Palenque (ancient city, Mexico)

Palenque (ancient city, Mexico), ancient city of Mexico, located in what is now Chiapas State, near the village of Palenque. The city, dating from the classic period (ad 300-900) of the Maya civilization, was buried in a dense tropical forest. The ruins consist of basal platforms supporting pyramids of cut stone, surmounted by stone temples with mansard roofs. Most of the buildings are one story high. Walls have relief figures and hieroglyphic inscriptions, which relate events in royal history. The principal structure, known as the Palace, 69.5 m (228 ft) long, stands on a truncated pyramid. An arched bridge and a subterranean waterway also remain.