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Tuesday, March 24, 2015

AKE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AND HACIENDA SAN LORENZO

Ake is one of the most important archaeological sites of the North of Yucatan and is now known as the ruins of Ake because of the hacienda of San Lorenzo Aké which stands on the ancient Mayan ruins. The Mayan Word Ake refers to a surname and therefore can also designate a lineage membership; in another sense, it represents a type of plant (bejuco).



Ake was a Mayan city that served as a link to the Governors of the time to take agreements and carry out assemblies which governed the destinies of that civilization, a place characterized by its sacbes.  The archaeological site has beautiful buildings, whose platforms, pyramids and steps give us an idea of its splendor and majesty. The place has several cenotes and two natural water reservoirs that functioned as water sources in the past.  Walking the sacbe or Ake’s white roads, you will notice various constructions that speak of its inhabitants’ lifestyle; there is a pyramid, columns and a cenote.

The hacienda that remains is still in operation despite the years, it also functions as a Museum in which visitors can take a small tour, which will allows them to understand a little about the process of working sisal, from the plant until it becomes a fiber.  Upon entering this place, you will be transported to another life style, because the atmosphere is typical of 1810. In the main square are located the Hacienda’s mansion and the Chapel, in which to date the inhabitants of the village gather to worship the crucified Christ.    



You will have the opportunity to explore, and discover this site built with the material looted from the ruins upon the arrival of the Spaniards and the activities that keep it operational. The shredder, functional until today, is located to the side of the main entrance; another spot holds a mechanical workshop where the maintenance of the shredder is maintained.



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