Changes

The name (pronounced "chich-EN  it-ZA") means "The mouth of the well of the Itza" (or "At the edge of the well of the Water Sorcerers" according to some authorities) owing to the large [[cenote]] at the north of the site which was considered sacred. The site is listed as a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]] and was recently voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.<ref>[http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php?id=633&L=0 New 7 Wonders]</ref>

The name (pronounced "chich-EN  it-ZA") means "The mouth of the well of the Itza" (or "At the edge of the well of the Water Sorcerers" according to some authorities) owing to the large [[cenote]] at the north of the site which was considered sacred. The site is listed as a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]] and was recently voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.<ref>[http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php?id=633&L=0 New 7 Wonders]</ref>

[[Image:CI_-_cath.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Catherwood's illustration of the The Temple of Kukulcan]] Following the Spanish conquest of Yucatan in 1547 when it was mentioned by Fray Diego de Landa in his apologia, ''Relacion de las Cosas de Yucatan'' (''Account of the things of Yucatan''), the site was forgotten until the American explorer and diplomat John Lloyd Stevens accompanied by the British draftsman Frederick Catherwood rediscovered the site in the early 1840s.  The publication of Stephens' ''Incidents of Travel in Yucatan'' in 1843 with Catherwood's illustrations revealed Chichen Itza to the world.  In the 19th century many other travelers and explorers reached the site to study the buildings, including Desire Charney, Alfred P. Maudslay, Augustin le Plongeon and Teobert Maler. Edward H. Thompson, the American consul in Merida, bought the land and explored the Sacred Cenote, recovering many objects from the well, including bones, pottery, beads, jade and gold.  Most of these objects were sent abroad but some are exhibited in the Museum of Anthropology in Merida.

[[Image:CI_-_cath.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Catherwood's illustration of the The Temple of Kukulcan]] Following the Spanish conquest of Yucatan in 1547 when it was mentioned by Fray Diego de Landa in his apologia, ''Relacion de las Cosas de Yucatan'' (''Account of the things of Yucatan''), the site was forgotten until the American explorer and diplomat John Lloyd Stevens accompanied by the British draftsman Frederick Catherwood rediscovered the site in the early 1840s.  The publication of Stephens' ''Incidents of Travel in Yucatan'' in 1843 with Catherwood's illustrations revealed Chichen Itza to the world.  In the 19th century many other travelers and explorers reached the site to study the buildings, including Desire Charney, Alfred P. Maudslay, Augustin le Plongeon and Teobert Maler. Edward H. Thompson, the American consul in Merida, bought the land and explored the Sacred Cenote, recovering many objects from the well, including bones, pottery, beads, jade and gold.  Most of these objects were sent abroad but some are exhibited in the [[Museum]] of Anthropology in Merida.

[[Image:Jade offering2.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Jade offering (Post-Classic period) from the Sacred Cenote]]  

[[Image:Jade offering2.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Jade offering (Post-Classic period) from the Sacred Cenote]]