Chojolom

Boulder sculpture at Chojolom, believed to represent the head of a deity.[1]
Artificial cave where one of the stone heads was found

Chojolom is a small Maya archaeological site in the western highlands of Guatemala. The site features a number of sculpted stones that are presumed to belong to the K'iche Maya culture of the Postclassic Period (approximately AD 900–1520).[2] Chojolom is situated on a hill in the municipality of Cantel, in the department of Quetzaltenango.[3] The municipality is inhabited by K'iche' Maya to this day, who make up 93.8% of the local population.[4] Cantel is located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the modern city of Quetzaltenango at Kilometer 217 on the CA2 Highway.[5] Chojolom is believed to have been a ritual site.[6]

Chojolom means "by the head" in the K'iche' Maya language, deriving from the root word jolom ("head").[7] Local historian Mariano Cornejo has speculated that the depositing of the stone heads and the naming of the hill may be linked.[8]

Sculptures

As of September 2010 three sculpted stone heads have been found at the site; one of an armadillo, one human and one representing a deity.[9] The heads were discovered when mud was cleared away after a period of heavy rain in 2010.[10] One of the stone heads was found in a cave at the site.[11] Ceramics and bones have also been found, which may represent a ritual offering.[12] In addition to the stone heads, a clay head has also been found.[13] A minor landslide in October 2010 revealed a stone altar under a tree root.[14]

The Armadillo Head measures approximately 15 by 20 centimetres (5.9 by 7.9 in).[15] The Nine-banded Armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus is native to the Cantel region.[16] The Armadillo Head was the first of the three stone heads to have been found by local farmer Sebastián Sam.[17]

The Human Head measures 50 by 50 centimetres (20 by 20 in).[18] It was the second stone head to be discovered at Chojolom.[19]

The Deity Head is the largest sculpture, measuring 1.1 by 1.4 metres (3.6 by 4.6 ft).[20] It was the third stone head to be found at the site.[21]

The Altar measures 25 by 50 centimetres (9.8 by 19.7 in) and bears designs that include circles, hills, human figures and a deer.[22] The combination of six human figures with the deer has been interpreted as a Maya calendrical date by Guatemalan anthropologist Lina Barrios.[23]

Gallery

Notes

  1. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  2. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  3. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18. Rodríguez Rouanet et al 1992, p.2.
  4. ↑ Anonymous 2010-09-18. Servicio de Información Municipal.
  5. ↑ Inforpressca, p.6.
  6. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  7. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18. Christenson, p.46.
  8. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  9. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  10. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  11. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  12. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  13. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  14. ↑ Rodas 2010-10-05.
  15. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  16. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18. Corporación Municipal 2001, p.14.
  17. ↑ Anonymous 2010-09-18.
  18. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  19. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  20. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  21. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  22. ↑ Rodas 2010-10-05.
  23. ↑ Rodas 2010-10-05.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chojolom.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Chojolom.
Anonymous (2010-09-18). "Editorial: Hallazgos en Cantel deben protegerse" [Editorial: Finds in Cantel should be protected]. El Quetzalteco (in Spanish) (Quetzaltenango, Guatemala). Retrieved 2010-10-19. 
Corporación Municipal (2001). "Plan Estratégico de Desarollo Integral del Municipio de Cantel" (PDF) (in Spanish). Cantel, Guatemala. Retrieved 2010-10-19. 
Christenson, Allen J. "K’iche’ - English Dictionary and Guide to Pronunciation of the K’iche’-Maya Alphabet" (PDF). Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc. (FAMSI). Retrieved 2010-10-18. 
Inforpressca. "Diagnostico, Área Urbana Cantel. Quetzaltenango" (PDF). Guatemala: Inforpressca. Retrieved 2010-10-19. 
Rodas, Leonel (2010-09-18). "Descubren piedras antiguas" [Ancient stones found]. El Quetzalteco (in Spanish) (Quetzaltenango, Guatemala). Retrieved 2010-10-18. 
Rodas, Leonel (2010-10-05). "Descubren altar antiguo en Cantel" [Ancient altar found in Cantel]. El Quetzalteco (in Spanish) (Quetzaltenango, Guatemala). Retrieved 2010-10-18. 
Rodríguez Rouanet, Francisco; Fernando Seijas; Gerardo Townson Rincón (1992). Quetzaltenango. Monografías de Guatemala, 3 (in Spanish). Guatemala: Banco Granai & Townson. OCLC 31406036. 
Servicio de Información Municipal. "Demografía del Municipio de Cantel, Quetzaltenango" (in Spanish). Guatemala City: Inforpressca. Retrieved 2010-10-19. 

Further reading

Chaclán, Ana C. (2012-03-03). "Sitio arqueológico atrae al turismo" [Archaeological site attracts tourism]. Prensa Libre (in Spanish) (Guatemala City, Guatemala). Retrieved 2013-03-24. 

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