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{{Short description|Maya archaeological site in Mexico}}
{{for|the modern town|Xpujil}}{{Infobox ancient site|name=Xpuhil|image=Xpuhil Campeche - panoramio (1).jpg|location={{flag|Mexico}}|region=[[Calakmul Biosphere Reserve]]|type=Ancient Maya city|epochs=Preclassic - Classic|cultures=[[Maya civilization]]|built=|architectural_styles=[[Río Bec]]|abandoned=|image_size=290px|native_name=Xpujil|caption=Structure 1}}<!-- Hide until it can be attended to
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'''Xpuhil''' Pronounced:/ʃpuχil̥/ (also '''Xpujil''') is a [[Maya civilization|Maya]] archaeological site located in the [[Mexican state]] of [[Campeche]], in the vicinity of the modern-day town of [[Xpujil]]. The area surrounding Xpuhil inside the [[Calakmul Biosphere Reserve]], along [[Mexican Federal Highway|Federal Highway 186]], is rich with other Maya sites, including [[Becan]], [[Chicanná]] and [[Calakmul]]. The name ''xpuhil'' means "cat's tail" in reference to a type of vegetation found locally.[[Image:XpujilJagByPhilKonstantin.jpg|thumb|250px|A detailed look at the face on the rear of the middle tower of Structure I. Some sources say this is a jaguar face.]]

In total, the site of Xpuhil covers roughly 5 square kilometers, with several smaller architectural groups within that area. Some groups have been given Roman numerals by archaeologists for ease of identification, but some are still unnamed. Other groups have been given landmark names, such as Xpuhil Cuartel.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mayer|first=Karl-Herbert|title=The Maya Site of Xpuhil Aserradero, Campeche, Mexico|url=https://www.academia.edu/7147051|journal=Mexicon |volume=31 |issue=6 |pages=133–135|language=en}}</ref>

[[Image:Proskouriakoff Structure I at Xpuhil.jpg|thumb|250px|Reconstructive drawing of Structure I by [[Tatiana Proskouriakoff]]]]

== History of the Site ==
[[Image:XpujilByPhilKonstantin.jpg|thumb|250px| Xpujil as it appeared in 2000.]]Archaeological evidence at the site indicates that Xpuhil could have been settled as early as the Early Classic period, but the majority of architecture and artifacts from the site appear to be from the end of the Classic period. The [[Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia|INAH]] estimates occupation to be somewhere between 300 and 1200 AD.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hool.inah.gob.mx:1147/en/home/opinion-de-expertos/1678-xpuhil.html|title=Xpuhil|last=Aguilar|first=Vicente Maximiliano Suárez|website=INAH: Instituto Nacional De Antropología e Historia, México}}</ref> However, more exact dates are impossible to estimate due to the architectural variations between this site and other [[Río Bec]] style settlements.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mW3CAgAAQBAJ&q=xpuhil+stucco|title=An Album of Maya Architecture|last=Proskouriakoff|first=Tatiana|date=2013-07-24|publisher=Courier Corporation|isbn=9780486317052|language=en}}</ref>

After centuries of abandonment, Xpuhil was rediscovered by Karl Ruppert and John Denison in 1938. After this discovery, the site was shown to archaeologist and architectural draftswoman [[Tatiana Proskouriakoff]], who was able to make a detailed reconstruction drawing of Structure I in 1943. This could not have been done nearly as accurately today, because the structures have deteriorated a large amount since Proskouriakoff’s work in the 1940s.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ef1EYezJfFkC&q=xpuhil&pg=PA169|title=Mesoamerica's Ancient Cities: Aerial Views of Pre-Columbian Ruins in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras|last1=Ferguson|first1=William M.|last2=Adams|first2=Richard E. W.|date=2001|publisher=UNM Press|isbn=9780826328014|language=en}}</ref>

Since its rediscovery, the site has been targeted by looters for pieces of its complex facades.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=1973|title=Conferences|jstor=2740862|journal=Current Anthropology|volume=14|issue=4|pages=506–513|doi=10.1086/201371|s2cid=224792715}}</ref>

=== ''Xpuhil Cuartel'' ===

One interesting area of Xpuhil is that of Xpuhil Cuartel, which stands within a Mexican army camp approximately 2&nbsp;km south-southeast of the three-towered Structure I. This area was discovered in January 1999 and subsequent reconstruction occurred from June to October of that same year. Its name, Xpuhil Cuartel, means “Xpuhil barracks” due to its juxtaposition with the army camp.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2011|title=The Maya ruins of Xpuhil Cuartel, Campeche, Mexico|jstor=23759022|journal=Mexicon|volume=33|issue=3|pages=58–60}}</ref>

