Caracol


Caracol is a large ancient Maya archaeological site, located in what is now the Cayo District of Belize. It is situated approximately south of Xunantunich, and the town of San Ignacio, and from the Macal River. It rests on the Vaca Plateau, at an elevation of above sea-level, in the foothills of the Maya Mountains. Long thought to be a tertiary center, it is now known that the site was one of the most important regional political centers of the Maya Lowlands during the Classic Period. Caracol covered approximately, covering an area much larger than present-day Belize City, the largest metropolitan area in the country, and supported more than twice the modern city's population.

Etymology

Caracol is a modern name from the , but more generally meaning spiral or volute-shapedapparently on account of the winding access road that led to the site. The ancient Mayan name for the Caracol archaeological site was Uxwitza, meaning
"Three Water Hill" or "Three Hills".

Discovery

The site was first reported by a native logger named Rosa Mai, who came across its remains in 1937, while searching for mahogany hardwood trees to exploit. Mai reported the site to the archaeological commission for British Honduras, today Belize. In 1938, the archaeological commissioner A. Hamilton Anderson, visited the site for two weeks along with a colleague, Hugh Blockley Jex, who later became Inspector of Crown Licence. It was Anderson who gave the site its modern name. They conducted preliminary surveys, noted 9 carved monuments, took notes on the structures of the A-Group Plaza, and undertook limited excavations in two locations. Anderson and Linton Satterthwaite later discovered 40 stone monuments.

Excavations, investigations, and modern development

The site was first noted and documented archaeologically in 1937, by Anderson. More extensive explorations and documentation of the site was undertaken by Satterthwaite, of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, from 1950 to 1953. During this time Satterthwaite, primarily focused on finding and documenting monuments, later removing several stelae and altars. This early research resulted in the creation of a map of the central part of the site, the excavation of several tombs, the recording of the site's known stone monuments, and the transportation of about a dozen monuments to the University Museum, in Philadelphia. In the early 1980s, Paul F. Healy, of Trent University investigated Caracol's core area, recording several architectural groups, and noting the extensive terrace systems and high population density for the surrounding area.
The Caracol Archaeological Project, ongoing every year since 1985, is directed by Arlen and Diane Chase. The 1988–1989 field seasons researched the southeast section of the site, between the Conchita and Pajaro-Romonal Causeways, to determine the impact of the Tikal-Naranjo wars. From 1994 to 1996, the project focused investigations in the northeast section of the site, near the Puchituk terminus, which showed great time depth dating to the Middle Preclassic, and on the growth and cohesion of the site during Caracol's two major periods of aggression. In the spring dry season of 2009, they conducted a LiDAR survey with an aircraft that allowed a very rapid assessment of the entire site and surrounds, mapping, with results published in May 2010.
The only road the site can be accessed by is paved for the last and leads to the Western Highway between San Ignacio and Belmopan and to Santa Elena.
Caana is the largest building at Caracol, and is the tallest manmade structure in Belize, at tall.

Exploration timeline

Population

At Caracol, there are approximately 267 structures per square kilometer, 85% higher than Tikal. The site covers approximately 200 square kilometers, and within this area, structures are generally situated equidistantly and are integrated with the terrace system. The town grew into one of the largest ancient Maya cities, covering some with an estimated population of over 100,000 with settlement focused along the many radiating causeways. The invention of LIDAR helped discover the increase in population as it was able to detect more living areas.

History

The Caracol area was occupied as early as 1200 BC, yet occupation in the epicentral area was no earlier than 650 BC and lasted no later than AD 950. Caracol boasts 53 carved stone monuments, and more than 250 burials and 200 caches.
By the Early Classic, between AD 250 and 550, Caracol was tied into extensive trade networks and pan-lowland ideological systems, leading to a unified regional economy. The Caracol was officially founded in AD 331 by Te' K'ab Chaak. Special Deposit C117F-1, a Teotihuacan style cremation of three individuals dates precisely to this period, indicating early influences from northern Mexico.

