Comalcalco (archaeological site)
Covering an area of 7 km2 (2.7 sq mi), Comalcalco was founded in the Late Classic period and may have been a satellite or colony of Palenque based on architectural similarities between the two.[4][6] The city's strategic placement on the old Mezcalapa River meant that Comalcalco controlled the important trading link between Yucatán and the Gulf Coast and the highlands of Chiapas and Guatemala.[6] Archaeologist George F. Andrews of the University of Oregon believes that since Comalcalco was in the largest cacao production zone in Tabasco, it must have been involved in the distribution of this commodity.Figurines found on Jaina Island, approximately 350 km (220 mi) away on the Yucatán Peninsula, use clay with the same chemical composition as those of Comalcalco.Certain representations appear more frequently in the ceremonial core (rulers, dwarfs, articulated figures), while others (women) are more common in residential areas.[12][13] In later times, Comalcalco used the emblem glyph [de; fr; ja] of B'aakal associated with Palenque and Tortuguero, presumably due to conquest by the latter polity.[6] Román Piña Chan was in charge of archaeological work when Comalcalco was first surveyed in detail and its structures catalogued by George F. Andrews in 1966.[2] The most unusual feature of the ancient city is its use of fired clay bricks for construction as opposed to the quarried limestone common in the vast majority of Classical Maya sites.[1] After conducting his 1966 survey, Andrews concluded that the lack of significant differences in architectural style between the buildings indicated that they were built within a relatively short period of time.[7] Palenque-style architecture was apparently superimposed on the local buildings, giving further credence to the theory that Comalcalco was conquered by Palenque's B'aakal kingdom and perhaps even became a successor state.Its central stairway rises 20 m (66 ft) from the plaza floor,[10] passing through ten tiers with slanted sides and narrow ledges.In total, 260 glyphs appear written on conch pendants and stingray barbs, covering 14 years of Ah Pakal Tan's life.In the remains of the central stairway, archaeologist Román Piña Chán discovered a mask of the sun God Kinich Ahau in stucco.In ancient times, the central staircase leading to the sanctuary covered the entrance to a vaulted funeral chamber that was once decorated with stucco figures.In late 2010, a survey of a site 2.8 km (1.7 mi) north of the Great Acropolis led to the discovery of the largest burial ground found in the region to date.Three mounds yielded 116 sets of skeletal remains, with 66 individuals found in urns showing signs of belonging to the Maya elite through features such as cranial deformation, teeth filing and tooth incrustations.Preliminary studies led archaeologists to conclude that the remains were approximately 1,200 years old when discovered, placing the burial to the late classic period.
MexicoDésiré CharnayFrans BlomOliver LaFargearchaeological siteTabascoComalcalcoGulf of MexicoLate ClassicPalenqueChontalNahuatlcomalesChontalpaVillahermosaYucatánChiapasGuatemalaJaina IslandTortuguero archaeological siteemblem glyphClassical Maya collapseAmerican Museum of Natural HistorygroupingKinich AhaucorbelballcourtUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoSecretaría de Turismo (SECTUR)Maya sitesBelizeActun Tunichil MuknalAltun HaBaking PotBarton Creek CaveCahal PechCaracolCerrosChaa CreekCuelloEl PilarKaʼKabishKʼaxobLa MilpaLamanaiLouisvilleLower DoverLubaantunMarco GonzalezMinanhaNim Li PunitNohmulNohoch CheʼenPacbitunPusilhaSan EstevanSanta RitaUxbenkaXnahebXunantunichAguatecaAltar de SacrificiosArroyo de PiedraBalbertaBejucalCancuénCerro QuiacChitinamitChocoláChutixtioxCotzumalhuapaDos PilasEl BaúlEl ChalEl MiradorEl PerúEl PorvenirEl TemblorEl TintalEl ZotzGuaytánHolmulHoltunIximcheIxtontonIxtutzKaminaljuyuKʼatepanLa AmeliaLa BlancaLa CoronaLa JoyancaLa MuertaMachaquilaMixco ViejoMontanaMotul de San JoséNaachtunNaranjoPajaralPiedras NegrasPunta de ChiminoQuiriguáQʼumarkajRío AzulSan BartoloSan ClementeSeibalTakalik AbajTamarinditoTayasalTopoxteTres IslasUaxactunUcanalWajxaklajunWitznaXultunZacpetenZaculeuZapote BobalHondurasCopánEl PuenteAcancehAguada Fénix