The ruins are notable for having the earliest urban remains in the Upper Usumacinta region, as well as a unique ancient theater for elite use.

[1] Archaeologists consider Plan de Ayutla as a very strong candidate for the ancient site of Sak Tzʼiʼ, which means "White Dog".

[3] Plan de Ayutla is in the Upper Usumacinta area, about 3.5 km (2.2 mi) from the small community of the same name as the site.

The site is part of the municipality of Ocosingo, State of Chiapas in southeast Mexico, close to the border with Guatemala.

[4] Archaeologists consider that Plan de Ayutla may be one of two ancient sites known from inscriptions found elsewhere: Ak'e or Sak Tz'i'.

The case for Sak Tz'i' is considered stronger by the archaeologist in charge (as of 2013) of the site, Luis Alberto Martos López.

He notes that ancient Sak Tz'i' was involved in wars with Yaxchilan, Bonampak-Lacanha, Tonina and Piedras Negras.

Martos also posits that the last inscription from the region dates from 854 and mentions Sak Tz'i' at a time when there is still evidence of occupation and construction at Plan de Ayutla.

This title would especially make sense if Sak Tz'i' was indeed Plan de Ayutla, since it is the site of the largest ballcourt in the region.

[7] This would explain why Plan de Ayala also shares important architectural features with Tonina, overlord of Bonampak, such as the layout of the ballcourt, column shaped altars and roof ornaments on Structure 13.

[9] The capital of Sak Tz’i’ (an Ancient Maya kingdom) now named Lacanjá Tzeltal, was revealed by researchers led by associate anthropology professor Charles Golden and bioarchaeologist Andrew Scherer in the Chiapas in the backyard of a Mexican farmer in 2020.

A stela from Piedras Negras depicts the capture of Lord Kʼabʼ Chan Teʼ of Sak Tzʼiʼ in 628.

One hypothesis argues for the survival of Kʼabʼ Chan Teʼ as a vassal of Piedras Negras who then aids his new overlord against Bonampak and La Mar in 641.

Another theory has Kʼabʼ Chan Teʼ surviving but then retaliating against Piedras Negras, Bonampak and La Mar, defeating at least the latter two sites.

In any case, either as a vassal or an opponent of Piedras Negras, Sak Tzʼiʼ ruled a polity extending from at least La Mar to Bonampak in the seventh century.

This would place Sak Tzʼiʼ as either an ally or a vassal of Piedras Negras that in turn was lord of El Cayo.

In 2001 the local community began clearing the jungle around the site hoping to make it attractive to tourists and requested a visit by archaeologists.

A large plaza occupies the center of the site, with two separate spaces named in Tzeltal: Alan (Lower) and Mukuʼl (Great).

[22] The North Acropolis is a Maya Palace, a complex that includes elite dwellings, temples and spaces for meetings.

On the north side, a series of four structures on rising terraces makes the acropolis similar to that of Piedras Negras.

A burial has been found at the foot of this possible stairway, with the presence of fine paste ceramics that associate it with the Late Classic.