Dzibanche ([tsʼiɓänˈtʃʰe]) (sometimes spelt Tz'ibanche),^[1] anciently called Kaanu'l, is an extense archaeological site of the ancient Maya civilization located in southern Quintana Roo, Mexico.^[2] Dzibanche was a major Maya city and the early capital and place of origin of the Kaan dynasty, a powerful Maya lineage that conquered and dominated a large territory of the central Maya lowlands during the Mesoamerican Classic period.^[3]

The initial settlement of the site dates to the Preclassic period (around 300 BC). During the early Classic period, Dzibanche began a great urban, military and social development that started with the emergence of the Kaan dynasty in the city between 300 and 600 AD, time when it achieved a great regional political power as the first capital of the Kaan kingdom. Dzibanche features the earliest known use of the Kaan dynasty emblem glyph. During the 6th century, the Kaan dynasty began a great power and influence expansion, dominating and subordinating sites while achieving victories against major Maya cities turning Dzibanche into the dominant hegemony of the Maya region. In the year 636, a part of the Kaan lineage of Dzibanche divided and settled in the city of Calakmul, which later became its capital. Around the 11th century the city was abandoned.^[4]

The site has a great extension of 40km² (and over 60km² including the agricultural zones) and consists of 4 monumental architectural groups  identified as the Main Group (Dzibanche), Tutil, Lamay and the great acropolis of Kinichná. The city has an advanced urban design planned to divide ceremonial and productive activities, all the architectural groups are connected by a large network of Sacbe roads, this pre-Hispanic road system also connects Dzibanche with other large Maya city called Ichkabal. The architectural groups have numerous monumental ceremonial structures such as the Temple of the Owl and the Temple of the Cormorants where the burial chambers and tombs of some Kaan rulers have been found.^[5]

The original name of the city was Kaanu'l, meaning "place of snakes", and from this toponym also takes its name the city's ruling dynasty.^[6]

The name Dzibanche means "writing on wood" in the Mayan language; taking its name from the sculpted wooden lintels of the Temple of the Lintels.^[7] Dzibanche is situated 130 kilometres (81 mi) northeast of the contemporary city of Calakmul.^[8] The ruins lie in the south of Mexico's Quintana Roo state,^[9] a short distance inland from the Bacalar Lagoon.^[10] The ruins of the city are situated on a raised area surrounded by an extensive area of seasonal swampland, known as a bajo, featuring particularly fertile soils.^[11]

During the Early Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology the city was the seat of the Kaan kingdom dynasty that later ruled from Calakmul to the southwest;^[12] Dzibanche appears to have been the Kaan capital in the 5th and 6th centuries.^[13] The hieroglyphic stairway at Dzibanche contains the earliest known use of the Kaan dynasty Emblem glyph, dated to AD 495.^[14]

The Kaan dynasty of Dzibanche started a great territorial expansion conquering and having domain of near sites of southern Quintana Roo and Campeche like El Resbalón, Los Alacranes, Pol Box and Dzibantunich, sites where monuments with hieroglyphic mentions to the Kaan dynasty have been found, and also having military alliances with further sites like Naranjo and El Caracol. The great expansion of the Kaan dynasty power and influence came with conflicts with the rulers of Tikal when it reached near their territory, the influence and control of Dzibanche in sites of northern Petén made it easy to penetrate the Tikal domains achieving effective attacks that ended with the defeat of Tikal and victory of Dzibanche in 562 AD.^[15]

Around 580 to 590, the Kaan dynasty apparently moved their dynastic seat to Calakmul.^[13] At the end of the Terminal Classic period, Dzibanche was one of the last cities in the Maya area to create a dated hieroglyphic text, in AD 909.^[16]

Dzibanche was a large city featuring architecture in the Peten style.^[17] Excavations have uncovered a hieroglyphic stairway depicting sculpted representations of bound captives,^[1] captured by Yuknoom Chʼeen I, a Kaan dynasty king of Dzibanche. One of these captives is named as Yax Kʼahkʼ Joloʼm and, although his place of origin is not mentioned in the accompanying text, the form of his name indicates that he came from a city relatively close to Dzibanche itself.^[18] At least two of sculpted blocks may date to the 5th century AD.^[1]

The most important structures at Dzibanche include the Temple of the Captives, the Temple of the Lintels and the Temple of the Owl. The K'inichna' Pyramid is a large temple located outside of the site core. The Lamay Group is a small outlying architectural group that formed a part of the city.^[7]

The Temple of the Cormorants or Cormoranes Pyramid is the largest pyramid at Dzibanche. It was built during the 5th century AD using the Teotihuacan-influenced talud-tablero style of Maya architecture. The pyramid is decorated with friezes that were sculpted from stucco and coated with red paint; the friezes feature symbols that are also in the Teotihuacan style. The structure is the funerary pyramid of Sky Witness, one of the kings of the Kaan dynasty.^[10] The royal tomb, known as the Tomb of the Lord of Dzibanché, was found with a rich funerary offering consisting of painted ceramic vessels and a jade mask, a common mortuary tradition of the Kaan dynasty.^[19]

The Kʼinich Naʼ Pyramid ("House of the Sun God") is a large pyramid approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of the site core. Two royal burials were discovered inside the structure, accompanied by jade offerings.^[7] The K'inich Na' Pyramid is surrounded by a number of smaller palace-type structures and the group is linked to the site core by a causeway. The group was likely to be the home of an elite lineage group and was placed to extend the city's region of control over the northern parts of the surrounding bajo.^[11]

18°38′19″N 88°45′33″W / 18.63861°N 88.75917°W / 18.63861; -88.75917