Peten’s North-West is characterised by a tight network of rivers,
large wetlands, or Bajos, and numerous lakes. This difficult
environment is the reason why this region has been investigated archaeologically until few years ago.
Along with the famous sites,
La
Corona and
Waka´, there are several sites in this poorly explored area of
Guatemala, including the
important Hix Witz Polity.
See map above.
Hix Witz (Jaguar Hill) Polity
La Joyanca,
Pajaral
and
Zapote Bobal
shared the
Hix Witz or Jaguar or Ocelot Hills
toponym and
emblem glyph.
According to Stuart, Pajaral itself is probably the "true" Hixwitz, since the
small acropolis is built atop a large Hill that juts up dramatically from the
lower plaza and surrounding terrain. Zapote Bobal - a larger site - is also
built on high ground, but in no way can this be called a hill or mountain.
Stuart suspects that these sites shared local political and ritual power during
the Late Classic, perhaps like
Dos Pilas
and
Aguateca, and power shifted between
them over time. The Hixwitz polity is mentioned in Dos Pilas, Yaxchilán and
Piedras Negras
Hieroglyphic texts, but its main links were with Waka´, some 20 Km Northwest from
Zapote Bobal. The kingdom frontiers, would have been Piedras Negras to the west,
Waka'
to the north and
Motul de San José to the south
east. It is being investigated by the "Proyecto
Petén Noroccidente" leaded by James L. Fitzsimmons.
Hix Witz Emblem Glyph
La
Joyanca:
Its a mid size site, now in a
protected area of 3.6 Km2. The site was
discovered in 1994 during prospect ion for the construction of
the Xan-La Libertad pipeline. The
site was occupied for a long time, its ceramics shown dates
from the late Preclassic 400 AD up to the Late Classic (850-1000). The highest
population levels were reached during the late Classic, (600-800 AD), after the site was
abandoned certain palaces in the
Guacamaya group
may have been reoccupied during
the Terminal Classic up to 1000 AD, long after than the other sites in the area,
including
Piedras Negras.
Its influence reachead the rural sites named
El Tambo, 17 de Abril,
El Aguacate and Tuspan.
More than 400 structures have been identified. In its central area, it includes the architectural elements required
for what was probably an autonomous government: on one hand, the Main Plaza
with the two temple-pyramids 10 and 12 Mt. high (str. 6E and 6E-12). In
the Temple's interior three rooms with stonework vaults have
been restored. A solar figure in modelled stucco was found in
the entrance corridor opposite the door, as was a
Mayan text
carved on the wall of the central chamber. The Str.6E-13, has
seven to nine adjacent rooms on a platform 6 metres high and 56
metres long; on the other, the Guacamaya
Group, a complex of residential buildings with vaulted palaces. There are few
sculpted monuments, (Stelas and altars), and there is no ball-game court. The
small Gavilán Group is evidence of much more humble dwelling-places; it consists
of two little mounds in the residential zone, completely stripped, in which two
houses have been found which had not been occupied for much time. Along with
Zapote Bobal and Pajaral, This site integrated the polity
founded by
Chan Ahk
on 486 AD, --according to the text of a stela--and known as
Hix Witz, an allied of
Tikal up to 646
AD, and then under the sphere of
Dos Pilas, References to
the
Hix Witz
polity also appears in texts from
Piedras
Negras,
Itzimté, and Yaxchilán
Pajaral:
Is a Mid sized Late Classic ceremonial site,
at 200 mt Above sea level its the tallest point in the area.
The Site features two main groups, with 5 large and complete carved Stelas (3 mt. High) and around
20 more shattered long ago, also there are several altars. The largest of the
thirteen structures in the lower plaza are up to 8 meters in height. Many of the stelas were found on the western side of this lower plaza. The upper plaza is
built on a hill that is 300 meters long and 30 meters high that was modified in
the process of building the structures in that plaza. The largest of this plaza
structures is 20 meters high. The upper plaza area is accessed by a large
staircase 150 feet wide and perhaps 100 feet long, with 67 steps, That give the
sensation of being the Largest Classic Pyramid. The diverse
architectural styles visible at the site suggest contact with various other Maya
sites, several of the buildings in the upper plaza may have been used for
astronomical observations. The archaeologists say about this city, that it appears to had been
a major religious site that attracted pilgrims from all over the Mayan world in
its heyday, 700 to 800 AD. the later thinking is due to the lack of residential
areas. "There's nothing that compares with it in all known Mayan culture".
Part of the
"Hix Witz"
polity, along with
La Joyanca
and
Zapote Bobal.
Zapote Bobal:
A large size Maya site that shows occupation from the Late
Preclassic to the Late Classic, its name is due to the abundance of the
Sapodilla trees
named "Zapote Bobo" in
Guatemala. This city has more than 65 main structures in the central
area and residential groups, there are 16 carved monuments in the central area
and several more in its surroundings, (16 Stelas and 21 Altars, mainly in front
of Structure 55 named El cementerio, or graveyard for this feature) All the text
are from 642 to 749 AD, coinciding with the alliance with
Dos Pilas
and its
Warfare
against
Tikal. The central
area was constructed in a natural elevation some 1 Km long and 700 mt. wide.
that was levelled. The main plaza has 3 Temple Pyramids (11-12 mt High), the
north plaza has Palace like structures. There are 4 patios to the south of the
central plaza and a Pyramid Temple the tallest in the site (25 mt.) there are
several aguadas in the site. The residential area is in a 2.5 Km radius
surrounding the Central Area. Part of the
"Hix Witz"
polity, along with
La Joyanca
and Pajaral.
|
Site
Map |
Structure
55 and acrópolis unearthed |
El
Cementerio map showing sculpture location |
|
Stela
12, Chan Ahk. |
Stela 2, Base |
St 12 "Dancing"
Chan Ahk |
Stela 6 Backside |
Front |
Chakah: A
small site 5 Km. southwest of
Waka', with occupation from
the Late Classic to the Terminal Classic. It was probably the
port of Waka' on the San Pedro Mártir River. The site has 12 groups
with more than 61 structures identified to date, it has 3 main
plazas, being Plaza A and C the larger and with the biggest
Structures, that show Vaults, up to 4 mt. high, there
have been found ceramic pottery with the name of El Zotz in Central
Petén. There are several
burial uncovered and a
Chultún
|
Burial
4 ceramic |
El Reinado:
NI´TUUNAL
(Stone Tip) its real name, was
a large Site located north west of Flores, near the Chiquibul mountains
and south of
San Diego Site and Lake. The site
was occupied from the Late Pre Classic to the Late Classic (100
BC to 900 AD). The site shows monumental architecture includes a
ball court, Temples, platforms and Palaces, there are at least
12 Stelas and 3 altars uncovered to date, the investigations are
in course and the archaeologist expect to learn more in the
diggings.
|
Central Map site |
Periphery
structures Maps |
Periphery
structures Maps |
|
Group B Stelas |
Hyrogliphic steps Plaza A North Structure |
Step Plaza A West Structure |
|
Plaza A map |
Obsidian Blades |
Figurines |
