The Mirador Basin is a hypothesized geological depression found in the remote rainforest of the northern department of Petén, Guatemala. Mirador Basin consists of two true basins, consisting of shallowly sloping terrain dominated by low-lying swamps called bajos; one draining into the San Pedro River and the other into the Candelaria River. The basin is surrounded by rugged karsticlimestone hills on the east and south, forming a triangular geographical "trough" covering more than 2,169 km2 (837 sq mi). The geological formation of the landscape, as well as the significance of the formation, are the subject of some controversy in Northern Guatemala.[1] NASA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data indicate no depression in the area.[1]
"El Tigre Complex" in the eponymous Mirador Basin site of El Mirador
During the past two decades, the region has been the object of archaeological investigations at the large Middle and Late Preclassic sites of El Mirador, Nakbe, El Tintal, Wakna, the recently discovered sites of Xulnal and El Pesquero, and numerous smaller settlements, dating mostly to the Classic period, such as La Florida, Maaxte, Zacatal, Chan Kan, Tsab Kan, Pedernal, Isla, La Muerta, and La Muralla. Dozens of additional sites are dispersed within the Basin, including several extremely large ones such as Naachtun in the northeast corner which is currently under investigation by a team from the University of Calgary in Canada (Director: Kathryn Reese-Taylor). The primary settlement of the major sites in the basin dates to the Middle Preclassic (ca. 1000 BCE - 350 BCE) and Late Preclassic periods (ca. 350 BCE - CE 150), with relatively little overburden from the large scale constructions and extensive settlements that characterized the Classic periods (CE 250-900) of Lowland Maya civilization.
Illegal logging and forest fires resulting from slash and burn agricultural practices threaten Mirador Basin's rich biodiversity. Looting is also a major threat to the many Mayan archaeological sites that reside in the Basin. While many sites are known, others remain undiscovered and, according to Richard Hansen, "by the time scholars get there, looters may already have plundered them."[2]
The region belongs to the Maya Biosphere Reserve that represents the last large area of intact tropical rainforest remaining in Mesoamerica. Archaeological and environmental studies conducted by the Mirador Basin Project, directed by Richard Hansen, previously known as the Regional Archaeological Investigation of the North Petén, Guatemala (RAINPEG) Project, have identified data relevant to the origins and early development of the Maya civilization in this area. The executing organization for the research is the Foundation for Anthropological Research and Environmental Studies (FARES), and the Institute for Mesoamerican Research at Idaho State University, where Hansen is the Chief Senior Scientist.
^Rahder, Micha (March 2015). "But Is It a Basin? Science, Controversy, and Conspiracy in the Fight for Mirador, Guatemala". Science as Culture. 24 (3): 299–324. doi:10.1080/09505431.2015.1007034.
Alvarado, Gilberto (1994). "Aspectos Ecológicos del Norte del Peten, Guatemala.". In Richard D. Hansen (ed.). Investigaciones Arqueológicas en Nakbe, Peten: El Resumen de la Temporada de Campo de 1993 (in Spanish) (Report filed with the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala, Monumentos Prehispánicos, Guatemala ed.). Los Angeles: University of California, Los Angeles RAINPEG Project. pp. 113–138.
Balcárcel, Beatriz (1999). "Excavaciones en Residencias Preclásicas de Nakbe, Peten". In Juan Pedro Laporte; Héctor L. Escobedo; Ana Claudia Monzón de Suasnávar (eds.). XII Simposio de Investigaciones Arqueológicas en Guatemala, 1998 (in Spanish). Guatemala City: Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología, Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes, Instituto de Antropología e Historia, Asociación Tikal. pp. 337–352. OCLC 42674202.
