The site was named after its most famous building, Structure II, which means "House of the Serpent Mouth" in Maya.

The site is located two kilometers west of Becán in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve of the Mexican state of Campeche on the Yucatán Peninsula.

It does not have large pyramids, but relatively small buildings with great ornateness and high quality of decoration including monumental masks of the god Itzamná in the structures suggests that it was a center for the Río Bec region elite whose capital was the city of Becán.

After continuous research on Chicanná site, knowledge grew which eventually led to the questioning of previous ideas associated with the style of sculptures in central Yucatán.

Chicanná is a site that takes advantage of the natural elevation found in the region so structures seem higher and, for the Maya, closer to the god.

Structures I and II are both temples situated within the main plaza and have been interpreted to be aligned with solar movements for calendar-keeping purposes.

[4] Ceramic analysis also supports the radiocarbon data that suggests Structures I and II were built sometime later during the Late Maya Classic Period.

Structure I is a temple located in the main plaza characterized by four relief panels constructed in the Rio Bec style.

[4] Structure II's entrance door has been interpreted by archaeologists as the face of god Itzamná opening its mouth surrounded by ferocious teeth.