Deanna Bean
San Gervasio - path amongst Mayan ruins, Cozumel, Mexico
San Gervasio is an archaeological site of the pre-Colombian Maya civilization, located at the approximate center of the island of Cozumel off the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. It is situated in what is now the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. The ruins were once a hub of worship to the goddess Ix Chel, the Maya Moon Goddess. Pre-Colombian Maya people would travel to the site and make offerings at certain times of the year.
Most structures have roofs less than 4 feet tall and include interior stone walls and exterior columns. Much of the shape of the structures and their roofs remain a mystery as they were enhanced by wood and straw when in their original condition. It is also speculated that further wood and straw huts surrounded many of the buildings, particularly the Plaza Central.
At the time these ruins were discovered by a Spanish landing party they had already been abandoned. It is likely that the diseases Maya caught following the introduction of Caucasian explorers made the support of a purely religious site such as this untenable. In the alternative, the loss of their native religion by the Maya and the introduction of Christianity may have instead been the reason for the abandonment of this site.
San Gervasio is a federal and state park of the United Mexican States and Quintana Roo.
The ruins and the various roads to and from each site are overgrown and there are numerous animals, particularly lizards of every size including iguanas that reach over 4 feet long. As the roads are the only areas not completely shaded by the rain forest surrounding the ruins lizards sun themselves on the road throughout the park, and are relatively acclimatized to humans.
San Gervasio - path amongst Mayan ruins, Cozumel, Mexico
San Gervasio is an archaeological site of the pre-Colombian Maya civilization, located at the approximate center of the island of Cozumel off the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. It is situated in what is now the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. The ruins were once a hub of worship to the goddess Ix Chel, the Maya Moon Goddess. Pre-Colombian Maya people would travel to the site and make offerings at certain times of the year.
Most structures have roofs less than 4 feet tall and include interior stone walls and exterior columns. Much of the shape of the structures and their roofs remain a mystery as they were enhanced by wood and straw when in their original condition. It is also speculated that further wood and straw huts surrounded many of the buildings, particularly the Plaza Central.
At the time these ruins were discovered by a Spanish landing party they had already been abandoned. It is likely that the diseases Maya caught following the introduction of Caucasian explorers made the support of a purely religious site such as this untenable. In the alternative, the loss of their native religion by the Maya and the introduction of Christianity may have instead been the reason for the abandonment of this site.
San Gervasio is a federal and state park of the United Mexican States and Quintana Roo.
The ruins and the various roads to and from each site are overgrown and there are numerous animals, particularly lizards of every size including iguanas that reach over 4 feet long. As the roads are the only areas not completely shaded by the rain forest surrounding the ruins lizards sun themselves on the road throughout the park, and are relatively acclimatized to humans.