Among all the Mayan cities, Chunchucmil was the most perplexing yet discovered by modern archaeologists, and believed to be among the most important as it gave the modern world the knowledge as to how their individual city-based empires connected and interfaced. It is not known by breathtaking buildings, holding few pyramids, stelea, or significant ancient monuments of any kind. It was not reigned over by a popular ruler. It wasn't even built in a notably beneficial site - relatively the contrary, in accordance with modern scientists. Nevertheless, such city was more than compared to any other region because it informs and illustrates our knowledge about the ancient Mesoamerica trade systems. In the time of its peak, it was an exceptional and also significant commercial heart, free of manipulation by any single governing faction, nevertheless the meeting place as well as melting pot for a diverse variety of cultures and influences from all over the region - without whose consistent interaction and mutual exchanges the Chunchucmil city would not have been able to survive by any means.
An Unfriendly Site
In the face of its evident importance, Chunchucmil was established on one of the Yucatan peninsula's most hostile location. The city's remains sit on a strip of partially desert ground having the driest environments among any of the lands controlled by the Maya. The area has poor and sparse soil; measuring just a few inches at its deepest, nearly half of the region is free of any covering, causing the limestone substrate that underlies most of the Yucatan particularly disclosed. It was in fact named for a well, which literally translates to "well at the base of the Chukum Tree". Sitting at the north-western tip of the peninsula, it is situated approximately 30 kilometres from the ocean, halfway between the shore and Ixkintok - the inland city of the Mayan. The size of the city was only estimated to be in the range of 25 to 65 square kilometres but has not been exactly determined. Besides being constructed in such an unfavorable environment - and in some cases, exactly because of this fact - there's adequate evidence that Chunchucmil was a massive trade route centre that spanned the distance between the Gulf of Mexico and also the peninsula's interior.
Pile Of Structures
Chunchucmil's development reached its apex during the Mayan Classical Pyramid. Although it city was not known for its monuments, its layout was clearly defined and affords us a fascinating insight into the utilization of land. The majority of Chunchucmil was split up into "quadrangles", or rectangular grids where individual settlements were developed. Such quadrangles were joined with a network of stone-lined paths that branched outward from the center of the city, offering its framework that is akin to that of a honeycomb; these stone paths, when leaving the city, led to the outlying suburbs with larger roads connecting them, and ultimately to the long-distance roads that connected Chunchucmil along with its trading partners.
These quadrangles have 2 major varieties which are determined by the types of buildings that are inside them. The so called "picj" quadrangle groups were determined by pyramids, generally between 8 and 18 meters tall. Resting between the pyramid and also the other buildings lining the edges of the rectangular plot was a huge courtyard, which would usually include ceremonial platforms or altars; this group is thereby considered to be of religious significance. The residential groups, by comparison, were enclosed by stone walls, and possibly included housing for the population of Chunchucmil. There is a small yard inside the centre of these building groups. The distinct boundaries between lots, and the shrine or small temple for household rituals which is depicted at most such excavated plots, isn't different in style to the ones located at some other cities in Mesoamerica such as Teotihuacan, providing enough evidence to the true reach of the trade routes of Chunchucmil.
A Booming Economy
The very fact of its existence is one of the major puzzles of Chunchucmil. In such an inhospitable and dry environment with poor prospects for cultivation and farming, how could such a city thrive, survive and grow sufficient food to provide its citizens? The undeniable answer appears to be that Chunchucmil was the most flourishing marketplaces of Mesoamerica. Goods from all over the region traveled back and forth this city on the numerous roads which generally spiraled out from its centre, pulling a great and different range of people and goods together in just one sizeable marketplace. This likewise goes far towards explaining the absence of any sort of king, lineage, or religious dynasty enshrined on stele through the entire urban centre, as was de rigour for most Mayan cities; it was a centre with many cultures as it is where tribes, cultures and religions met and exchanged goods, where commerce is given much importance than politics and religion.
A historical hint to such marvel arrives in the form of "prismatic blades", or sharp cutting tools disintegrated from bigger valuable stones such as obsidian, that are significantly found at Chunuchmil. We know these blades were not locally produced, from close examination and even if ample technology and resources existed to make them; as a matter of fact, they came from Guatemala which is more than thousand kilometers away! The amount of these blades hauled from the location - just enough that they can be regarded as disposable items for the hoi polloi of the city - provides a clear conclusion that the frequent long distance trade made them available and easily obtainable that the people of Chunchucmil thought nothing of getting such tools from the trading markets, just like we seldom rethink about the main geographical source of the processed or canned food we grab from the grocery store!
