Bernard Hermes

Yaxha and Nakum are two important Maya centers where intensive investigations have been conducted during the last three decades. The scale of monumental architecture documented at Yaxha indicates that it was one of the largest Late Preclassic cities in the southern Maya lowlands and must have dominated other neighboring centers. The first part of the Middle Preclassic, sometimes termed “pre-Mamom” because it predates the great spread of the Mamom ceramic sphere, is characterized by many important socio-cultural changes, but mainly by the spread of village life and pottery in the Maya lowlands. The Middle Preclassic period is traditionally divided into two ceramic horizons: pre-Mamom and Mamom. Nakum and Yaxha have evidence of pre-Mamom occupation. The most important Late Preclassic complex of Nakum is the Central Acropolis. It grew considerably during the Chicanel phase. The Late Preclassic also saw several important architectural programs in the Northern Sector of Nakum.

This study investigates the Protoclassic ceramic production at Nakum, Guatemala, using it as a proxy to explore the nature of the transition from the Preclassic to Classic period (100/50 BC-AD 300/350) in Central Maya lowlands. Petrographic analysis reveals that household specialisation existed in the local production of slipped serving and utilitarian wares at Nakum. The recovery of locally made polychrome vessels further indicates that Nakum might have participated in a new network of cultural interactions and trade, enabling the community to sustain stable growth at a time when many major Preclassic sites declined.

Recent investigations at the Maya centre of Nakum (located in northeastern Guatemala) included intensive excavations of Structure X (a.k.a. Structure 104)-one of the largest pyramidal temples at this site. This research showed that the first major version of this building consisted of a three-terraced platform dated to the Middle Preclassic period (750-300 bc), which was part of an important complex, the so-called E-Group. Such groups constitute the oldest manifestation of monumental architecture in the Maya Lowlands. With time, Structure X was converted into a large pyramidal structure in which several burials were situated during the Classic period (ad 250-800), making it an important mausoleum with interments of important elite members of local society. One of these burials (no. 8) was discovered below the floor of the temple building located on top of the pyramid and was a richly equipped tomb. It is most likely the resting place of one of the Nakum kings reigning during the Early-Late Classic transition (c. ad 550-650). This tomb had 11 vessels, including beautiful examples of polychrome Maya ceramics (representing different supernatural beings), many marine materials, five stingray spines and other artefacts. The tomb chamber was also covered by a deposit consisting of several thousand flint flakes that most probably had some symbolic meaning. In this article we discuss ancient Maya burial customs as documented in Structure X and present it in a wider perspective. We also describe similar lithic deposits associated with some of the richest Lowland Maya tombs and present their meaning and symbolism. Resumen Las investigaciones recientes en el centro maya de Nakum (localizado en el Noreste de Guatemala) incluyeron excavaciones intensivas del Edificio X (también conocido como Edificio 104)-uno de los templos piramidales más grandes en este sitio. Los trabajos de investigación demostraron que la primera versión mayor de este edificio consistió en una plataforma de tres terrazas fechada para el período Preclásico Medio (750-300 a.C.), la que formaba parte de un complejo importante de edificaciones al que se denomina como tipo Grupo E. Este tipo de grupos constituyen la manifestación mas antigua de la arquitectura monumental en las Tierras Bajas Mayas. Con el tiempo, el Edificio X fue convertido en una piramide grande, en la cual durante el período Clásico (250-800 d.C.) fueron depositados varios entierros, lo que le convierte en un mausoleo importante que contiene sepulturas de los miembros de la elite local. Uno de estos entierros (No. 8) es una tumba con una rica

In 2018 in Lake Petén Itzá (Petén Department, northern Guatemala) underwater archaeological survey has been conducted by the Polish–Guatemalan group of archaeologists. During the first season underwater reconnaissance has been performed in seven zones of the southern part of the lake. The main surveyed areas were the surroundings of the islands: Flores, Santa Bárbara, El Hospital, two smaller nameless ones (currently submerged due to the increase of the water level), as well
as some part of the coastal area of the Tayasal Peninsula (north of Flores). The main objective of the first phase of the project was to locate the traces of the ritual activities of the Maya peoples inhabiting the neighbourhood of the lake as well as capturing the evidence of the final naval battle between the Itza Maya and Spanish conquistadors which took place in 1697. The aim of the article is to present the results of the reconnaissance as well as hypotheses and preliminary interpretations
of the discoveries based on the data acquired during the field research.

