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Dzibanche () (sometimes spelt Tz'ibanche),Martin and Grube 2000, p. 103. anciently called Kaanu'l, is an extense archaeological site of the ancient Maya civilization located in southern Quintana Roo, Mexico.Martini 2010, p. 377. Dzibanche was a major Maya city and the early capital and place of origin of the Kaan kingdom, a powerful Maya lineage that conquered and dominated a large territory of the central Maya Lowlands during the Mesoamerican Classic period.
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.
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.
The name Dzibanche means "writing on wood" in the Mayan languages; taking its name from the sculpted wooden lintels of the Temple of the Lintels. Dzibanche is situated northeast of the contemporary city of Calakmul.Estrada-Belli 2011, p. 16. ITMB 2000. The ruins lie in the south of Mexico's Quintana Roo state,Esparza Olguín and Pérez Gutiérrez 2009, p. 15. a short distance inland from the Bacalar Lagoon. 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.Guderjan 2007, p. 123.
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 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.
Around 580 to 590, the Kaan dynasty apparently moved their dynastic seat to Calakmul. 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.Valdés and Fahsen 2005, p. 160.
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.Witschey and Brown 2011, p. 122.
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