Maya Bridge at Yaxchilan

If so, it would have been the longest bridge discovered in the ancient world,[1] dating from its construction by the Maya civilization in the late 7th century at Yaxchilan.

During the height of its power the kings of Yaxchilan built temples, pyramids, and palaces clustered along the grand plaza extending along the shores of the Usumacinta River.

This broad river, now separating Mexico from Guatemala, formed a large U-shaped bend (or "oxbow") that encompassed the city of Yaxchilan.

To survive and operate efficiently as the seat of power, Yaxchilan required a dependable passageway to provide an uninterrupted flow of traffic across the river on a year-round basis.

The ruins of the structure were investigated and reconstruction was created using computer simulation, remote sensing, and archaeoengineering techniques by Engineer James A O'Kon PE.