This article is about the pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site in the Petén Basin, Guatemala. For other uses, see Naranjo (disambiguation).
Naranjo is a Pre-Columbian Maya city in the Petén Basin region of Guatemala. It was occupied from about 500 BC to 950 AD, with its height in the Late Classic Period.[1] The site is part of Yaxha-Nakum-Naranjo National Park. The city lies along the Mopan and Holmul rivers, and is about 50 km east of the site of Tikal. Naranjo has been the victim of severe looting.[2][3] The site is known for its polychrome ceramic style[2]
"Naranjo" in Spanish means "Orange Tree", which in turn derives from the Mayan name Wak Kab'nal.[4] The emblem glyph of the Naranjo is transliterated as Sa'aal “the place where (maize) gruel abounds.” The Naranjo dynastic rulers are said to be the "Holy Lords of Sa'aal."[5]
The area of Naranjo covers at least 8 km² with the urban center covering about 2.25 km².[2] There are currently 389 recorded buildings in the central area and over 900 around the center.[1]
The epicenter consists of six triadic complexes, two ballcourts, two palace compounds, and one E-group. C-9 is the largest triadic complex in the city. Structure C-9 is the complexes main pyramid, and the Largest at the site. Because it occupies the top of a natural hill with a cave located inside, it is a perfect place to be categorized as a ‘sacred mountain’.[5]
A hieroglyphic stairway, that is believed to have been taken from Caracol, was added to structure B-18 sometime in the seventh century AD.[6]
Archaeological preservation work
The site was first mapped and photographed by Teoberto Maler in 1905, who was sent by The Peabody Museum of Harvard University.[7] In 1908 Maler excavated the hieroglyphic stairway from structure B-18,[6] parts of which are now housed in the British Museum[8] in London. In the 1910s, further investigations of the site were made by Sylvanus G. Morley and Oliver Ricketson.[7]
Investigations of the site of Xunantunich suggests that it was part of Naranjo's realm.[3]
By the 1920s, many of the ancient sculptures had already disappeared. The problem worsened in the 1960s, when many of the site's large sculptures were smashed into fragments by looters in order to sneak them out of the country.[2]
In 1972-1973, 19 stela were taken from Naranjo by the Department of Prehispanic Monuments of the IDAEH to be protected from looters.[2]
From 1997 to 2001 the site was controlled by looters. From 2002 to 2004, a project was undertaken to evaluate the extent of the looting which found about 270 tunnels and trenches. Archaeologist Vilma Fialko has been instrumental in this project.[2]
A conservation project by the Ministry of Culture and Sport began in 2002. In 2006 Naranjo was added to the World Monuments Watch.[1]
In 2013, a building from about 600 AD was found at nearby Holmul with a giant stucco frieze showing a central ruler and two flanking ones in repose. The frieze is very well preserved. Below it runs a long inscription from which it appears that the construction was commissioned by Aj Wosal of Naranjo. At the time, Naranjo was subordinated to the Kaanul dynasty of Dzibanche and Calakmul.[9]
History
Stela 8, showing the unauguration of K'ahk' Ukalaw Chan Chaahk in 755. MUNAE, Guatemala City.
The history of Naranjo includes several major disturbances in the dynastic rule when allegiances and identities of local kings were subject to change. Texts at the site record a mythical founding of the city by its patron god.[3]
Not much is known about the site before the ruler Ah Wosaaj Chan K'inich who came to power in 546 AD.[5] The sites of La Sufricaya and Holmul to the north of Naranjo were involved in the establishment of the new political order in Peten after the arrival of Sihyaj K’ahk' in AD 378. It is plausible to assume that Naranjo might also be under the sway of Sihyaj K'ahk's hegemony and later Tikal rulers. If there were any monuments from that time, they were destroyed and/or cached.
In 546 AD Naranjo came under the control of Calakmul whose ruler Tuun Kab Hix appointed Ah Wosaaj Chan K'inich. This was a deliberate move by Calakmul to take allies away from Tikal. Ah Wosaaj was involved in infrastructure improvements to the city such as the paving of a road in July 559, according to Altar 2.
