Mayapan was an important pre-Columbian city in the northern Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. The end of the Classic period in Maya history is marked by the abandonment of cities, the end of many dynasties and the northward migration of the population. All that happened around the AD 1000. Some cities, however, survived to Postclassic period. One of them was Chichen Itza. Initially dominant in this area, it was conquered in the 13th century and lost its significance. The newly built city of Mayapan became the dominant power of the region. Its leading role lasted until the first half of the 15th century. Because of the rebellion, almost all members of the ruling family were killed. The consequence was the destruction and abandonment of Mayapan with population migration to the south. On the eve of the Spanish conquest, without leading power, Yucatan devolved into warring city-states.
Kukulcan Temple is the tallest and most important structure in Mayapan. Archaeologists found stucco covered fragments of human skulls here. That suggests that this was a place of practices related to the death cult. There are also three round temples in Mayapan, which is quite unusual for the Maya. Unlike in nearby Chichen Itza and many other cities of the Classic period, there are no traditional ballcourts in Mayapan.