Resumen El sitio maya Xacbal está situado en la parte oeste de Guatemala. Se encuentra en la margen izquierda del río Xacbal, sobre un terreno plano a 660 m snm. Los edificios están construidos con bloques calcáreos, en bruto y emparejados, dispuestos sobre una terraza adosada a las laderas bajas de la vertiente. En noviembre de 2007, se llevó a cabo una prospección arqueológica en el área del Proyecto Hidroeléctrico Hidro-Xacbal, actividad en la que fue localizado nuevamente el sitio Xacbal que estaba olvidado y oculto por vegetación. Posteriormente dio inicio un proyecto de rescate arqueológico que tuvo tres fases: 1) de enero a mayo de 2008, evaluación y diagnóstico del estado del sitio, 2) durante el mes de febrero de 2009, reposición de volumen en las estructuras dañadas y depredadas, relleno de excavaciones ilícitas y consolidación de las tumbas expuestas y 3) de junio 2009 a marzo 2010, consolidación y restauración de los edificios y la Plaza Central. En el presente trabajo se comentan los resultados obtenidos en el trabajo de análisis tipológico y modal de la cerámica de los periodos Preclásico Medio (Complejo Nanques), Preclásico Tardío (Complejo Ilom) y Clásico Temprano (Complejo Chel) y su importancia primordial consiste en difundir la información recabada con la finalidad de situar a nivel comparativo el material de este sitio prehispánico ubicado en la poco conocida e investigada zona norte de la región Ixil. Abstract The Xacbal archaeological site of Maya is situated in the western part of Guatemala, on the left bank of the river Xacbal, on a plain about 660 m.a.s.l. The constructions were made of calcareous blocs located on a platform adjacent to the lower parts of the hillside. The new, second discovery of the forgotten and completely overgrown site took place in 2007 during the Hidro-Xacbal Hydroelectric Project. The Rescue Archaeological project began consecutively and consisted of three phases:

Recent investigations carried out at Nakum and Yaxha, two Maya sites located in northeastern Guatemala, revealed important evidence of Terminal Classic occupation. Accessible archaeological and epigraphic data indicate that both cities established new economic and political alliances and contacts with other Lowland Maya centres and possibly also with more distant regions in Mesoamerica. As a result, new architectural modes and styles as well as new iconographic trends appeared in these centers. In Nakum, as in several other Terminal Classic sites, a combination of these new pan-Mesoamerican modes and the old, traditional symbols were used to legitimize the power of local elites and their rule over local population. The short term success of Nakum and possibly also of neighboring Yaxha was dependant upon a group of factors, the most important being their proximity to important resources (water sources, trade, and communication routes) and the considerable political and economic independence they gained after the collapse of the former hegemons of this area-Tikal and Naranjo. Resumen Trabajos de investigación arqueológica efectuados recientemente en los sitios mayas de Nakum y Yaxha ubicados en el ne de guatemala (departamento el Peten) han proporcionado evidencia de distinto tipo referente a la ocupación durante el periodo Clásico Terminal. La información arqueológica y epigráfica conocida indica que en ambos sitios ocurren cambios políticos y económicos que resultaron en el establecimiento de nuevas alianzas y contactos con otros sitios de las Tierras Bajas Mayas Centrales y posiblemente también con regiones distantes del área Mesoamericana. Ejemplos claros de los cambios generados por el conjunto de fenómenos sociales acaecidos se observan en nuevos modos y estilos arquitectónicos, en la aparición de formas y modos tecno-estilísticos en la industria cerámica así como nuevas tendencias iconográficas. En Nakum, al igual que en otros sitios del período Clásico Terminal, es evidente una combinación de los nuevos modos pan mesoamericanos con la tradición local cuyo simbolismo fue utilizado por las elites locales para legitimizar su derecho de gobierno sobre la población local. Este éxito de corta duración en Nakum y posiblemente también en el cercano Yaxha dependió de un grupo de factores diferentes, de los cuales el más importante fue su proximidad a recursos importantes (fuentes de agua, vías de comunicación y accesibilidad a rutas comerciales), así como la considerable independencia política y económica alcanzada por los gobernantes locales gracias al colapso de Tikal y Naranjo, los dos sitios que siempre fueron los centros de poder predominantes en la zona.

Recent investigations at the Maya centre of Nakum (in Guatemala) enabled the study of the evolution of an interesting complex of buildings that started as the so-called E-Group, built during the Preclassic period (c. 600–300 BC). It was used for solar observations and rituals commemorating agricultural and calendrical cycles. During the Classic period (AD 250– 800), the major building of the complex (Structure X) was converted into a large pyramidal temple where several burials, including at least one royal tomb, were placed. We were also able to document evidence of mortuary cults conducted by the Maya in the temple building situated above the burials. The architectural conversion documented in Structure X may reflect important religious and social changes: a transformation from the place where the Sun was observed and worshipped to the place where deceased and deified kings were apotheo-sized as the Sun Deity during the Classic. Thus the Maya transformed Structure X into one of the most sacred loci at Nakum by imbuing it with a complex solar and underworld symbolism and associating it with the cult of deified ancestors.