Acanche – Yucatan – Mexico

Posted on 03/06/2023 by Michael

Acanche

Acanceh

Location

The archaeological site lies 25 km south-east of the city of Merida, in the town of the same name. According to the Diccionario Maya Cordemex, the word Acanceh has two meanings: the first, akan (moan) and keh (deer); the second, ‘unidentified medicinal plant’. The local climate is sub-humid with the rainfall occurring in the summer months. The average annual temperature is 25° C and the precipitation 70.4 mm. The vegetation is of the low rainforest variety with trees growing to between 2 and 10 m in height. The main tree species are the poppy, ceiba, pochote and pixoy, while the most common animal species are the quail, cardinal, snake and iguana. The soils are characterised by layers of limestone, with elevations rising to one metre in height.

Pre-Hispanic history

The site has been occupied since the Middle Preclassic (700-300 BC) until the present day. As a result of the aforementioned works, we know that it covered an approximate area of 9 sq km. The archaeological evidence suggests that in the Middle Preclassic, Acanceh was an incipient site and that its importance grew in the Late Preclassic. This importance was sustained throughout the Early Classic, increased in the Late and Terminal Classic, and began to wane in the Postclassic. During the colonial period, Acanceh was an important town and has remained so to this day.

Site description

Despite the deterioration caused by the passage of time, the climate and systematic looting, the core area of the site still contains the most monumental structures: Structure 1 or the Pyramid, Structure 1A and the Palace of the Stuccoes. Approximately 900 m east of the Pyramid stands Structure 6A. The residential zone is situated around the core area of the site. Nowadays, both the monumental structures and the domestic constructions are immersed amid the colonial and modern buildings.

Structure 1 or the pyramid.

This is situated just north of the square in the town of Acanceh and is composed of four tiers; it measures 32×32 m and stands approximately 12 m high. It was originally decorated with stucco masks, which flanked each of the four stairways on the third tier; of the 8 masks in total, 5 have been preserved. The central component of the masks at Acanceh is an anthropomorphic head, modified and surrounded by elements typical of the Maya culture. The features of the face recall those of the sun god K’inich Ahau.

Structure 1a

Situated north-east of the Pyramid, this is a rectangular platform measuring 16 m in length and 14 m in width, with an approximate height of 5 m; it has three tiers and a stairway on the south facade. Over the course of many years, this structure has been dismantled. Originally, it must have been decorated with stucco because traces of modelled stucco were found during the restoration works conducted as part of the Acanceh Project.

Palace of the stuccoes

This stands 300m southeast of the Pyramid, on a massive platform measuring 50×50 m and 7 m in height. Several pre-Hispanic constructions were built on top of the platform, including the Palace of the Stuccoes, a structure with small spaces and a rectangular plan. The north facade displays a stucco frieze decorated by two rows of stepped motifs in the form of haut-relief merlons, inside which are stucco animals. The bottom row displays highly stylised mammals and the top row giant birds, and there are glyphs in the spaces between the merlons. These decorative details were painted in different colours.

Structure 6a

This consists of three stepped tiers, crowned by a temple, with a stairway on the west side that joins a 900-metre causeway leading to the centre of the site. It has a rectangular base measuring 20 m in length, 9 m in width and approximately 3.80 m in height. This consists of two constructions, a circular one that rises to 2.76 m from the springing line, with a space 2 m in diameter accessed via a narrow doorway, and another one that was abutted to the latter, probably to restrict access to the circular structure. In broad terms, Structure 6A can be classified as an underground astronomical chamber.

Ceramics

The analysis of the ceramic material obtained during the field campaigns at Acanceh indicate an occupation stretching from the Middle Preclassic to the present day. The most representative ceramic types include Ucu Black, Striated Chancerote and Dzudzuqil Cream (Middle Preclassic); Sierra Red, Tipical Striated Red (Late Preclassic); Xanaba Red, Chuburna Coffeecoloured and Timucuy (Early Classic); Sat Pre-slate, Muna Slate and Chum Unslipped (Terminal Classic); Kukula Cream, Sisal Unslipped and Balantun Black-onslate (Early Postclassic); Chen Mul Modelled and Navula Unslipped (Late Postclassic); Yunku Unslipped and Sacpokana Red (Protohistoric) and Cafe Colonial and the Olive Jar for the historic period.

