Theory: Orientation

Many Mayan Ruins are oriented in a skewed manner mostly due to the interruption of the natural environment on their living space.

The Uxmal site however has a consistent pattern or slant throughout it's site. This slant is due to the alignment to the Uxmal's people highly revered deity Venus. Venus appears due south, and thus the entire site is oriented due south, regardless of an encroaching forest.

This carefully planned orientation throughout the entire layout of the site shows how heavily influenced the Maya were by their religious beliefs and practices.

Theory: Geography as a Challenge

Geographically speaking, Uxmal is not located near any sources of water. Typically, ancient civilizations were built near bodies of water in order to create an irrigation system, allow for drinking water, and to aid transportation. To cope with the terrain, the Maya built underwater cisterns called chultunes - which held up to 6,000 gallons of water - to collect rainwater (which was also sparse), but this did not solve the issue of transportation.

Despite the challenge, Uxmal flourished during its time and was one of the largest cities at around 25,000 people. The terrain is incorporated within the construction of the city, rather than being altered to fit it. Overcoming obstacles that exist naturally within a site is a challenge even today, and it is impressive that Mayans could create such a well-preserved area that interacts harmoniously with a site regardless of difficult conditions.

diagram of Yucatan peninsula, depicting isolation of Uxmal

Theory: Geographical Placement

The topic of ancient ruins brings to mind the images of buildings extremely decayed. However, Uxmal still remains greatly intact. This could be due to the location of Uxmal. It is relatively remote and not within close proximity to any water sources. As colonization began after the Spanish empire discovered the New World, colonists would extract stones and rubble from abandoned Mayan sites to build the new towns. Also looters went to raid the ruins for valuable items left behind. Due to Uxmal being off the beaten track may be why evidence of this trespassing is not often seen.

Therefore, Uxmal was chosen by Bender because the ruins are more intact than other due to its remote location, less stones were taken and less looting took place. Uxmal architecture can be more closely examined for its structural and occupational properties since its intergrity is generally maintained.