The Pigeon House at Uxmal.
The Mayans produced a remarkable ceremonial
architecture that still inspires awe today. The ceremonial
centers usually consisted of pyramidal mounds with temples or
other buildings on top. These structures were grouped together
around an open plaza. The core of the structures was built of
stone rubble and lime concrete. The exterior facade was faced with
finished limestone blocks or stucco. Carved wood was used for
door lintels. A corbel-like vault was developed that required
very heavy walls and narrow interior spaces. Windows, if present
at all, were very small. Both the interior and exterior walls
were colorfully painted. Many of the structures acted as
astronomical markers to track the movement of the heavenly bodies.