallel constructions which form the ball court or a patio.

VISITING DAYS: Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

TIME NEEDED TO VISIT THE PLACE: 3 hours, and the time you need to visit Becan departing from Campeche city is 8 hours.

TRANSPORT: By bus or car.

NOTIONS: When visiting Becan, planning visits to Chicanná and Xpujil are suggested.

SOFTDRINKS: Becan comunity at 300 mts.

RESTAURANTS: Becan town (cocina de la Mujer Campesina) and Xpujil town.

HOTELS: Xpujil town

GAS STATION: Xpujil town

TELEPHONE SERVICES: Becán and Xpujil town

MEDICAL SERVICES: Xpujil Hospital

To learn more about Becán...

Benavides Castillo, Antonio. Becán, Campeche. Miniguía. México: CNCA/INAH, 1992.

FUENTE DE INFORMACION: CENTRO DE APOYO A LA INVESTIGACION Y DIFUSION CENTRO INAH CAMPECHE