Itzan
Encyclopedia
Itzan is a Maya
archaeological site located in the municipality
of La Libertad
in the Petén Department of Guatemala
. Various small structures at the site were destroyed in the 1980s during oil exploration activities by Sonpetrol and Basic Resources Ltd, prompting rescue excavations by archaeologists. In spite of its small size, the site appears to have been the most politically important centre in its area, as evidenced by its unusually large quantity of monuments and the size of its major architecture.
The site was first occupied in the Middle Preclassic
, with occupaton continuing to the Late Classic
.
archaeological site on the bank of a minor tributary of the Pasion River
. The city was on a natural hilltop surrounded by ravines and seasonal swamps. The tributary of the Pasion River has its origin in Laguna Itzan, a small lake to the east of the site. A spring to the west of the site appears to have been a permanent watersource for the city. Itzan is situated roughly halfway between the Classic Period cities of Altar de Sacrificios
and Seibal
, and is located about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) northeast of the former. The site is located approximately 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) west of the modern town of Sayaxché
and 8 kilometres (5 mi) north of the Pasion River.
Hieroglyphic Stairway 2 at the Late Classic period kingdom of Dos Pilas records that in 652 AD the powerful city of Calakmul
seized control of Itzan, and Dos Pilas itself also won a major victory over the city. Itzan may also have gone to war against El Chorro.
A noblewoman from Itzan
became the main wife of B'alaj Chan K'awiil
, a king of Dos Pilas, and their son was Itzamnaaj Balam
. The collapse of the aggressive Dos Pilas kingdom in the late 8th century AD apparently benefited Itzan, which then experienced a period of renewed activity.
The site was discovered in February 1968 by Dennis and Louisa Wheeler, two Peace Corps
volunteers. The ruins were then explored by archaeologists of the Ceibal Project
in 1978, who only spent a few hours at the site.
with the intention of later moving them to Guatemala City
.
The centre of the site is grouped around the North and South Plazas, both of which are open plazas, and the closed West and East Plazuelas which are completely enclosed by architecture.
The site core includes a formal acropolis, large plazas and a large amount of stelae
and altars, totalling at least 25 monuments, all of which have been moved from their original locations by looters in order to excavate below them. Most of these monuments were originally positioned in open plazas in front of the largest structures. The remains of hieroglyphic texts were found associated with the North and South Stairways of the West Plaza. Much of the Late Classic period acropolis was built upon earlier Preclassic structures.
The site periphery between 3.6 to 4 km (2.2 to 2.5 mi) south of the site core included at least three groups of simple perishable Late Classic residential structures laid out around central patios, without being built upon platforms, suggesting that the population of the site was greater than initially thought based on the site's monumental architecture. The entire settled area of Itzan occupies a ridge in a strip about 300 metres (984.3 ft) wide by 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) long, with the site core being situated near the centre of this zone. A modern road cuts through the area of settlement.
Stela 17 includes a hieroglyphic text that mentions lords of Itzan and of the nearby city of Altar de Sacrificios. It also contains a section of damaged text that may indicate warfare between Itzan and the site of El Chorro.
Stela 20 is fragmented. A large piece was found to the northwest of the acropolis.
Maya civilization
The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period The Maya is a Mesoamerican...
archaeological site located in the municipality
Municipalities of Guatemala
The departments of Guatemala are divided into 332 municipalities or municipios. The municipalities are listed below, by department:-Alta Verapaz Department:*Cahabón*Chahal*Chisec*Cobán*Fray Bartolomé de las Casas*Lanquín*Panzós*Raxruha...
of La Libertad
La Libertad, El Petén
La Libertad is a municipality in the El Petén department of Guatemala. It contains 79,416 people...
in the Petén Department of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. Various small structures at the site were destroyed in the 1980s during oil exploration activities by Sonpetrol and Basic Resources Ltd, prompting rescue excavations by archaeologists. In spite of its small size, the site appears to have been the most politically important centre in its area, as evidenced by its unusually large quantity of monuments and the size of its major architecture.
The site was first occupied in the Middle Preclassic
Mesoamerican chronology
Mesoamerican chronology divides the history of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica into several periods: the Paleo-Indian , the Archaic , the Preclassic , the Classic , and the Postclassic...
