The oldest ruins of the Mayan city-state known today as Palenque date back to the 5th century BC. A city-state after the fall in the 9th century AD the jungle overgrown. The Spaniards first found themselves in Palenque in 1567, and in 1773 the exploration of the ruins began.
The most important buildings are Temple of the Inscriptions, Temples of the Cross group, Palace.
Among other things, the jade mask of King K'inich Janab Pakal and the mask of the Red Queen were found in the Palenque tombs.
By 2005, an area of approximately 2.5 square kilometers had been exposed from the jungle. It is estimated that it is not even 2% of the area occupied by the city-state, and over a thousand objects are still covered by the jungle.
Currently, Palenque is part of the Zona Arqueológica de Palenque (INAH) and the Parque Nacional Palenque. The Palenque houses the Museo de Sitio de Palenque 'Alberto Ruz Lhuillier' and the Museo del Textil Lak Puj Kul.
