Pre-Hispanic America

On my first trip to central Mexico I visited the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan and the pyramids of Teotihuacan. Like most travellers to Mexico, I was absolutely captivated by the remains of these pre-Hispanic cities, most specifically the architectural and engineering feats they accomplished without modern technology. In subsequent years I left the regions of the Mexica empire for other archaeological sites in areas controlled by Maya city states and those under the authority of the Inca empire. The public works, pyramids, sculptures of gods, and an array of civic wonders are truly impressive for the sensitive traveller. More than anything, these former cities are a testament to the intelligence and creativity of Amerindian peoples as much as they reveal the social injustices that millions of commoners faced in their construction. My hope is that these photo essays reveal both my initial fascination with these urban wonders and the remarkable achievements of societies untouched by European technologies.

CHICHÉN ITZÁ, MEXICO