Importance and relations

Nowadays we have sufficient archaeological information to suppose that from a very early date Acanceh was one of the principal pre-Hispanic centres in northern Yucatan. The ceramics found at Acanceh illustrate the importance of this site as a producer and importer of different types and varieties of pottery; they also indicate that from the Middle Preclassic Acanceh maintained trading and/or cultural relations with sites such as Oxkintoc, Komchen, Dzibilchaltun and Mayapan in Yucatan. It also had early ties with the Peten region in Guatemala, manifested by the similarity between the Acanceh Pyramid and Structure E VII sub at Uaxactun. Acanceh may also have been in contact with sites in central Mexico, such as Otumba, San Martin Queretaro, Tulancingo, Campeche and the east coast of Cancun and Belize.

Beatriz Quintal Suaste

From: ‘The Maya: an architectural and landscape guide’, produced jointly by the Junta de Andulacia and the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico, 2010p, pp392-393.

Getting there:

From Merida. The colectivos leave from Calle 52, between 67 and 69. Less than 30 minutes, M$25. The colectivo doesn’t go into the centre of the town so make sure you don’t miss your stop – as I did. Combis back to Merida leave from the main square. Just in front of the pyramid.

GPS:

20d 48’48” N

89d 27’09” W

Entrance:

The ticket booth is the small yellow hut on the edge of the main square, close to the pyramid.

M$70

The guardian will open the gate to the Palace of the stuccoes and he will direct you to where it is.

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Xcambo – Yucatan – Mexico

Posted on 03/06/2023 by Michael

Xcambo

More on the Maya

Xcambo

Location

The archaeological site is situated on the north coast of the state of Yucatan. There is a turn-off to the town of Dzemul on the coastal Progreso-Telchac road. A path, some 800 m in length, then leads from the west of this road to the core area of the site. Xcambo is situated in the middle of a marshland with numerous beneficial characteristics for habitation: the soil, drinking water and materials for dwellings, such as the local zacate grass for the roof and stones nearby for the construction of the buildings.

Pre-Hispanic history

The stratigraphic evidence at Xcambo indicates the existence of two important ceramic groups: the Xtampu group corresponding to the Early Classic (AD 350-550), which is related to the Cochuah ceramics in northern Yucatan and Tzakol II and III in the southern lowlands; and the Xcambo group from the Late Classic (AD 550-700), which is composed of material related to several horizons such as the Canbalam on the Yucatec-Campeche coast, the Cehpech horizon in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula, and the Xcambo group, which is part of the Tepeu I group and is related to the fine-paste ceramic on the central coast of Tabasco and in the Zapata-Usumacinta area.

Xcambo was a commercial port that administered salt pans and marine products, as well as a local, regional and supraregional trading centre. At the beginning of the Early Classic (AD 200-600), the cultural influences from Peten began to emerge in the early structures of the Maya communities, especially in the north of the peninsula. Izamal exerted its power over numerous sites on the north-west coast, which suggests that it controlled the coastal resources and products in the area (cotton, stingrays, honey, wax, etc.) for trading purposes. The establishment of the port at Xcambo during the Early Classic was probably an important part of Izamal’s infrastructure. Meanwhile, in the Late Classic (AD 600-900), new independent polities were emerging to replace the old economic and political structures, leading to the disappearance of nearly all the elements that characterised the old system. Although this situation had a decisive impact on the focus of trade during the Early Classic, it did not lead to the disappearance of the commercial port at Xcambo, which retained its independence; this largely appears to have been thanks to its control over local resources, such as the salt pans and marine products, which enabled it to sustain a strong economy. This same independence also implied the appropriation of the production and maintenance of nearby villages and urban centres further inland, which provided it with a variety of resources (food, labour and goods for trading). In the Late Classic (AD 700-900/1000), the consolidated Maya communities, keen to expand their domains, centralise production and control trade, appropriated key points of their jurisdiction where the busiest and safest trade routes were located. This led to the emergence of new ports with different trade links, as a result of which Xcambo was gradually isolated and abandoned.

Site description

Xcambo occupies an area measuring 700 m along the east-west axis and 150 m along the north-south axis, entirely covering a natural mound. It contains a main plaza and a smaller one, both of which are surrounded by large elite residences and smaller dwellings where the lower-ranking population lived. It also contains several roads leading to other places. The main plaza once had 11 buildings and is noted for its size and the quality of the stonework. Situated 250 m from the main plaza is an open space comprising three structures and a causeway leading to a residence located 110 m to the east. Another causeway, 12 km in length, leads from the same plaza to Cemul (nowadays, Dzemul). Finally, a third path commences at the south-west end of Xcambo and continues 1,280 m to the south-west, to the site known as Misnay. Near the main plaza but further north is a jetty or wharf.

