Today Is
12.19.19.4.15 Long Count Calender
12 Men 3 Wayeb Calendar Round
264 Days To Baktun 13
 |
| Early Stele Preservation |
Once a much larger archaeological city ruin, the whole southern part of the acropolis was deliberately destroyed in 1997, part of the so-called "urbanization" of the area. In fact, it was destroyed for no particularly good reason to expand a city that did not need to expand in that direction. The city is quite old and was founded during what is known as the Formative Period, which just precedes the important Classic era. The this reason, a great deal of the statuary has a look that appear non-Mayan on first observance. Further examination reveals some Mayan styles emerging that would be perfected and decimated during the Classic period and recognizable as strictly Maya in origin. El Baúl is part of the larger Mayan archaeological "zone" known as Cotzumalhuapa; the ballcourt is still in existence and some parts of the northern acropolis has been excavated; but most of the city remains under sugar cane fields--a non-native crop from Asia. The vast majority of what is left of the city on any kind of display for tourism are carved stele and statues. The site is near an active volcano, and it is suspected that it was abandoned long before the dawn of a cohesive Maya civilization because of the volcano. Here is a gallery of the unique works from this little known early Maya city.
 |
| Here is an illustrated detail of the above Stele, the engraving is easily recognized as being in the Maya style. |
No comments:
Post a Comment