Weeks 8 and 9: The Lost Cities of the Jungle Part I – Campeche

Becán and Chicanná (3/1/08)

            Today’s trip to Becán and Chicanná in the state of Campeche marked our first visit to a Chenes and Rio Bec-influenced zone. Becán means “moat” in Mayan, which coincides with the extensive 38-foot high moat present throughout the site constructed on a limestone outcrop. The moat never permanently held water, so it could have been used for defense, drainage or waste disposal. Major archeological advances started with the Carnegie Institute in 1934 and continued with important figures such as William Andrews IV (who worked here between 1969 and 1971 with pottery and the actual buildings) and William Andrews V in the later 1970s. Becán’s occupation dates back to the Middle Pre-Classic in 550 to 50 BC, and construction continued as late as 730 to 830 AD (Late Classic). Like Palenque and Tikal, the city was attacked by the nearby superstate of Calakmul. Some characteristics of Rio Bec style include structures with two false towers, stairways with non-functional structures, and rounded corners on the outside of buildings. The two false towers, as evident in the Structure I (Terminal Classic), stood 50 feet high. Another important building constructed around the same time was the Circular Altar, which was used to worship the wind deity. Within the same complex was Structure 2, which had a residential area on the bottom and a pyramid at the top. Like at Acanceh and Mayapán, stucco masks were present. There was one such mask behind glass at Structure X, which dates back to 600-750 AD. Like many of the other archeological zones, there was a ballcourt. The carvings here depicted gods in celebration and the life-and-death cycle. The court is aligned with the Cardinal Points but lacks markers or altars, and archeologists speculate that the rings were made of wood rather than stone.

            The next Río Bec site was Chicanná, which dates back to 450 AD and in Mayan means “House of the Mouth of the Snake”. After centuries of abandonment, Jack Eaton and Tulane University discovered the site in 1966. Similar to Ek’ Balám and Chichén Itzá, Structure II had a huge monster mask in the middle entrance. Structure II, originally the home of a high official, corresponds with the Cardinal Points and was important for worshipping the sun as well as the god Itzamná. There used to be stucco cover here, but now only glyphs are present along with red paint. Structure I had six rooms and two false towers, and was used for political and religious purposes. The city’s highest building was Structure XX (850-1000 AD), which like many other structures was oriented with the Cardinal Points. There were two levels containing fifteen rooms, four of which were on the top level. Like Sayil, Chichén Itzá, Uxmal and other sites, the corners of the building contained stacks of zoomorphic masks. The top of the structure bore a roof comb which resembles that of Structure 33 at Yaxchilán, which contains carvings of important deities and leaders. Chicanná looked smaller in size compared to Becán, but was equally impressive in regards to its aesthetic values.

http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj35/jonroth/Mexico/Campeche/Xpujil/Becan/

http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj35/jonroth/Mexico/Campeche/Xpujil/Chicanna/

Calakmul (3/2/08-3/3/08)

            The third and last site visited in Campeche was Calakmul, one of the largest and most impressive Mayan cities. Calakmul was originally known as Oxtaetun, and the kingdom was named Kaan (“Snake”). Only Tikal or El Mirador (Guatemala) could match Calakmul’s eminence. Tikal and Calakmul have been at odds with one another dating to 562 AD, under Calakmul’s ruler Sky Witness. Palenque was another rival, which Calakmul’s then-ruler Scrolled Serpent battled twice after 575 AD. Under Yuknoom the Great from 636 to 686 AD, Calakmul experienced a time of glory, associating with many cities in the Petén region and conquered Palenque and its foe Tikal (under Nuun Ujol Chaak) in 657. Yuknoom the Great was able to accomplish this by allying with Dos Pilas, an enemy of Tikal, and their influence extended to states including El Perú and Piedras Negras. Later on, Tikal enacted vengeance against then-ruler Yuknoom Yich’aak K’ak’ (Fiery Claw) in 695, holding off Calakmul’s invasion and possibly killing their leader. After that, Calakmul never recovered and associated more with Río Bec cities. Even if many impressive structures came after Tikal won, Calakmul was no longer the force it used to be and rule became decentralized by 830 AD.

The site spans 25 km² and contains 100 to 150 buildings in addition to 6,000 platforms, chultunes and temples. As many as 50,000 people could have lived here during the city’s peak in the Late Classic. While the city would have been huge then, it is now completely surrounded by tropical evergreen forest. Unlike the cities of the Puuc and Northern Yucatán, water was not as much of an issue. Instead of using chultunes, Calakmul used five reservoirs including a nearby lagoon. The earliest date came from Stela 114, which was 435 to 453 AD. Occupation took place from 550 to 900 AD, and was more densely packed than Tikal. There were structures that dated back to the Pre-Classic, but were built over by other structures. Calakmul was rediscovered by Sylvanus G. Morley and the Carnegie Institute in 1937 after centuries of abandonment. Stela 114 was one of 117 stelae found by the Carnegie Institute between 1932 and 1938, more than any other Mayan site. The last stela dates to 790 AD, coinciding with the site’s downfall. One of the highest structures is Temple II, which stands 45 m and provides a view of Guatamala to the south. Structure III contains the temple of an Early Classic ruler, who was a 30-year old male covered in textiles, pottery, stingray spines (for self-sacrifice), pearls, jade, shells, and mosaic masks. The last known burial was that of Fiery Claw in 695, and the first royal couple dated back to 623 AD in Structure V.

            Few sites could measure up to with Calakmul. The number of artifacts found and its sheer size make Calakmul one of the most impressive sites. It will be neat to compare and contrast this superstate with future sites we will visit such as Palenque, Bonampak and Yaxchilán.

http://s268.photobucket.com/albums/jj35/jonroth/Mexico/Campeche/Xpujil/Calakmul/