Wishing to see and explore the ancient Mayan cities? If that's the case, simply come to Chichen Itza.
An Unfriendly Site
In the face of its evident importance, Chunchucmil was established on one of the Yucatan peninsula's most hostile location. The city's remains sit on a strip of partially desert ground having the driest environments among any of the lands controlled by the Maya. The area has poor and sparse soil; measuring just a few inches at its deepest, nearly half of the region is free of any covering, causing the limestone substrate that underlies most of the Yucatan particularly disclosed. It was in fact named for a well, which literally translates to "well at the base of the Chukum Tree". Sitting at the north-western tip of the peninsula, it is situated approximately 30 kilometres from the ocean, halfway between the shore and Ixkintok - the inland city of the Mayan. The size of the city was only estimated to be in the range of 25 to 65 square kilometres but has not been exactly determined. Besides being constructed in such an unfavorable environment - and in some cases, exactly because of this fact - there's adequate evidence that Chunchucmil was a massive trade route centre that spanned the distance between the Gulf of Mexico and also the peninsula's interior.
Pile Of Structures
Chunchucmil's development reached its apex during the Mayan Classical Pyramid. Although it city was not known for its monuments, its layout was clearly defined and affords us a fascinating insight into the utilization of land. The majority of Chunchucmil was split up into "quadrangles", or rectangular grids where individual settlements were developed. Such quadrangles were joined with a network of stone-lined paths that branched outward from the center of the city, offering its framework that is akin to that of a honeycomb; these stone paths, when leaving the city, led to the outlying suburbs with larger roads connecting them, and ultimately to the long-distance roads that connected Chunchucmil along with its trading partners.
These quadrangles have 2 major varieties which are determined by the types of buildings that are inside them. The so called "picj" quadrangle groups were determined by pyramids, generally between 8 and 18 meters tall. Resting between the pyramid and also the other buildings lining the edges of the rectangular plot was a huge courtyard, which would usually include ceremonial platforms or altars; this group is thereby considered to be of religious significance. The residential groups, by comparison, were enclosed by stone walls, and possibly included housing for the population of Chunchucmil. There is a small yard inside the centre of these building groups. The distinct boundaries between lots, and the shrine or small temple for household rituals which is depicted at most such excavated plots, isn't different in style to the ones located at some other cities in Mesoamerica such as Teotihuacan, providing enough evidence to the true reach of the trade routes of Chunchucmil.
A Booming Economy
The very fact of its existence is one of the major puzzles of Chunchucmil. In such an inhospitable and dry environment with poor prospects for cultivation and farming, how could such a city thrive, survive and grow sufficient food to provide its citizens? The undeniable answer appears to be that Chunchucmil was the most flourishing marketplaces of Mesoamerica. Goods from all over the region traveled back and forth this city on the numerous roads which generally spiraled out from its centre, pulling a great and different range of people and goods together in just one sizeable marketplace. This likewise goes far towards explaining the absence of any sort of king, lineage, or religious dynasty enshrined on stele through the entire urban centre, as was de rigour for most Mayan cities; it was a centre with many cultures as it is where tribes, cultures and religions met and exchanged goods, where commerce is given much importance than politics and religion.
A historical hint to such marvel arrives in the form of "prismatic blades", or sharp cutting tools disintegrated from bigger valuable stones such as obsidian, that are significantly found at Chunuchmil. We know these blades were not locally produced, from close examination and even if ample technology and resources existed to make them; as a matter of fact, they came from Guatemala which is more than thousand kilometers away! The amount of these blades hauled from the location - just enough that they can be regarded as disposable items for the hoi polloi of the city - provides a clear conclusion that the frequent long distance trade made them available and easily obtainable that the people of Chunchucmil thought nothing of getting such tools from the trading markets, just like we seldom rethink about the main geographical source of the processed or canned food we grab from the grocery store!
Wishing to see and explore the ancient Mayan cities? If that's the case, simply come to Chichen Itza.
About the Author:
Find out more on the yucatan Peninsula Ecology here: Yucatan Birding. Discover more travel ideas on the Travel Community.
