Montes Azules Reserve and Lacandon Jungle
The Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve forms part of the Lacandon Jungle, it covers 331,000 hectares and it is the most well-preserved part of the jungle that at one time covered what is today Chiapas and other southern Mexican states. When the Spanish conquerors arrived to this region, they named it "Land of war of the Lacandon", due to the resistance that the people from this land had to the Spanish intrusion. The Spaniards nearly wiped out the original Lacandons. Modern lacandons ara a mix of caribbean immigrans who arrived to this land during the 1600's and what was left of the original people who lived in this land.
Some Modern Lacandons reject the outside influence and prefer the isolated environment of their jungle. They preserve their XVIth century language, their rustic way of life and their traditional homes. Most lacandons dress in traditional clothes to preserve their identity. Both, men and women wear white tunics that reach down to the knee and their populations concentrate in three main areas surrounding the Miramar lagoon, Bonampak and the lake of Metza Boc.
The archeological site of Bonampak is one if its kind in the Mayan world due to its frescoes in a temple of the acropolis. Besides its aesthetic value, these paintings put an end to previous notions that the pre-classic Mayans knew nothing about war or human sacrifices. Not only do these paintings show a culture where the struggle for power was as ferocious as in any other culture, but they also offer unparalleled documentation about Mayan society. Mayan academic often refer to this paintins, since they date back to a moment that was very close to the mysterious Mayan decadence period.
The origins of Bonampak date back to the year 250. According to archeological findings, the first record of a governor dates back to the 5th century. Its highest point of glory was around the year 746, when Bonampak formed an alliance with Yaxchilan, a magnificent settlement about 17 km away. Evidence suggests that the last governor of Bonampak, Chan Muan II, had the murals painted. It seems that before 820, the city was abandoned, as it occurred with many Mayan cities in the 9th century . The explanation of such a phenomenon is still a matter of discussion.
Yaxchilan is one of the most spectacular settlements in Chiapas. It dates back to the year 250. It is widely considered that what can be seen today is a reflection of its previous splendor, particularly the constructions ordered by "Jaguar Bird IV", the second of a series of rulers, who governed the city between 681 and 810.
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