History Zaculeu

1 history

1.1 k iche conquest
1.2 spanish conquest
1.3 modern history

history

zaculeu first occupied in classic period (ad 250–600), , buildings era show architectural influence of great metropolis of teotihuacán in valley of mexico. largest constructions date classic period (ad 250–900). these added other plaza groups , buildings in postclassic (ad 900–1200) , late postclassic (ad 1200–1525) in unbroken history. zaculeu has been used ceremonial site mam maya continuously present.

zaculeu came under influence of central mexico again in late classic. architectural influence distinct suggests foreign mexican elite may have settled @ city , continued in occupation there until k iche conquered site in postclassic.

k iche conquest

the k iche kingdom of q umarkaj conquered zaculeu in postclassic. traditionally has been calculated during 15th century ad based on ethnohistoric accounts. radiocarbon dating has pushed calculations of k iche conquests 3 centuries, , researchers conquest of mam kingdoms may have taken place 12th century. city dominated k iche until spanish conquest of 16th century.

the ballcourt seen across plaza 2, rear of structure 13 @ right.

the k iche king q uq umatz died in battle against group of northern mam. son k iq ab continued father had left off , completed conquest of people. k iq ab ruler when zaculeu conquered k iche. appears have been second k iche conquest of city, having fallen time earlier. when k iche conquered kingdom, practice place newly subject kingdom under control of 1 of k iche noble lineages. based on style of structure 4, archeologists believe zaculeu controlled nija ib. ilocab, had conquered of region, possibility. k iche tended place newly installed ruling elite in mountain-top fortress securing population in valleys below. however, substantial portions of original mam population remained in place in plateau area.

the k iche rebuilt on earlier classic period structures in distinctively k iche style. basic k iche layout consists of westward-facing temple steep talud-tablero facade, flanked 2 unequally sized wings. have been temple of awilix, patron goddess of nija ib k iche . longer palace structure lies north, facing southwards , ballcourt southwest. k iche layout distorted reuse of earlier architecture, because typical mam settlement layout built along axis running southeast northwest. k iche did not redesign entire site along k iche pattern, juxtaposition of mam- , k iche -style complexes demonstrates fusing of local , intrusive elite lineages.

excavations have uncovered examples of metalwork @ zaculeu. these small ornamental pieces. example representation of butterfly worked tumbaga, alloy of gold , copper, dated postclassic period.

spanish conquest

although hostilities existed between mam , k iche of q umarkaj after rebellion of kaqchikel people against k iche allies, arrival of spanish conquistadors shifted political landscape. conquistador pedro de alvarado described how mam king kayb il b alam received great honour in q umarkaj.

at time of spanish conquest, main mam population situated in xinabahul (also spelled chinabjul), city of huehuetenango. retreated zaculeu refuge during spanish attacks because of fortifications. refuge attacked gonzalo de alvarado y contreras, brother of conquistador pedro de alvarado, in 1525, 120 soldiers, , 2,000 mexican , k iche allies. city defended kayb il b alam commanding 5,000 people (the chronicles not clear if number of soldiers or total population of zaculeu).

after siege lasting several months, mam reduced starvation. kayb il b alam surrendered city spanish in october 1525. when spanish entered city, found 1,800 dead indians, survivors eating corpses of dead. spanish forced abandonment of zaculeu after built new city of huehuetenango 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) away.

modern history

american explorer john lloyd stephens , english architect frederick catherwood visited site in 1840, @ time confused jumble of overgrown ruins. stephens published description of archaeological remains year later. catherwood did not draw of structures due poor state of remains. 2 excavated 1 of mounds , recovered ceramic vessels, catherwood drew.

on 24 april 1931, guatemala declared site national monument under name of tzaculeu. on 23 february 1946, site renamed zaculeu. government gave license excavate united fruit company, began archaeological excavations , related restorations of structures under direction of john m. dimick. later included re-coating number of buildings white plaster, known many finished way. has seldom been done in other restorations of pre-columbian buildings.

on 12 june 1970 site declared national precolumbian monument accord of guatemalan ministry of education (mineduc).