In 626 two attacks were made on Naranjo by Caracol. Naranjo was then retaken by Calakmul in 631. During the administration of K'ahk' Xiiw Chan Chaahk, Naranjo defeated Caracol in a "star war" sending Caracol into a hiatus period, but by 680 Caracol had apparently recovered and eliminated K'ahk' Xiiw.[3]
In 682 AD, Calakmul sent Lady Six Sky, possibly Ix Wak Chan Jalam Lem in ancient Maya, to reestablish the Naranjo dynasty.[3] Her arrival is written on Stela 24 found in front of Structure C-7.[5] Lady Six Sky was the daughter of the Dos Pilas ruler B'ahlaj Chan K'awiil. While never officially made a ruler, Lady Six Sky performed as a ruler, possibly as regent for her son K'ahk' Tiliw Chan Chaahk who acceded in 693 AD at the age of five. This relationship is made explicit on Naranjo Stela 46. Between 693 and 698 AD Naranjo carried out a series of at least eight attacks, likely under the auspices of Lady Six Sky, defeating Tikal in 695 AD and Ucanal in 698 AD. K'ak' Tiliw Chan Chaak began another series of attacks in 706 AD including the defeat of Yaxha in 710 AD. Lady Six Sky died in 741 AD. She is depicted on stelae including 3, 18, 24, 29, and 31.[3]
Naranjo was defeated by Tikal in 744 AD and the ruler, Yax Mayuy Chan Chaahk, was taken captive and likely sacrificed during Tikal's victory celebrations.[3] However, this wasn't the end of the city's written history. Later kings include Itzamnaaj? K'awiil, who fought against Yaxha and, in 790, repaved the road established by Ah Wosaaj, according to Altar 2.
Naranjo's final abandonment may have been the result of political turmoil and a severe drought dated to 810 AD.[3]
^ abc"Naranjo | World Monuments Fund". www.wmf.org. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
^ abcdefFialko, Vilma (2009). "Archaeological Research and Rescue Project at Naranjo; Emerging Documentation in Naranjo's, Palacio de le Realeza, Peten, Guatemala" (PDF). FAMSI.
^ abcdefghiSharer, Robert J.; Traxler, Loa P. (2006). The Ancient Maya. Stanford University Press.
^El ojo de los dioses: El despertar maya [The Eye of the Gods: The Mayan Awakening] (in Spanish) (B ed.). Mexico: Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial. 2012. ISBN9786074803679.
^ abcdTokovinine, Alexandre; Fialko, Vilma (2007). "Stela 45 of Naranjo and the Early Classic Lords of Sa'aal". The PARI Journal.
^ abTokovinine, Alexandre (2007). "Of Snake Kings and Cannibals: A Fresh Look at the Naranjo Hieroglyphic Stairway". The PARI Journal.
^ abMorley, Sylvanus G. (1909). "The Inscriptions of Naranjo, Northern Guatemala". American Anthropologist. 11 (4): 543–562. doi:10.1525/aa.1909.11.4.02a00020.
^Giant Maya Carvings Found in Guatemala. AUGUST 07, 2013, nationalgeographic.com
Sources
Lothrop, S. K. (1941). "A Chronological Link Between Maya and Olmeca Art". American Anthropologist. 43 (3): 419–421. doi:10.1525/aa.1941.43.3.02a00050.
Morley, Sylvanus G (1909). "The Inscriptions of Naranjo, Northern Guatemala". American Anthropologist. 11 (4): 543–562. doi:10.1525/aa.1909.11.4.02a00020.
Rice, Don S.; Prudence, M. (1980). "The Northeast Peten Revisited". American Antiquity. 45 (3): 432–454. doi:10.2307/279858.
