Chenes

One of the three architectural styles of the Lowland Maya area of north-central Yucatan, c 600-1000 AD, overlapping the Classic and Post-Classic periods. Chenes is a flamboyant style of building distinguished from the Rio Bec and Puuc by its concentration on towerless, low, single-story buildings. Maya architects constructed frontal portals surrounded by the jaws of sky serpents and faced entire buildings with a riot of baroquely carved grotesques and spirals. The best example is at Hochob.

One of three architectural styles occurring in the Lowland Maya area of northcentral Yucatan. Its hallmark is the employment of elaborately decorated pre-cut veneer masonry, but it is distinguished from both Rio Bec and Puuc by its concentration on towerless, low, single-storey buildings and a preference for certain motifs, notably the earth monster. As with other styles, the Chenes dates to ad 800-1000, a period which overlaps the Classic and the Post-Classic, but stylistically it is often viewed as intermediate between Rio Bec and Puuc. Its best expression is found at Hochob.