The Temple of the Descending Gods (on the left)

In general Tulum is considered to date from 317 AD however, the pre-classical period dated as far back as 1500 BC. The Mayan calendar was invented in 353 AD and this building contained a sundial which gave the Mayan people precise times of the solar phenomena (the equinoxes) The best archeological and sculptural works were done during the classical period, AD 317 to AD 889. The Mayan empire covered 259,000 sq kms and the famous city of Chichen-Itza also flourished at this time.