San Gervasio (Maya site)

San Gervasio is an archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, located in the northern third of the island of Cozumel off the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, in what is now the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

In 1560, the Spanish historian, Diego Lopez de Cogolludo, wrote: "The pilgrims arrive at Cozumel for the fulfillment of their vows to offer their sacrifices, to ask help for their needs, and for the mistaken adoration of their false gods."

"[1] Although most of the stone structures at San Gervasio now lack their roofs and upper portions of their walls, archaeologists from Harvard and the University of Arizona compiled detailed plans of the remains in the early 1970s that allowed them to create reconstructed views of these buildings.

[4] Meaning: Little Hands Constructed during: Terminal-Classic (1000-1200 AD) Location: East of the District 1 Central Plaza Las Manitas was the residence of the halach unik, or the Mayan ruler of Cozumel during the Terminal Classic Period.

In the nearby altar platform (named La Tumba) to the west of Las Manitas, a single vaulted-roofed tomb was discovered in 1973, the only one of its kind found in San Gervasio.

It is a simple arch about seven feet tall that straddles the main religious pathway (called a sacbe in Mayan, a word meaning "white road") running northeast from the plaza.

It was reconstructed by INAH in the form of similar arches found at other sites on the east coast of Quintana Roo, such as El Cedral, located on the southern portion of Cozumel.

[11] Meaning: The Bats Constructed during: Late-Classic (600-1000 AD): Location: Northwest of District 1 Central Plaza This compound is made up of several rooms and out-buildings situated on a platform and making up the residence of the halach uinik of Cozumel during the late Post-Classic Period.

"The Altar" on the central plaza. In the background, one can see Las Columnas ("the Columns") on the left, and Los Nichos ("the Niches") on the right. In the front right, an iguana is facing the structure.
Las Manitas (the hand prints are visible in the back, right of the right column)
Hand prints at Las Manitas (in detail)
The arch at San Gervasio
Los Murcielagos