Bolonchen
Encyclopedia
Bolonchén or Bolonchén de Rejón (Bolon Che'e'en in Modern Maya) is a town in the Mexican state of Campeche
, about 120 km East from the state capital, Campeche
, in Hopelchén Municipality. The name "Bolonchén" means "Nine Wells" in the Maya language
. "de Rejón" commemorates Manuel Crescencio Rejón, a lawyer who helped draft the 1917 Constitution
and who was born here. Previously the Pueblo was named Bolonchenticul. It was renamed in September 1955 to Balonchén de Rejón . It is also the birthplace of Olegario Molina y Solis, the Governor of Yucatán and Minister de Fomento in the Porfirio Diaz era(1877–1911). In 1833 it was the only pueblo to escape the cholera epidemic. This was due to the efforts of Julian Molina y Bastante (Olegario's grandfather) and the brothers Martinez. In 2010 the town had a population of 3,975 people.
A good sized ruined site of the Pre-Columbian
Maya civilization
is centered just north of the modern town. It dates to the classic and postclassic periods. Most of the carved stone on the ancient structures was removed in the 18th century through the mid 20th century for reuse in modern construction. Nonetheless, a few monuments with sculpture and hieroglyphic texts are still visible at old Bolonchen.
A short distance to the south of Bolonchén are the cave
s of Xtacunbilxunan.
Both the ruins and cave were visited and described briefly by John Lloyd Stephens
at the start of the 1840s, but no detailed scholarly examination of the ruins was made until that of Eric von Euw in 1973 (in part because Stephens and other early visitors failed to note that there were surviving inscriptions).
Campeche
Campeche is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Located in Southeast Mexico, it is bordered by the states of Yucatán to the north east, Quintana Roo to the east, and Tabasco to the south west...
, about 120 km East from the state capital, Campeche
Campeche, Campeche
San Francisco de Campeche is the capital city of the Mexican state of Campeche, located at,...
, in Hopelchén Municipality. The name "Bolonchén" means "Nine Wells" in the Maya language
Maya language
A Maya language is one of a group of languages spoken by the Maya peoples of Mesoamerica.Maya language may also refer to:* Yucatec Maya language or Maya, a Mayan language spoken in the Yucatán Peninsula...
. "de Rejón" commemorates Manuel Crescencio Rejón, a lawyer who helped draft the 1917 Constitution
Constitution of Mexico
The Political Constitution of the United Mexican States is the current constitution of Mexico. It was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, in the State of Querétaro, by a constitutional convention, during the Mexican Revolution. It was approved by the Constitutional Congress on February 5, 1917...
and who was born here. Previously the Pueblo was named Bolonchenticul. It was renamed in September 1955 to Balonchén de Rejón . It is also the birthplace of Olegario Molina y Solis, the Governor of Yucatán and Minister de Fomento in the Porfirio Diaz era(1877–1911). In 1833 it was the only pueblo to escape the cholera epidemic. This was due to the efforts of Julian Molina y Bastante (Olegario's grandfather) and the brothers Martinez. In 2010 the town had a population of 3,975 people.
A good sized ruined site of the Pre-Columbian
Pre-Columbian
The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic period to European colonization during...
Maya civilization
Maya civilization
The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period The Maya is a Mesoamerican...
is centered just north of the modern town. It dates to the classic and postclassic periods. Most of the carved stone on the ancient structures was removed in the 18th century through the mid 20th century for reuse in modern construction. Nonetheless, a few monuments with sculpture and hieroglyphic texts are still visible at old Bolonchen.
A short distance to the south of Bolonchén are the cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s of Xtacunbilxunan.
Both the ruins and cave were visited and described briefly by John Lloyd Stephens
John Lloyd Stephens
John Lloyd Stephens was an American explorer, writer, and diplomat. Stephens was a pivotal figure in the rediscovery of Maya civilization throughout Middle America and in the planning of the Panama railroad....
at the start of the 1840s, but no detailed scholarly examination of the ruins was made until that of Eric von Euw in 1973 (in part because Stephens and other early visitors failed to note that there were surviving inscriptions).