Balcárcel, Beatriz (2000). "Excavaciones en Residencias Preclásicas, Nakbe, Peten". In Richard D. Hansen; Judith Valle (eds.). Investigaciones Arqueológicas y Ecológicas en la Cuenca Mirador, 1998: Informe de la Temporada de Campo (Report filed with the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala, Monumentos Prehispánicos, Guatemala ed.). Guatemala City; Los Angeles: Proyecto Regional de Investigaciones Arqueológicas del Norte del Peten, Guatemala (PRIANPEG); University of California, Los Angeles RAINPEG Project; FARES Foundation, Idaho. pp. 297–329.
Morales-Aguilar, Carlos; Douglas Mauricio; Abel Morales Lopez (2006). "Nuevos datos sobre el asentamiento del sitio arqueologico El Mirador, Peten, Guatemala: Reporte de Campo 2005.". In Edgar Suyuc; Richard D. Hansen (eds.). Investigacion y Conservacion en los sitios arqueológicos El Mirador, La Muerta, Wakna, El Porvenir, El Guiro, La Iglesia, La Sarteneja, Chab Ché y la Ceibita: Informe Final de la Temporada 2005 (in Spanish) (Report filed with the Instituto de Antropología e Historia de Guatemala, Monumentos Prehispánicos, Guatemala ed.). Pocatello: Idaho State University FARES Foundation. pp. 221–317.
External linksedit
FARES Foundation
Mirador Basin Project website - archaeological program: directed by Richard Hansen
- Working to establish a 810,100-acre (3,278 km2) Archaeological and Wildlife Preserve in the Heart of the Maya Biosphere
January 01, 1970
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2012 Learn how and when to remove this message The Mirador Basin is a hypothesized geological depression found in the remote rainforest of the northern department of Peten Guatemala Mirador Basin consists of two true basins consisting of shallowly sloping terrain dominated by low lying swamps called bajos one draining into the San Pedro River and the other into the Candelaria River The basin is surrounded by rugged karstic limestone hills on the east and south forming a triangular geographical trough covering more than 2 169 km2 837 sq mi The geological formation of the landscape as well as the significance of the formation are the subject of some controversy in Northern Guatemala 1 NASA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission SRTM data indicate no depression in the area 1 El Tigre Complex in the eponymous Mirador Basin site of El Mirador During the past two decades the region has been the object of archaeological investigations at the large Middle and Late Preclassic sites of El Mirador Nakbe El Tintal Wakna the recently discovered sites of Xulnal and El Pesquero and numerous smaller settlements dating mostly to the Classic period such as La Florida Maaxte Zacatal Chan Kan Tsab Kan Pedernal Isla La Muerta and La Muralla Dozens of additional sites are dispersed within the Basin including several extremely large ones such as Naachtun in the northeast corner which is currently under investigation by a team from the University of Calgary in Canada Director Kathryn Reese Taylor The primary settlement of the major sites in the basin dates to the Middle Preclassic ca 1000 BCE 350 BCE and Late Preclassic periods ca 350 BCE CE 150 with relatively little overburden from the large scale constructions and extensive settlements that characterized the Classic periods CE 250 900 of Lowland Maya civilization Illegal logging and forest fires resulting from slash and burn agricultural practices threaten Mirador Basin s rich biodiversity Looting is also a major threat to the many Mayan archaeological sites that reside in the Basin While many sites are known others remain undiscovered and according to Richard Hansen by the time scholars get there looters may already have plundered them 2 The region belongs to the Maya Biosphere Reserve that represents the last large area of intact tropical rainforest remaining in Mesoamerica Archaeological and environmental studies conducted by the Mirador Basin Project directed by Richard Hansen previously known as the Regional Archaeological Investigation of the North Peten Guatemala RAINPEG Project have identified data relevant to the origins and early development of the Maya civilization in this area The executing organization for the research is the Foundation for Anthropological Research and Environmental Studies FARES and the Institute for