Yucatan - November 2008
Oxkintok
Group Ah Dzib

Group Ah Dzib is the first group of temples that you encounter when entering the site.  It the least restored of the 3 temple complexes.  Since I did not feel like taking pictures of lots of trees, I do not have many photos of this group.  I did not feel any energy, or anything really, while walking around this group.


According to the INAH Plaque accompanying this Group, Group Ah Dzib’s ground plan is almost square and has 4 plazas built at different levels.  The Northeast Plaza is built at ground level, the Southeast Plaza is higher, and the Southwest and Northwest Plazas are yet higher.  Archaeologists suspect that these plazas were the 1st constructions in this Group, dating to the Late Pre-Classic Period (300 B.C. - 300 A.D.).  3 stairways connect these different levels.  The stairway connecting the Northeast and Southeast Plazas contains ashlars (masonry made of large square-cut stones) with hieroglyphic designs.  Group Ah Dzib also contains a Ball Court, a Bath House (Temazcal), and a Palace of Chaac (the rain deity).

The Ball Court, looking North towards the road and the ArchYUCATAN-OXKINTOK-Arch-2008.htmlshapeimage_3_link_0
The Ball Court, looking North towards the road and the ArchYUCATAN-OXKINTOK-Arch-2008.htmlshapeimage_4_link_0