Maya Bridge at Yaxchilan

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Maya Bridge at Yaxchilan was the longest bridge in the ancient world dating from its construction in the late seventh century connecting the Mayan city of Yaxchilan to the northern shore.

The Maya Capital city of Yaxchilan, founded in the fourth century, became one of the most powerful Mayan kingdoms during the Maya Classic Period. During the height of its power the kings of Yaxchilan built gleaming temples, pyramids, and luxurious palaces clustered along the grand plaza extending along the shores of the broad and wild Usumacinta River. This broad river formed a large U-shaped bend or "Ox Bow" that encompassed the city of Yaxchilan. This natural barrier protected the city from invasion from outside forces. However, the river was in a high flood stage during the six month rainy season, during this time Yaxchilan became an island due to the swiftly flowing waters of the engorged river which encompassed the city. An all-weather passage across the treacherous river was an absolute necessity in order to gain access to the farmlands to the north of the city.

To survive and operate efficiently as the seat of power, Yaxchilan required a dependable passageway to provide an uninterrupted flow of traffic across the river on a year-round basis.

The Maya, "America's first civil engineers", solved this urban transportation problem by constructing a 100-meter long suspension bridge across the wild river in the late 7th century. The bridge which featured three spans extended from a platform on the grand plaza of Yaxchilan crossing the river to the northern shore. The 63 meter center span remained the longest in the world until the construction of the Italian Trezzo sull'Adda Bridge in 1377.

The existence of this unique feat of engineering was hidden in the rainforest of Mexico until the ruins of the structure were investigated and reconstructed using computer simulation, remote sensing, and archaeoengineering techniques by Engineer James A O'Kon PE. The discovery was announced to the archaeological and engineering world in the pages of National Geographic magazine in 1995.

[edit] Sources

  • National Geographic magazine, October 1995.
  • " Civil Engineering" Magazine,April 1995
  • "Winds of Change" Magazine, Autumn 1997
  • "Tech Topics" Georgia Tech Alumn Publication, Winter 1997
  • "Famous Engineering Landmarks of the World" Berlow,Lawrence H.Phoenix,Arizona, ORYX Press 2000
  • "Life in the Ancient Maya World" Fisher, Lynn, Oxford England,Oxford University press,2005