Mesoamerican Research at Idaho State University where Hansen is the Chief Senior Scientist Research and development of the Mirador Basin occurs in close cooperation and collaboration with the Guatemalan Institute of Anthropology and History IDAEH the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture and Sports Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism INGUAT the National Council of Protected Areas CONAP and the Presidency of the Republic of Guatemala In addition projects work closely with community organizations in the department of Peten The Inter American Development Bank along with The National Geographic Society the Foundation for Maya Cultural and Natural Heritage Fundacion del Patrimonio Cultural y Natural Maya PACUNAM the Global Heritage Fund and the Friends of the Natural and Cultural Heritage of Guatemala APANAC the Carlos Novella Foundation among other private sponsors have given economic support to projects in the Basin Notes edit Rahder Micha March 2015 But Is It a Basin Science Controversy and Conspiracy in the Fight for Mirador Guatemala Science as Culture 24 3 299 324 doi 10 1080 09505431 2015 1007034 Hansen 1997 48References editAlvarado Gilberto 1994 Aspectos Ecologicos del Norte del Peten Guatemala In Richard D Hansen ed Investigaciones Arqueologicas en Nakbe Peten El Resumen de la Temporada de Campo de 1993 in Spanish Report filed with the Instituto de Antropologia e Historia de Guatemala Monumentos Prehispanicos Guatemala ed Los Angeles University of California Los Angeles RAINPEG Project pp 113 138 Balcarcel Beatriz 1999 Excavaciones en Residencias Preclasicas de Nakbe Peten In Juan Pedro Laporte Hector L Escobedo Ana Claudia Monzon de Suasnavar eds XII Simposio de Investigaciones Arqueologicas en Guatemala 1998 in Spanish Guatemala City Museo Nacional de Arqueologia y Etnologia Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes Instituto de Antropologia e Historia Asociacion Tikal pp 337 352 OCLC 42674202 Balcarcel Beatriz 2000 Excavaciones en Residencias Preclasicas Nakbe Peten In Richard D Hansen Judith Valle eds Investigaciones Arqueologicas y Ecologicas en la Cuenca Mirador 1998 Informe de la Temporada de Campo Report filed with the Instituto de Antropologia e Historia de Guatemala Monumentos Prehispanicos Guatemala ed Guatemala City Los Angeles Proyecto Regional de Investigaciones Arqueologicas del Norte del Peten Guatemala PRIANPEG University of California Los Angeles RAINPEG Project FARES Foundation Idaho pp 297 329 Gill Richardson B 2000 The Great Maya Droughts Water Life and Death Albuquerque University of New Mexico Press ISBN 978 0 8263 2194 7 OCLC 43567384 Hansen Richard D September October 1997 Plundering the Peten online abstract Archaeology Vol 30 no 5 New York Archaeological Institute of America pp 48 49 ISSN 0003 8113 OCLC 86456002 Hansen Richard D 1998 Continuity and Disjunction Preclassic Antecedents of Classic Maya Architecture In Stephen D Houston ed Function and Meaning in Classic Maya architecture A Symposium at Dumbarton Oaks 7th and 8th October 1994 PDF online e text reproduction Washington DC Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection pp 49 122 ISBN 978 0 88402 254 1 OCLC 38936552 Archived from the original PDF on 3 October 2008 Retrieved 30 October 2008 Morales Aguilar Carlos Douglas Mauricio Abel Morales Lopez 2006 Nuevos datos sobre el asentamiento del sitio arqueologico El Mirador Peten Guatemala Reporte de Campo 2005 In Edgar Suyuc Richard D Hansen eds Investigacion y Conservacion en los sitios arqueologicos El Mirador La Muerta Wakna El Porvenir El Guiro La Iglesia La Sarteneja Chab Che y la Ceibita Informe Final de la Temporada 2005 in Spanish Report filed with the Instituto de Antropologia e Historia de Guatemala Monumentos Prehispanicos Guatemala ed Pocatello Idaho State University FARES Foundation pp 221 317 External links editFARES Foundation Mirador Basin Project website archaeological program directed by Richard Hansen Global Heritage Fund GHF Working to establish a 810 100 acre 3 278 km2 Archaeological and Wildlife Preserve in the Heart of the Maya Biosphere Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mirador Basin amp oldid 1194322474, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
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