Sayil

The city

Sayil flourished briefly and reached its greatest extent around 900

Sayil flourished briefly in the Terminal Classic period. It reached its greatest extent around 900, covering about 5 km2, with perhaps 10,000 people in the city itself.

10,000people in the city at its greatest extent

Water

Sayil had no surface water, and its people stored rain in cisterns

The Puuc region has a near absence of surface water because of its porous limestone bedrock. Crops were grown in gardens and fields among the houses, irrigated from artificial cisterns built to store water from the seasonal rains.

Great Palace

The Great Palace has an 85-meter facade that looks three stories high

The Great Palace stands at the northern end of a causeway, or sacbe, and is the largest and best known building at Sayil. It is built on a two-terraced platform, giving the impression of three stories.

85-meter-longfacade of the Great Palace

Decline

The city declined around 950 and was abandoned by about AD 1000

Sayil was first settled around AD 800. It began to decline around 950 and was abandoned by about AD 1000, a pattern of rapid growth and decline that was probably typical of the Puuc region.

Rediscovery

John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood explored it in 1841

The site was brought to the attention of the outside world by John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood, who explored it in 1841. Their 1843 book described it under the name Zayi.