"El Naranjo" authenticmaya.com Guatemala-Cradle of the Mayan Civilization, 28 Jan. 2011 Web. 29 Apr. 2012
"Naranjo, Central highlands." authenticmaya.com Guatemala-Cradle of the Mayan Civilization, 28 Jan. 2011 Web. 29 Apr. 2012
External links
February 07, 2023
naranjo, this, article, about, columbian, maya, archaeological, site, petén, basin, guatemala, other, uses, disambiguation, columbian, maya, city, petén, basin, region, guatemala, occupied, from, about, with, height, late, classic, period, site, part, yaxha, n. This article is about the pre Columbian Maya archaeological site in the Peten Basin Guatemala For other uses see Naranjo disambiguation Naranjo is a Pre Columbian Maya city in the Peten Basin region of Guatemala It was occupied from about 500 BC to 950 AD with its height in the Late Classic Period 1 The site is part of Yaxha Nakum Naranjo National Park The city lies along the Mopan and Holmul rivers and is about 50 km east of the site of Tikal Naranjo has been the victim of severe looting 2 3 The site is known for its polychrome ceramic style 2 NaranjoView of NaranjoLocation of the siteShow map of MesoamericaNaranjo Guatemala Show map of GuatemalaAlternative nameWak Kab nalLocationPeten Department GuatemalaRegionPeten BasinCoordinates17 08 0 95 N 89 15 43 81 W 17 1335972 N 89 2621694 W 17 1335972 89 2621694TypeSettlementHistoryPeriodsMiddle Preclassic to Early PostclassicCulturesMaya civilizationSite notesConditionIn ruins Naranjo in Spanish means Orange Tree which in turn derives from the Mayan name Wak Kab nal 4 The emblem glyph of the Naranjo is transliterated as Sa aal the place where maize gruel abounds The Naranjo dynastic rulers are said to be the Holy Lords of Sa aal 5 Contents 1 Layout of site 2 Archaeological preservation work 3 History 4 Known rulers 3 5 References and sources 6 External linksLayout of site EditThe area of Naranjo covers at least 8 km with the urban center covering about 2 25 km 2 There are currently 389 recorded buildings in the central area and over 900 around the center 1 The epicenter consists of six triadic complexes two ballcourts two palace compounds and one E group C 9 is the largest triadic complex in the city Structure C 9 is the complexes main pyramid and the Largest at the site Because it occupies the top of a natural hill with a cave located inside it is a perfect place to be categorized as a sacred mountain 5 A hieroglyphic stairway that is believed to have been taken from Caracol was added to structure B 18 sometime in the seventh century AD 6 Archaeological preservation work EditThe site was first mapped and photographed by Teoberto Maler in 1905 who was sent by The Peabody Museum of Harvard University 7 In 1908 Maler excavated the hieroglyphic stairway from structure B 18 6 parts of which are now housed in the British Museum 8 in London In the 1910s further investigations of the site were made by Sylvanus G Morley and Oliver Ricketson 7 Investigations of the site of Xunantunich suggests that it was part of Naranjo s realm 3 By the 1920s many of the ancient sculptures had already disappeared The problem worsened in the 1960s when many of the site s large sculptures were smashed into fragments by looters in order to sneak them out of the country 2 In 1972 1973 19 stela were taken from Naranjo by the Department of Prehispanic Monuments of the IDAEH to be protected from looters 2 From 1997 to 2001 the site was controlled by looters From 2002 to 2004 a project was undertaken to evaluate the extent of the looting which found about 270 tunnels and trenches Archaeologist Vilma Fialko has been instrumental in this project 2 A conservation project by the Ministry of Culture and Sport began in 2002 In 2006 Naranjo was added to the World Monuments Watch 1 In 2013 a building from about 600 AD was found at nearby Holmul with a giant stucco frieze showing a central ruler and two flanking ones in repose The frieze is very well preserved Below it runs a long inscription from which it appears that the construction was commissioned by Aj Wosal of Naranjo At the time Naranjo was subordinated to the Kaanul dynasty of Dzibanche and Calakmul 9 History Edit Stela 8 showing the unauguration of K ahk Ukalaw Chan Chaahk in 755 MUNAE Guatemala City The history of Naranjo includes several major disturbances in the dynastic rule when allegiances and identities of local kings were subject to change Texts