From the architectural point of view, the most notable buildings at Xcambo display a mixture of elements that are characteristic of at least two styles from the Classic period: the Peten and Megalithic or Izamaleno style, which characterises the Early Classic constructions in northern Yucatan (stepped pyramids, rounded corners, inset corners, sloping platforms, small decorative stairways, thick stucco floors and painted stucco masks). At this site it is also possible to see architecture based on coarse rectangular blocks and rough stone slabs with dry or mortar joints, covered with thick stucco floors to hide the imperfections in the walls.

Ceramics

The explorations conducted at the site have uncovered over 800 ceramic pieces (vessels) in the polychrome, bichrome and monochrome varieties, as well as numerous terracotta figurines. The ceramics correspond to the sumptuary use (fine, decorated tableware for special occasions, offerings, burials and ceremonial events) and everyday use (ordinary plates and dishes for preparing and storing food and liquids).

Importance and relations

The port of Xcambo enjoyed an important economic and political position, varying its relations through the ages with the communities in northern Yucatan. The population must have been mainly dedicated to salt production and large-scale trading. The site contains a rich variety of ceramic materials and artefacts, particularly from external sources. During the Early Classic, Xcambo maintained strong trading links with sites in the centre and north-west of the state of Yucatan, northern Quintana Roo and the Peten region in both Campeche and Guatemala; it may well have operated as an intermediary port between Izamal and Teotihuacan. In the Late Classic, as an independent site, Xcambo shifted its economic focus and established direct and indirect connections with the Gulf Coast. It maintained links with the sites on the nearby coasts of Campeche and western Yucatan; with those in the centre and northwest of Yucatan; with the north-west of the peninsula; with Peten in Campeche and Guatemala, with a few sites in the Grijalva-Mezcalapa basin in Tabasco, with the Zoque mountains in Chiapas, with a few places in the middle and lower stretches of the River Usumacinta in Tabasco and Chiapas, with the area near the Terminos Lagoon and the Atasta region, and with a few sites in the central part of the Veracruz region.

Thelma Sierra Sosa

From: ‘The Maya: an architectural and landscape guide’, produced jointly by the Junta de Andulacia and the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico, 2010p, p398-399.

Getting there:

Bus or colectivo to Dzemul from Merida, Calle 52, between Calles 63 and 65, M$40 (2023)

From Dzemul you will need to take a mototaxi to the site, which will wait for you and then return you to Dzemul. There are always plenty around. M$250.

GPS:

21d 18’ 48” N

89d 21’ 14” W

Entrance:

M$90

More on the Maya

El Gran Museo del Mundo Maya – Merida

Posted on 02/06/2023 by Michael

El Gran Museo del Mundo Maya – Merida

More on the Maya

El Gran Museo del Mundo Maya – Merida

Presented here are a selection of pictures taken inside the (relatively) new, and very modern, structure of the Museum of the Mayan World in the Yucatan city of Merida.

Obviously taking pictures of such objects in the context of a museum – whose lighting and presentation are not designed for the photographer (even good ones, not such as me) – does not always lead to the desired result.

As with the slide show from the Cancun Mayan Museum these images are presented to give an impression of what was produced in the Mayan past before the Spanish came and messed things up.

Whilst not in many ways a ‘perfect’ society – after all the Maya fought against themselves and neighbours; they had slaves; there was a hierarchy of wealth and power; and they killed people out of the ignorance they were doing so to appease non-existent Gods – the Maya developed a civilisation that was very distinct from that which had developed on the other side of the wide ocean. In fact, it was probably that ‘distinctiveness’ which led the Spanish to attempt to wipe out as much of that culture as they could. This was the declared aim of the ‘extirpation of idolatry’.

They destroyed a lot – some of which was irreplaceable such as the codices (manuscripts telling the history (or myths) of the Maya from their beginnings) – but as in all part of the ‘Americas’ much survived this state sponsored vandalism and more is learnt of the pre-Colombian past as time and investigations reveal more ‘secrets’.

But through the artefacts they left behind, as well as the many thousands of examples of their architecture, we know they had accumulated an immense field of knowledge in mathematics, astronomy, physics and architecture as well as being able to cope (more often than not) with the extremities of the climate and produce enough food for them to pursue their daily activities.

The idea of these posts is to present enough clues, or pieces of the puzzle, for viewers to be able to piece together what was the Mayan culture.

Too ambitious a goal? We shall see.

Location;

Gran Museo del Mundo Maya,

Calle 60,

Unidad Revolución,

Mérida,

Opening Times;

09.00-17.00 everyday apart from Tuesday.

Entrance;

M$150

Website;

https://www.granmuseodelmundomaya.com.mx/

How to get there;

The Museum is in the northern outskirts of the city but can be reached by public transport via the new, blue, municipal bus service R73 which leaves the centre of Merida from Calle 63, between 58 and 56.

More on the Maya