Labná - Arch of Labná

(Local Name: Arco de Labná) The best-known feature of the site is the magnificent Arch of Labná (Arco de Labná), south-west of the Mirador.

Since the Mayas were ignorant of the true arch they used the corbelled or "false arch" formed by the overlapping of successive courses of stone and topped by a cover-slab. The richly decorated Arch of Labná, which is 3 m (10 ft) deep and has an interior height of 5 m (16 ft), is flanked by two small chambers with entrances on the north-west side. The frieze along the front of the arch, with mosaic patterns reminiscent of those at Uxmal, is framed by projecting sills. Above the entrances to the two lateral chambers are representations in high relief of two typical Maya huts, with thatched roofs in feather patterns; originally there were probably figures at the doors of the huts. On the stepped roof of the higher middle section the remains of the open roof-comb can still be seen.

The rear of the arch is much plainer. Above a sill with similar decoration to that on the front of the arch is a striking frieze with a meander pattern against a background of clustered columns.