Entitled: "La Prison, ? Chichen-Itza" photographed by D矇sir矇 Charnay, circa 1862-63. Charnay was among the first to photograph Mexico's stunning Mayan ruins. The French archaeologist-adventurer gained considerable fame with the publication of his photographs and an account of his travels entitled Cit矇s et ruines am矇ricaines: Mitla, Palenqu矇, Izamal, Chichen-Itza, Uxmal (1862-63). In this plate from the album, Charnay photographed a building he described as a "prison" emerging from the jungle at Chich矇n-Itz獺. Built in the late 8th or 9th century, this temple building was constructed in a complex architectural style called Puuk and is today known as the Casa Colorada or Chichen Chob. Archeologists are unsure of the structure's original function, but most today believe the building may have been an elite residence. Without the advantages of modern carbon dating and years of scholarly analysis, Charnay simply documented the overgrown site and endowed it with all the mystery and enchantment of one's childhood fantasy of lost paradise.