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Caracol

16 45'50 .14 "N 89 7'3 .33" W / 16.7639278, -89.1175917

Temple at Caracol

Residential Complex at Caracol

Caracol in Spanish) is the name of a city Mayan ancient, located in Belize.

Summary

1 History
2 Site description
3 Notes and references
4 See also
- 4.1 Article Related
- External 4.2 Links

History

Recent archaeological investigations have revealed that Caracol was a city larger than previously thought. Occupied during the Preclassic, Caracol site remained a modest Early Classic. The first entry in the long account to report a sovereign named Te 'K'ab Chaak, which could be the founder of the dynasty, when 331 . The city was involved in wars between Tikal and Calakmul in the sixth and seventh centuries. She so enriched by the spoils obtained in many wars that elites could afford its wealthy burials normally reserved for royalty. The large number of graves featuring polychrome ceramics has led some commentators to speak of the emergence of a "middle class" . Beaten by Naranjo in 680 , Caracol entered a long period of decline. She had a last period of prosperity in the early ninth century.

Unlike most Maya cities, Caracol had no emblem glyph- starting k'uhul ajaw (divine lord). To designate the sovereign we used the expression k'uhul kantumaak . The ancient name of the city was Uxwitza .

Site description

Caana temple is the largest structure of Caracol. The layout recalls the temples "triad" of Preclassic site of El Mirador. Some steps of the pyramid were covered vaulted rooms. The early phases of the graves contain unidentified. Carocol has a large number of sacbeob linking the center to the periphery. The site includes three 'aguadas' or water points listed. He has two steles representing queens. We have found two masks shaped alligator. The oldest monument bearing an inscription legible Caracol is the stele 13 (9.4.0.0.0) ( 514 ). The size of the glyphs of the monuments of Caracol would be greater than elsewhere.

Caracol network has a particularly remarkable sacbob : it accounts for nearly 70 km of roads from the center of the city that connects to satellite sites on nearly 300 km2.

The pair of American archaeologists, Arlen and Diane Chase, hypothesized the presence of a middle class greater than elsewhere, which would be revealed by a pervasive use of ceramics luxury in most of the tombs.

References

Simon Martin and Nikolai Grube, Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens (2nd ed.) Thames & Hudson, 2008, p. 86
Arthur Demarest, The Maya, Tallandier, 2007, p. 222
Robert J. Sharer, Tha Ancient Maya (6th ed.), Stanford University Press, 2006, p. 364
Simon Martin and Nikolai Grube, op. cit., p. 87
VI Mesa Redonda de Palenque, 2008

Mayan sites
Belize	Altun Ha Cahal Pech Caracol Cerros Cuello El Pilar Lamanai Lubaantun Nim Li Punit San Estevan Uxbenka Xunantunich
Guatemala	Aguateca Altar of Sacrificios BALBERT Bejucal Cancun Chitinamit Chocola Dos Pilas Bal El El Chal El Mirador El Tintal El Zotz Holmul Holtun Itzan Iximche Ixkun Ixlu Ixtutz Kaminaljuyu The Amelia La Blanca La Muerta Machaquila Mixco Viejo Montana Motul San Jose Naachtun Nakbe Nakum Naranjo Piedras Negras Punta de Chimino Quirigu Q'umarkaj Ro Azul Sacul San Bartolo Seibal Takalik Abaj Tamarindito Tayasal Tikal Topoxte Uaxactun El Per Yaxha Zacpeten Zaculeu Zapote Bobal
Honduras	Copn El Puente
Mexico	Ake Balamku Becan Bonampak Calakmul Chacchoben Chicann Chinkultic Chichen Itza Chunchucmil Coba Comalcalco Dzibilchaltun Edzna Ek 'Balam Izapa Jaina Kabah Kohunlich Komchen Labna Mayapan Mani Muyil Oxkintok Palenque Punta Sur Ro Bec San Gervasio Sayil Tonin Tulum Uxmal Xcaret Xel-Ha Xlapak Xpujil Yaxchilan Yo'okop
Salvador	Cara Sucia Joya de Ceren San Andrs Tazumal
Maya architecture Maya civilization Maya Art