El Zotz
El Zotz (Spanish pronunciation: [el sots]) is a Mesoamerican archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, located in the Petén Basin region around 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of the major center of Tikal and approximately 26 kilometres (16 mi) west of Uaxactun.
[1] It is so called because of the large number of bats living in caves in the nearby cliffs (the original Mayan name was Pa'Chan).
Conservation work has been carried out here by the University of San Carlos of Guatemala, including the construction of a rudimentary campsite for tourists.
[5] The new name derives from the fact that the El Diablo complex possesses a cave that is the habitat of an enormous quantity of the animals.
[8] El Zotz is a medium-sized site covering an area of perhaps 0.75 by 0.75 kilometres (0.47 by 0.47 mi) that includes a variety of large and small architectural remains in a style typical of the Early Classic.
[2] Local wildlife includes the following species, some of which are highly endangered: jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Felis concolor), ocelot (Leopardus wiedii), Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii), red brocket deer (Mazama americana), howler monkey (Alouatta pigra), red snook (Petenia splendida), Morelet's Crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii) and the ocellated turkey (Agriocharis ocellata).
[15] The reading of hieroglyphic texts associated with the site suggest that El Zotz was founded by enemies of Tikal in order to exploit a period of weakness of the latter city.
[17] A stela from Bejucal indicates that the Teotihuacan-linked general Siyaj K'ak' ("Fire is Born") was the overlord (yajaw) of the king of El Zotz.
[15] Hostile relations between El Zotz and its huge neighbour Tikal are evidenced on the ground by an earthwork of unknown date that served to mark the territorial division between the two polities.
The last known hieroglyphic inscription to refer to El Zotz describes the city as being the target of an attack by Tikal.
Archaeologist Marco Antonio Bailey visited the site in 1977 on behalf of the recently founded Departamento de Monumentos Prehispánicos (DEMOPRE – Department of Prehispanic Monuments) of the Instituto de Antropología e Historia (Institute of Anthropology and History), this was the first official visit to the site on behalf of the Guatemalan government.
[22] A further survey was undertaken during two weeks of January 2006 by the Departamento de Monumentos Prehispanicos in conjunction with Archaeologist Stephen D. Houston and Brown University.
[17] The Denver Art Museum has returned a carved wooden lintel stolen from the site, one of the few such artifacts in existence.
Ithaca College archaeologist, Thomas Garrison, says he believes the scale and population density has been "grossly underestimated and could in fact be three or four times greater than previously thought".
The structures were packed with rubble and mortar together with layers of clay, this last element likely brought from the lowland troughs near the site.
The superstructures of the buildings at the site were built with large well-finished limestone blocks sealed with mortar, these were then covered with stucco and painted in a variety of colours, some traces of pigment still remain.
[30] A wooden lintel was illegally removed from the temple in the late 1960s and sold to the Denver Art Museum in the United States, provoking the first official visits and explorations of the site.
[35] The Central Plaza is bordered on the north by the acropolis, on the south by the ballcourt and on the west by a variety of low platforms and pyramids.
[37] The Acropolis is an elite residence, probably a palace, laid out around three patios and encompassing Structures L7-1 through to L7-10 and including some large buildings among them.
The front of the monument has a human figure facing to the left, the back of the stela has a hieroglyphic panel consisting of 39 glyphic blocks.
Ceramic fragments dating to the Late Classic were found near the stela, they have been interpreted as the result of ritual activity.
[42] In 1989 the Proyecto Nacional Tikal undertook rescue works at the temple, installing replacement lintels, sealing some of the chambers and closing the more dangerous looters' tunnels.
The tomb was carved directly from the limestone bedrock under the pyramid, it is thought to have been the source of various fine quality ceramic vessels painted with images of wayob (spirit companions).
It is situated in a defensive position on the highest outcrop at El Zotz and is visible from Temple IV at Tikal.
[53] The El Diablo hill was artificially reshaped with the addition of terraces, upon which an acropolis was built that consisted of large platforms laid out around at least two plazas.
Looters' tunnels have exposed decorated substructures within the El Diablo acropolis, which have been tentatively dated to the Early Classic.
The tomb is believed to contain the remains of a king named Chak who ruled in the late 4th century AD.
