Station 13 of 21
While they may not tower over you like Tulum's grand temples, these two modest yet profoundly significant structures reveal something deeply intimate about Maya spiritual life: the sacred connection between the living and the dead. You're looking at Platforms 14 and 13, standing beside the Temple of the Frescoes.
Beside Platform 14, Platform 13 served a more somber purpose—this was a funerary platform where elite members of Tulum's society were laid to rest. The Maya didn't view death as an ending, but as a transformation. Here, the boundary between worlds grew thin, and the living could maintain vital connections with their ancestors through offerings and ceremony.
When archaeologists excavated these platforms, they discovered remarkable evidence of mortuary rituals. Ceramic vessels accompanied the deceased, along with an extraordinary array of offerings: wild peccary, crocodile, iguana, and various birds including pigeons, doves, and parrots. Sea shells and marine snails reflected Tulum's identity as a coastal community, providing the dead with provisions representing both land and sea for their journey to the afterlife.
Full narration available in the AudioMaya app
Audio in 8 languages · GPS map · Works offline · $5.99 one-time
Download AudioMaya