Postclassic Societies and its Architecture: El Rey, Quintana Roo
Sebastiaan Roeling

Architecture at El Rey, Quintana Roo

The small settlement of El Rey is mainly used to give the tourists of Cancún an educational introduction to Mayan culture. For reconstructing the ethical standards of the New Economy however, this site proved to be of crucial interest for the research. An important fact is that the structures of the center of El Rey are dated after A.D. 1200. This would mean that all these structures represent the new philosophy of the Postclassic period.

The center of El Rey has two major roads on a north-south axis, with two main plazas where the ceremonial structures are located. Notable are the rectangular platforms aside the roads which once contained the thatched houses that were inhabited by the common people during the Classic Period. It is unthinkable that these thatched houses stood next to the great palaces of the royalty in ancient Classic kingdoms. It is clear that the Classic era separation between these two classes was no longer the case in Postclassic El Rey society.

On certain structures, like Structures 18 and 22-I, you can find the remains of stone buildings. These were the homes of the prosperous inhabitants of El Rey. The thatched houses next to them points out that the type of residence was not distinctive for the social position of its inhabitant.

The wealth that inhabitants of these stone buildings obtained was earned with the production of goods or trade. Because of this, trade became an important aspect of daily life for residents of El Rey. During previous archaeological digs, many objects were found that originated from distant regions. Examples of these objects are granite grinding stones, knives made of flint and obsidian, flint arrowheads, and jade jewelry. The merchants of El Rey probably acquired these products by trading them for local products like honey, different kinds of fish, sea fruit, shell, spine of the stingray, and most importantly: salt.

The only pyramid is located in the center of El Rey. Excavations showed that this pyramid was built upon an existing structure. This custom is known at cities like Chichén Itzá and Copán, and suggests that ancient religious traditions were honored by the inhabitants of El Rey. Inside the pyramid were found several skeletons, which were believed to be members of the Royal family, perhaps the kings themselves. Undoubtedly, El Rey had some kind of government, but kingship was a form of government that was not fit for a community of the New Economy. The skeletons are more likely the remains of important lords that were buried in the religious center of El Rey.

Primarily because of the lack of great palaces, it is likely that El Rey was ruled by a council. This council consisted of a selection of men with the same rank who were appointed to this function because of their personal successes or their proved wisdom. This council would come together to make decisions that concerned the whole community, like: wars, taxes, and maintaining political relationships with neighboring and distant communities.

It is possible that this council held office in one of the two open buildings (Structures 1 and 4) of which the thatched roofs were carried by the columns that still remain on their positions. Because these buildings had no walls, inhabitants of El Rey could follow all decisions that were made during the meetings of the council. The leaders of El Rey were no longer perceived as divine kings, but as regular citizens, who could be openly criticized when they followed a policy that the majority had not approved.

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