Machaquila

A stela from Machaquila, in the Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología in Guatemala City

Machaquila (or Machaquilá, using Spanish orthography) is a major ruined city of the Maya civilization in what is now the El Peten department of Guatemala.^[1]

Location

The ruins of Machaquila fall within the municipality of Poptún, in the Petén department of Guatemala.^[2] It is approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) west of the town of Poptún, and 80 kilometres (50 mi) southeast of Sayaxché.^[3] Machaquila is situated on the banks of the lower Machaquila River, which is a major tributary of the Pasión River.^[4] The site is in a relatively isolated region.^[5] During the Classic period, the city's location would have placed it upon a trade route running from the Maya Mountains in the east to the Pasión River in the west, and ultimately to the Usumacinta River.^[1] Machaquila is 30 kilometres (19 mi) southeast of the contemporary Maya site of Seibal.^[6]

Polity

Machaquila shared a pared Emblem Glyph with Cancuen, probably suggesting some form of joint rule and participation in a larger polity that included both cities.^[7] A proposal that Machaquila, Cancuen, and Tres Islas participated in a form of government that involved the transference of the status of capital from one city to the next has not been universally accepted.^[6]

History

Machaquila flourished in the Late to Terminal Classic periods,^[8] reaching the height of its power in approximately the ninth century.^[9] The rise in activity at Machaquila appears to have been a side effect of the collapse of the power of Dos Pilas over the Petexbatún kingdom.^[10]

In 2004, archaeologists announced that they had uncovered a hieroglyphic panel at Cancuen that depicts Tajal Chan Ahk, the 8th-century king of that city. The high relief sculpture shows him installing subordinate rulers at Machaquila.^[11]

Site description

The principal architecture at Machaquila has been dated to the Late Classic period, and includes temples and palace complexes. By 1984, nineteen stelae had been found at the site.^[8] Machaquila is unusual in the local region in lacking both an E-Group astronomical complex, and a ballcourt, which are both architectural arrangements that are often found in neighbouring cities.^[12] Machaquila is not particularly notable for its architecture or size, rather for its abundant sculpted monuments.^[13]

Monuments

Although many sculpted monuments were noted when the site was discovered, none remain at Machaquila. A few were moved in order to protect them, but the majority were looted and their whereabouts is unknown. Sculpted monuments from Machaquila included 18 stelae and 6 altars, and a series of sculpted blocks.^[13]

Notes

References

Further reading

External links

• List of known Machaquilán rulers

Coordinates: 16°19′N 89°52′W / 16.32°N 89.86°W / 16.32; -89.86

Maya sites Belize Actun Tunichil Muknal Altun Ha Baking Pot Barton Creek Cave Cahal Pech Caracol Cerros Chaa Creek Colha Cuello El Pilar Ka'Kabish K'axob La Milpa Lamanai Louisville Lower Dover Lubaantun Marco Gonzalez Nim Li Punit Nohmul Nohoch Che'en Pusilha San Estevan Santa Rita Corozal Tipu Uxbenka Xnaheb Xunantunich Guatemala Aguateca Altar de Sacrificios Arroyo de Piedra Balberta Bejucal Cancuén Chama Chitinamit Chocolá Chutixtiox Cotzumalhuapa Dos Pilas El Baúl El Chal El Mirador El Perú El Porvenir El Tintal El Zotz Holmul Holtun Itzan Iximche Ixkun Ixlu Ixtonton Ixtutz Kaminaljuyu Kinal La Amelia La Blanca La Corona La Joyanca La Muerta Machaquila Mixco Viejo Montana Motul de San José Naachtun Nakbe Nakum Naranjo Pajaral Piedras Negras Punta de Chimino Quiriguá Q'umarkaj Río Azul Sacul San Bartolo Seibal Takalik Abaj Tamarindito Tayasal Tikal Topoxte Tres Islas Uaxactun Ucanal Wajxaklajun Witzna Xultun Yaxha Zacpeten Zaculeu Zapote Bobal Honduras Copán El Puente Mexico Acanceh Aké Balamku Becan Bonampak Calakmul Chacchoben Chactún Chicanná Chinkultic Chichen Itza Chunchucmil Coba Comalcalco Dzibilchaltun Edzna Ek' Balam Izamal Izapa Jaina Jolja' Kabah Kiuic Kohunlich Komchen Labna La Mar Mayapan Maní Moral Reforma Muyil Oxkintok Palenque Plan de Ayutla (Maya Site) Pomona Punta Sur Río Bec San Gervasio Sayil Toniná Tortuguero Tulum Uxmal Xcaret Xelha Xlapak Xpuhil Yaxchilan Yaxuna Yula Yo'okop El Salvador Cara Sucia Casa Blanca Joya de Cerén San Andrés Tazumal See also: Pre-Columbian era