at the site record a mythical founding of the city by its patron god 3 Not much is known about the site before the ruler Ah Wosaaj Chan K inich who came to power in 546 AD 5 The sites of La Sufricaya and Holmul to the north of Naranjo were involved in the establishment of the new political order in Peten after the arrival of Sihyaj K ahk in AD 378 It is plausible to assume that Naranjo might also be under the sway of Sihyaj K ahk s hegemony and later Tikal rulers If there were any monuments from that time they were destroyed and or cached In 546 AD Naranjo came under the control of Calakmul whose ruler Tuun Kab Hix appointed Ah Wosaaj Chan K inich This was a deliberate move by Calakmul to take allies away from Tikal Ah Wosaaj was involved in infrastructure improvements to the city such as the paving of a road in July 559 according to Altar 2 In 626 two attacks were made on Naranjo by Caracol Naranjo was then retaken by Calakmul in 631 During the administration of K ahk Xiiw Chan Chaahk Naranjo defeated Caracol in a star war sending Caracol into a hiatus period but by 680 Caracol had apparently recovered and eliminated K ahk Xiiw 3 In 682 AD Calakmul sent Lady Six Sky possibly Ix Wak Chan Jalam Lem in ancient Maya to reestablish the Naranjo dynasty 3 Her arrival is written on Stela 24 found in front of Structure C 7 5 Lady Six Sky was the daughter of the Dos Pilas ruler B ahlaj Chan K awiil While never officially made a ruler Lady Six Sky performed as a ruler possibly as regent for her son K ahk Tiliw Chan Chaahk who acceded in 693 AD at the age of five This relationship is made explicit on Naranjo Stela 46 Between 693 and 698 AD Naranjo carried out a series of at least eight attacks likely under the auspices of Lady Six Sky defeating Tikal in 695 AD and Ucanal in 698 AD K ak Tiliw Chan Chaak began another series of attacks in 706 AD including the defeat of Yaxha in 710 AD Lady Six Sky died in 741 AD She is depicted on stelae including 3 18 24 29 and 31 3 Naranjo was defeated by Tikal in 744 AD and the ruler Yax Mayuy Chan Chaahk was taken captive and likely sacrificed during Tikal s victory celebrations 3 However this wasn t the end of the city s written history Later kings include Itzamnaaj K awiil who fought against Yaxha and in 790 repaved the road established by Ah Wosaaj according to Altar 2 Naranjo s final abandonment may have been the result of political turmoil and a severe drought dated to 810 AD 3 Known rulers 3 Edit Inscription relating to the reign of king Itzamnaaj K awil 784 810 Main article Maya rulers NaranjoReferences and sources EditReferences a b c Naranjo World Monuments Fund www wmf org Retrieved 2015 12 03 a b c d e f Fialko Vilma 2009 Archaeological Research and Rescue Project at Naranjo Emerging Documentation in Naranjo s Palacio de le Realeza Peten Guatemala PDF FAMSI a b c d e f g h i Sharer Robert J Traxler Loa P 2006 The Ancient Maya Stanford University Press El ojo de los dioses El despertar maya The Eye of the Gods The Mayan Awakening in Spanish B ed Mexico Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial 2012 ISBN 9786074803679 a b c d Tokovinine Alexandre Fialko Vilma 2007 Stela 45 of Naranjo and the Early Classic Lords of Sa aal The PARI Journal a b Tokovinine Alexandre 2007 Of Snake Kings and Cannibals A Fresh Look at the Naranjo Hieroglyphic Stairway The PARI Journal a b Morley Sylvanus G 1909 The Inscriptions of Naranjo Northern Guatemala American Anthropologist 11 4 543 562 doi 10 1525 aa 1909 11 4 02a00020 British Museum Collection Giant Maya Carvings Found in Guatemala AUGUST 07 2013 nationalgeographic com SourcesLothrop S K 1941 A Chronological Link Between Maya and Olmeca Art American Anthropologist 43 3 419 421 doi 10 1525 aa 1941 43 3 02a00050 Morley Sylvanus G 1909 The Inscriptions of Naranjo Northern Guatemala American Anthropologist 11 4 543 562 doi 10 1525 aa 1909 11 4 02a00020 Rice Don S Prudence M 1980 The Northeast Peten Revisited American Antiquity 45 3 432 454 doi 10 2307 279858 El Naranjo authenticmaya com Guatemala Cradle of the Mayan Civilization 28 Jan 2011 Web 29 Apr 2012 Naranjo Central highlands authenticmaya com Guatemala Cradle of the Mayan Civilization 28 Jan 2011 Web 29 Apr 2012External links EditDescription and Photo Galleries Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Naranjo amp oldid 1102240038, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