== Architecture ==
To date, several groups of constructions have been uncovered in the region, which loosely follow late Classic [[Río Bec]] architectural canons.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ef1EYezJfFkC&q=xpuhil&pg=PA169|title=Mesoamerica's Ancient Cities: Aerial Views of Pre-Columbian Ruins in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras|last1=Ferguson|first1=William M.|last2=Adams|first2=Richard E. W.|date=2001|publisher=UNM Press|isbn=9780826328014|language=en}}</ref>

Structure I is the most notable structure in this region, due to its atypical three-tower construction instead of the usual two.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mW3CAgAAQBAJ&q=xpuhil+stucco|title=An Album of Maya Architecture|last=Proskouriakoff|first=Tatiana|date=2013-07-24|publisher=Courier Corporation|isbn=9780486317052|language=en}}</ref> This structure includes three towers, [[roof comb]]s, steep stairways, and non-functional doors.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mW3CAgAAQBAJ&q=xpuhil+stucco|title=An Album of Maya Architecture|last=Proskouriakoff|first=Tatiana|date=2013-07-24|publisher=Courier Corporation|isbn=9780486317052|language=en}}</ref> It is hypothesized that it may have been constructed in an effort to mimic the style of pyramid-temples found in [[Tikal]] and elsewhere.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ef1EYezJfFkC&q=xpuhil&pg=PA169|title=Mesoamerica's Ancient Cities: Aerial Views of Pre-Columbian Ruins in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras|last1=Ferguson|first1=William M.|last2=Adams|first2=Richard E. W.|date=2001|publisher=UNM Press|isbn=9780826328014|language=en}}</ref>

Characteristic of the architectural style found at Xpuhil is the construction of “false” temples. That is, they are not really functional as living or performance spaces due to their irregular interior spaces and steep, unclimbable stairways.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ef1EYezJfFkC&q=xpuhil&pg=PA169|title=Mesoamerica's Ancient Cities: Aerial Views of Pre-Columbian Ruins in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras|last1=Ferguson|first1=William M.|last2=Adams|first2=Richard E. W.|date=2001|publisher=UNM Press|isbn=9780826328014|language=en}}</ref> It is unknown precisely why the ancient Maya built them this way.

==References==
*{{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20100428061415/http://www.gobiernodigital.inah.gob.mx/ZonasArqueologicas/todas/htme/za00301.html Xpuhil] ([[National Institute of Anthropology and History]])
*{{in lang|es}} [http://sic.conaculta.gob.mx/ficha.php?table=zona_arqueologica&table_id=14 Xpuhil] ([[National Council for Culture and the Arts]])
*{{in lang|fr}} [[:fr:Xpujil]]
*Ferguson, William M., et al. ''Mesoamerica's Ancient Cities: Aerial Views of Precolumbian Ruins in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras''. 1st ed., University Press of Colorado, 1990.[https://books.google.com/books?id=Ef1EYezJfFkC&dq=xpuhil&pg=PA169]
*{{cite journal |jstor = 2740862|title = Conferences|journal = Current Anthropology|volume = 14|issue = 4|pages = 506–513|year = 1973|doi = 10.1086/201371|s2cid = 224792715}}
*Mayer, Karl-Herbert. “The Maya Site of Xpuhil Aserradero, Campeche, Mexico.” ''Mexicon'', vol. 32, no. 6, 2010, pp.&nbsp;133–135.[https://www.academia.edu/7147051/The_Maya_Site_of_Xpuhil_Aserradero_Campeche_Mexico]
*Proskouriakoff, Tatiana, et al. ''An Album of Maya Architecture''. Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1946.[https://books.google.com/books?id=mW3CAgAAQBAJ&q=xpuhil+stucco]
*{{cite journal |jstor = 23759022|title = The Maya ruins of Xpuhil Cuartel, Campeche, Mexico|journal = Mexicon|volume = 33|issue = 3|pages = 58–60|year = 2011}}
*Aguilar, Vicente Maximiliano Suárez. “Xpuhil.” ''Instituto Nacional De Antropología e Historia, México'', hool.inah.gob.mx:1147/en/home/opinion-de-expertos/1678-xpuhil.html.[http://hool.inah.gob.mx:1147/en/home/opinion-de-expertos/1678-xpuhil.html]

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==External links==
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{{Maya sites}}

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[[Category:Maya sites]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Mexico]]
[[Category:Maya sites in Campeche]]
[[Category:Maya sites in Mexico]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Campeche]]
[[Category:Maya Classic Period]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Campeche]]