Olivia Medical Anthropology

This past week I took a trip to Tulúm, Mexico, and had the opportunity to tour the Mayan Ruins during my stay. These archaeological ruins were situated near a small cliff, overlooking the ocean, with a wall surrounding the main structures and pyramids. If translated, Tulúm means “wall”, as the five gates and three walls protected and facilitated commerce. We observed various structures inside these walls, which included the House Of The Halach Uinic, House Of The Columns, Temple Of The Frescoes, and El Castillo. El Castillo is the main pyramid of the ruins in Tulúm, and was used as an ancient lighthouse. It has many small windows that align with the break in the barrier reef. Sailors and canoes could navigate using the alignment of the sun in the windows, and later they’d light a small fire that would transform El Castillo into a lighthouse. It allowed them the ability to navigate after the sun went down. The Mayans were highly involved in trade and commerce, and with its location on the sea, Tulúm was key for networking societies into a system of resources. Some of which included gold, copper, silver, obsidian (used as a household item), jade ornaments, the metate (tool for preparing corn and grain), shells, stingray spines (used for rituals), and salt.