Architectural Wonders of Calakmul: A Mayan City's Growth and Development, Diapositivas de Historia

¡Descarga Architectural Wonders of Calakmul: A Mayan City's Growth and Development y más Diapositivas en PDF de Historia solo en Docsity! The Architecture of Petén at Calakmul: A Regional Comparison Translation of the Spanish by Alex Lomónaco Research Year: 2003 Culture: Maya Chronology: Pre-Classic to Terminal Pre-Classic Location: Campeche, México Site: Calakmul Structures, Urban Design and Architecture There are an incredible amount of things to see while visiting Calakmul as it is one of the most structurally rich Mayan sites. The 117 stelae are just one high point of this settlement. The largest water reservoirs are on this site, over 8 sacbes can be walked to various structures, and one of the highest pyramids in the region is the main pyramid standing at 148 feet! The views are amazing over the biosphere! Calakmul is an architectural sequence with figures sculpted in stone and modeled in plaster. The largest structures and urban plan for Calakmul were constructed toward the end of the Middle Pre- classic period (550 B.C. – 300 B.C.). During the 5th Century, Calakmul started extensive remodeling. Among these works is the noteworthy remodeling of the great foundation of Structure II. It is likely that toward the end of the Late Classic period (600-800 A.D.), Calakmul experienced its greatest prosperity and initiated yet another series of renovations and installation of public works which changed the city’s image. During this time the renovations focused on the construction of monuments, known as smooth stelae (or estelas lisas), and erected in the Great Plaza. Urban design – The core of Calakmul covers 2 square kilometers (0.77 sq mi), an area that contains the remains of roughly 1000 structures. The periphery was occupied by smaller residential structures beyond the site core covers an area of more than 20 square kilometers (7.7 sq mi). Archaeologists have mapped approximately 6250 structures but only the core area structures are open to the public. Calakmul matches Tikal in size and estimated population, but appears to have greater density. Reservoirs and Water – The site is surrounded by an extensive network of canals and reservoirs. There are five major reservoirs, including the largest example in the Maya world, measuring 242 by 212 meters (794 by 696 ft) that was a filled, small river during the rainy season. Sacbes – Eight sacbe (causeways) have been located around Calakmul. Two of these have been mapped, three have been identified visually on the ground and three more identified with remote sensing. The sacbes not only linked Calakmul with local suburban sites but also with more distant allies and rivals, such as the great cities of El Mirador, El Tintal and Nakbe. The longest documented roadway links Calakmul with El Mirador first (38.25 kilometres (23.77 mi) to the southwest) and ends at El Tintal making this sacbe 68.25 kilometers (42.77 mi). Structure 1 (or Structure I) is located to the east of the plaza center. A number of stelae were erected at its base by the Ruler Yuknoom Took’ K’awiil in 731. Because it was built on a low hill, Structure 1 appears to be higher than Structure 2, although this is not the case. Structure 2 (or Structure II) is a north-facing pyramid that is the largest in in the Maya world. The base measures 120 meters (390 ft) square and it stands over 45 meters (148 ft) high. The construction of this pyramid is similar to other pyramids, where there are multiple construction on top of each other, enabling incredible heights. The core of the building (Structure 2A) is a triadic pyramid dating to the Late Pre-classic Period. An extension was added to the front of the pyramid in the Early Classic Period which covered an earlier building on the north side and made up a series of shrines. Structure 2B was the central shrine, 2C was the east shrine and 2D the west shrine. The facade was decorated with six large masks set between the stairways, three arranged vertically on each side.