Sayil

Sayil was a major Maya city in the Puuc hills of southwestern Yucatán during the Terminal Classic period, rising quickly after about AD 800 and reaching its peak around 900 with a large population supported by intensive agriculture and stored seasonal rain in a dry karst landscape. It declined by about 950 and was largely abandoned around AD 1000, reflecting the rapid shifts seen in the Puuc region after the broader Classic Maya collapse. Its Great Palace is a leading example of Puuc architecture, and archaeological evidence points to prosperity, wide trade connections, and leadership that was shared rather than rigidly centralized.

Yucatán · Mexico