Sak tzʼi (Maya site)

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Sak tzʼi is a Maya archaeological site in Chiapas, Mexico, near Nueva Palestina and the Plan de Ayutla area in the Lacandon Jungle. The name comes from a nearby Tzeltal community; archaeologists think Sak tzʼiʼ may be the ancient city Plan de Ayutla (meaning “White Dog”) or possibly Akʼe (“Turtle”). The exact identity of the ancient place is still debated.

Location and significance
Plan de Ayutla sits between several major Maya centers, and the site appears to have been involved in regional conflicts with Yaxchilan, Bonampak-Lacanha, Tonina, and Piedras Negras. The last inscriptions in the region mention Sak tzʼiʼ around 854 CE, during a time when occupation and building continued at Plan de Ayutla.

What you can see there
- The site covers about 24 hectares (roughly 0.09 square miles) with about 72 buildings.
- It is built around three natural hills that were raised to form three acropolises, with three main plazas subdivided into seven smaller ones.
- The North Acropolis houses elite dwellings, temples, and meeting spaces, built on a hill about 45 meters high.
- In 2012, archaeologists uncovered a theater dating to the Terminal Classic (around 800–900 CE) on the North Acropolis. A large patio with bleachers, a stage, and a dedicated bath room were found, showing the theater was designed for a small elite audience (about 120 people) and may have helped legitimize a new dynasty.
- An earlier residential complex with fine pottery was found dating from around 50 BCE to 50 CE, indicating that urban life began there early.

Architecture and links
The buildings on Sak tzʼi show influences from other Maya cities such as Yaxchilan, Palenque, Lacanha, and Bonampak, but they also have unique features. The North Acropolis has similarities to Piedras Negras’ grand acropolis, suggesting important connections between sites in the region.

History and rulers
- Early evidence dates to around 150 BCE, with a growing urban center after 50 BCE.
- Notable rulers mentioned in the broader regional context include a lord named Kʼabʼ Chan Teʼ (captured at Piedras Negras in 628) and Aj Sak Maax (ruler from the 750s to at least 772).
- By the late 9th century, regional power struggles involved Sak tzʼi and neighboring cities like Bonampak and Tonina.
- The last known inscription in the area is from 864 CE; the city was likely abandoned violently between 1000 and 1100 CE.

Excavation and current status
Local communities knew of the site for a long time. Formal excavations began in 2003 under archaeologist Luis Alberto Martos López, with restoration work from 2008 to 2012. The site has suffered heavy looting, and most stelae were removed, leaving few inscriptions. Sak tzʼi is being prepared for public viewing, but its remains are spread across multiple mounds and plazas, with the core concentrated on the three acropolises.