Archaeology Monday: (pt.9): Calakmul

Welcome to "Archaeology Monday", check back every week for a new profile and photos of some of our favourite archaeological sites! For centuries, Calakmul was the greatest seat of power in Meso-America. The wars it fought with its great enemy Tikal to the south is the stuff of legend. Even after its eventual fall to Tikal after centuries of conflict its influence remained and it was held as marker for greatness. Today the ruins of Calakmul lay in the national park and bio reserve of the same name deep in the jungles of the greater Petén Basin region. It is 35 kilometres from the Guatemalan border. Calakmul is one of the most archaeologically dense sites within Mesoamerica. The site contains 117 stelae in paired sets which represent important events in the lives of the city and its dynasties.Though accurately calculating the size of populations in Mesoamerica is a tricky business, it is estimated the Calakmul had a population of approximately 50,000, however this number i