Referred to as "El Tomate" [the tomato] by the Maya workers due to his anglo-red complexion, Nohmul project head archaeologist, Norman Hammond [in the BIG straw hat]points out the well-preserved interior mural & numerous exterior stuccoed details of the Temple of the Frescoes.

Postclassic in date, the site was first seen by Europeans when a 16th century Spanish expedition sailed through the Caribbean.

Pictured is the most important structure, the famed Temple of the Frescoes.
My travel-mates are viewing a small colonnaded lower gallery with two groups of murals from ca. AD 1450 in the Mixteca- Puebla style.

The uppermost paintings show the Maya deity Itzamná or Lizard House, while the lower group portrays the Maya moon goddess Ix Chel holding two small Chacs or rain deities. The interior shrine of the lower gallery is the oldest part of the temple.

An unusual architectural mask decoration sweeps around the corners.