Xpuhil, Mexico

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thought to have been occupied from much earlier. The principal building is a palace-like structure embellished with three towers, - one each end and the third, slightly set back, in the centre - all of which are purely decorative and otherwise functionless. The general design simulates that of the temple pyramids at Petén (Guatemala), but at Xpuhil the towers are solid and the steps too narrow and steep to climb. Originally, monster masks, probably stylised representations of cats, would have decorated the façades above the doorways (bits of masks can still be seen on the lateral towers of the palace-like structure today). This distinctive combination of "false" towers and façades decorated in a similar manner to the Chenes culture, is known as the Río Bec style.

There is another large Mayan archaeological site about 15km/9.3mi away at Hormiguero, accessible from Xpuhil by bus (or even on foot).