The most characteristic
geological feature in Aguateca is a crack that passes
to the west site, which was caused by a tectonic effect.
The walls are perpendicular and measure 2 to 10 meters
wide and 1 ½ km long. It is also characterized
for a cliff to the east, as well as the defensive wall
of which two similar walls were found in Dos Pilas. In
Aguateca’s case, the walls are more extreme and
complicated during the late occupation.
Around
the mound groups in Aguateca exist walls, the majority
of the site consist of the palace group, the walk way
and the Major Plaza. The palace group and the walk way
are located to the east side of the crack; is speculated
that the governor and family lived there; furthermore,
it is also believed that that it was the most defensive
part of the city for the mural system. To get to the Major
Plaza, you will have to cross a natural bridge that passes
through the crack where you will notice that the majority
of the monuments have inscriptions.
Two
burials with similar offerings were found, due to many
excavations held. Burial seven had a consistent offering
of three vessels but burial eight had consistent offering
of four vessels. Another finding was a rubbish dump behind
thaeL7-4 Structure that contained ceramic type from the
Late Classic Period, which is an indicator that the same
people from the Late Classic Period continued living in
this group.
An
indicator that Aguateca and Dos Pilas murals were constructed
in a contemporary manner is the findings of the Gray ceramic Chablekal
type in both sites. Mural M8-3 originally a walkway that connected
to the Palaces Group was constructed to block the path through
the walkway. Mural M8-41passes above the main stair case of the
structure of the same number.
Ceibal
Ceibal
Archaeological site is located to 12km. east to the municipality
of Sayaxché, Petén over the west banks of
the Rio La Passion, with an elevation of 220mts over sea
level.
Ceibal
Mayan Ruins, situated over some hills on the west margin
of La Passion River. Previously the only access was through
a rather ascending path (more than a 2km distance). Today
you can get there through a highway from Sayaxché
directly to the Ceremonial Centre (6km).
Ceibal
was the establishment with more power in the Late Classic
Period on the west margin of the La Passion River; having
a very favourable regional situation, as interaction and
central point in commercial, transportation, and political
activities.
Ceibal
declared an Archaeological Park according to the ministry
of education agreement No.A-51-903 on the16th of December
in 1985. Assigning a protected area of 17.612 km2, with
the only objective of protect and conserve the archaeological
patrimony, avoiding ecological changes that can have an
impact on its destruction, as well as to the conservation
of the flora & fauna to preserve their natural environment.