Wars with Tikal

Caracol was at first a client state of the more powerful city of Tikal, to the northwest. Tikal's influence weakened during the mid-sixth century; losing control of Naranjo, located halfway between the two cities, from each site, to rival Calakmul. In AD 531, Lord K'an I, acceded to the throne. Lord Water, acceded to power in AD 553, under the auspices of Tikal's Lord Double Bird. In AD 556, Tikal enacted a ch'ak war and defeated Caracol. This caused Lord Water to enact the first known star war in 562, and defeated Tikal's Lord Wak Chan K'awiil. These poorly understood conflicts are usually associated with long hiatuses and the fall of dynasties. The name comes from the glyph, which shows a star pouring liquid on the earth. This particular star war was the cause of the archaeologically and epigraphically demonstrated Tikal mid-Classic hiatus, which saw a decline in Tikal's population, a cessation of monument erection, and the destruction of certain monuments in the Great Plaza. This 120-year-long hiatus at Tikal occurred as Caracol's population and monumental construction increased, becoming more prosperous and cohesive. Tikal took on cultural characteristics of Caracol during this time as, even with the renewed erection of monuments at Tikal, their style mimicked that of Caracol.
Yajaw Te' K'inich II passed on his throne to the eldest of his two sons, Knot Ajaw, in AD 599; his younger brother, K'an II, succeeded him in AD 618. K'an II performed a ritual of alliance in Calakmul's territory the following January. K'an II is described as the most successful Caracol ruler, reigning for 40 years from AD 618 to 658, he expanded the causeway system and saw an increase in the site's population.
In AD 627, Lord K'an II attacked Caracol's sometime ally Naranjo, in a hubi war. He attacked again in 628, and sacrificed its king. He then led a star war against Naranjo, in AD 631. He did it a fourth time in 636. In AD 637, he celebrated his first reigning k'atun by dedicating the Hieroglyphic Stairway at Naranjo itself.

Prosperity

Beginning in AD 636, there was a building boom at Caracol at the conclusion of the Tikal-Naranjo wars. Entering the Late Classic period, the site still demonstrated widespread cohesion. During this time Caracol also had a unique burial pattern, focusing on multiple burials in special chambers. This pattern is seen spreading out through the Peten region, likely controlled by Caracol, although this spread is independent of other material cultural indicators, like caching practices. K'an II commissioned more monuments than any other ruler, and ushered in the "golden age" of Caracol.
Twenty nine days before his death, K'an II "witnessed" the accession of his successor, K'ahk' Ujol K'inich II, on 9.11.5.14.0AD 658. During K'ahk' Ujol K'inich II's reign, Caracol was defeated in a star war by Naranjo, whose only monuments appear at La Rejolla.
Lasting from AD 702 to 798, this period lacks any hieroglyphic texts. Archaeologically, this period is correlated with an increase in site-wide prosperity. After the AD 798 date, the site core is still prosperous, yet shows less cohesion between the centre and outlying areas.
Warfare associated with K'inich Joy K'awil, on Stela 11, indicates the capture of eight captives. In 800 CE, K'inich Joy K'awiil captured the lord of Ucanal. Caana was also refinished during this period.
K'inich Toobil Yopaat's accession date is not certain, but he erected five or six monuments, and seems to have repaired relations with Ucanal. In AD 820, he enacted an axe war against Tikal.

Collapse

Evidence suggests that Caracol weathered the initial part of the Maya collapse. Through symbolic egalitarianism, it seems that the majority of the Late Classic population had access to "elite" material goods. However, the transition to the Terminal Classic sees a shift away from symbolic egalitarianism, when the elite developed their own ceramic traditions and had access to goods no longer available to the populace.
The last recorded date at Caracol is AD 85910.1.10.0.0, on Stele 10. Caana's abandonment dates to approximately AD 900; several other structures have occupation that dates to the Terminal Classic period. Structure A6 was abandoned in AD 1050, and marks the final abandonment of the site.

Known war events

Monument chronology

Monuments

Stelae

Stela 1

  • Potentially posthumous monument erected by K'an II, to solidify his rule by referring to Lord Water, but not his predecessor Knot Ahau
  • Martin and Grube say that it was erected by Yajaw Te' K'inich along with Altar 1 to mark the 9.8.0.0.0 K'atun ending
  • Located behind structure A1 with cached vessels below it, and a small "transformational tomb" behind it containing three cremated individuals
  • Found standing and unfragmented by A. H. Anderson in 1938, later excavations by the University Museum in 1950 revealed its association with Altar 1

    Stela 2

  • Discovered during the 1951 season fragmented into seven pieces scattered over an area of roughly 1.5 meters, located in the corridor between Structure A10 and the platform holding Structure A6. Only the upper 1.39 meters was found, 87 cm wide by 40 cm thick with a central segment of the shaft measuring c. 86 cm high. It depicts an eroded ruler from the waist up, marching forward, holding the bicephalic ceremonial bar. Only a partial date survives leading to a range from AD 613 to AD 657.