TABASQUEÑO
WHY SHOULD I VISIT IT?
It is a site that oughts to be visited not only with a tourist vision but as the sum of aknowledgement about the architecture within the Chenes area. Conservation and investigation activities have been held in the site, that’s the reason for the lack of hallways to tour the site and the lack of clear plazas. The most important structure is the emblem tower; some investigators believe that it was somehow related with astronomical observations although they have no data to confim this idea; it was probably used instead of a stela, that is, that it contained the most relevant information about the city.
HOW TO GET THERE?
The access to the site is by driving on federal highway México 261 which links Hopelchén with Dzibalchén village, taking the detour on kilometer 35 drive on a 4 kilometer ground road until you get to the archaeological site.
HISTORY OF THE SITE
Teobert Maler was the first Austrian to report the existence of this archaeological site in 1895 during his expeditions around the Chenes region in Campeche State. Based on its archaeological data, this ancient Maya city seems to have reached its most important period between A.D. 750 and 900. Followed by its slow decadence on to the Early Postclassic period, that is aproximately between A.D. 1000 –1250.
TOURING THE SITE
The explored area of Tabasqueño is a rectangular plaza limited on its four sides by edifices with Chenes’ architecture characteristics. Structure I, also known as Temple-Palace, is possibly the most important building of the site. It consists precisely on a temple centered over a one level edifice with four lodgings or rooms and a broad central stairway. On the temple’s central facade, we can appreciate one of the most sumptuous versions of an integral zoomorph porch, in a compact design which outer edge angled masks of the Monster of the Earth, and on the crooks of the facade there are cascades of Chaac’s profile masks, all of this crowned by a high fretworkcrest.
To the southeast of this edifice there is a 3.5 meters high tower. It is an emblem tower which is a vertical version of the crests; some sort of a stela made out of masonry stone and a real crest.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Schedule : from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Visiting time required: 1.30 hours. The access to the site is somehow tough because it’s a wood breach.
Visiting time required departing from Campeche City: 3 hours
Transportation: Bus or car
Recommendation: When visiting Tabasqueño you can programme a visit to Hochob and Santa Rosa Xtampak archaeological sites.
SERVICES NEARBY
SOFT DRINKS: Dzibalchen village
RESTAURANTS: Dzibalchén village
LODGING: Hopelchén village
GAS STATION: Hopelchén village
TELEPHONE: Dzibalchén village
MEDICAL SERVICES: Dzibalchén village
RECOMMENDATION
In Spring and Summer time, wear light clothes because the temperature is over 30 C During June, July and August, use mosquito repellent and suitable wardrobe for a rainy weather.
MORE ABOUT TABASQUEÑO
Andrews, George F. "Estilos Regionales: Arquitecturas Río Bec y Chenes". Arqueología Mexicana. 18 (1996): 16-25
Gendrop, Paul. Los Estilos Río Bec, Chenes y Puuc en la Arquitectura Maya. México: UNAM, 1983
"Guía de viajeros a Campeche". Arqueología Mexicana. 18 (1996): 75.
Ramos Maza Roberto. El Estado de Campeche. México: Azabache, 1998. 106.