, with occupaton continuing to the Late Classic
Mesoamerican chronology
Mesoamerican chronology divides the history of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica into several periods: the Paleo-Indian , the Archaic , the Preclassic , the Classic , and the Postclassic...
.
Location
The ruins are 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) northwest of the Dos PilasDos Pilas
Dos Pilas is a Pre-Columbian site of the Maya civilization located in what is now the department of Petén, Guatemala. It dates to the Late Classic Period, being founded by an offshoot of the dynasty of the great city of Tikal in AD 629 in order to control trade routes in the Petexbatún region,...
archaeological site on the bank of a minor tributary of the Pasion River
Pasión River
The Pasión River is a river located in the northern lowlands region of Guatemala. The river is fed by a number of upstream tributaries whose sources lie in the hills of Alta Verapaz. These flow in a general northerly direction to form the Pasión, which then tends westwards to meet up with the...
. The city was on a natural hilltop surrounded by ravines and seasonal swamps. The tributary of the Pasion River has its origin in Laguna Itzan, a small lake to the east of the site. A spring to the west of the site appears to have been a permanent watersource for the city. Itzan is situated roughly halfway between the Classic Period cities of Altar de Sacrificios
Altar de Sacrificios
Altar de Sacrificios is a ceremonial center and archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, situated near the confluence of the Pasión and Salinas Rivers , in the present-day department of Petén, Guatemala...
and Seibal
Seibal
Seibal, known as El Ceibal in Spanish, is a Classic Period archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the northern Petén Department of Guatemala. It was the largest city in the Pasión River region....
, and is located about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) northeast of the former. The site is located approximately 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) west of the modern town of Sayaxché
Sayaxché
Sayaxché is a municipality in the El Petén department of Guatemala, on the Río La Pasión river. In 2000, it had 47,693 inhabitants.The city was founded in 1874 to provide accommodation for forest workers of Jamet Sastré logging company. It obtain a municipal status in 1929.El Rosario National Park...
and 8 kilometres (5 mi) north of the Pasion River.
History
Itzan was continuously occupied from the Middle Preclassic through to the Late Classic, with much reduced activity during the Early Classic, with the latter period only being evidenced by a single burial accompanied by a ceramic plate.Hieroglyphic Stairway 2 at the Late Classic period kingdom of Dos Pilas records that in 652 AD the powerful city of Calakmul
Calakmul
Calakmul is a Maya archaeological site in the Mexican state of Campeche, deep in the jungles of the greater Petén Basin region. It is from the Guatemalan border. Calakmul was one of the largest and most powerful ancient cities ever uncovered in the Maya lowlands...
seized control of Itzan, and Dos Pilas itself also won a major victory over the city. Itzan may also have gone to war against El Chorro.
A noblewoman from Itzan
Lady of Itzan
-Biography:She was born in Itzan. She married B'alaj Chan K'awiil, the king of Dos Pilas. She was a mother of the kings Itzamnaaj B'alam and Itzamnaaj K'awiil.It is possible that her daughter was Wak Chanil Ajaw. It is also possible that she had one more daughter....
became the main wife of B'alaj Chan K'awiil
B'alaj Chan K'awiil
B'alaj Chan K'awiil was a Maya ruler of Dos Pilas. He is also known as Ruler 1, Flint Sky God K and Malah Chan K'awil.-Biography:...
, a king of Dos Pilas, and their son was Itzamnaaj Balam
Itzamnaaj B'alam
-Family:He was the son and successor of B'alaj Chan K'awiil, and brother and predecessor of Itzamnaaj K'awiil. He was also a brother of Wak Chanil Ajaw and uncle of K'ak' Tiliw Chan Chaak.His mother was the Lady of Itzan....
. The collapse of the aggressive Dos Pilas kingdom in the late 8th century AD apparently benefited Itzan, which then experienced a period of renewed activity.
The site was discovered in February 1968 by Dennis and Louisa Wheeler, two Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
volunteers. The ruins were then explored by archaeologists of the Ceibal Project
Seibal
Seibal, known as El Ceibal in Spanish, is a Classic Period archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the northern Petén Department of Guatemala. It was the largest city in the Pasión River region....
in 1978, who only spent a few hours at the site.
Site description
Itzan was a small city but was considered by archaeologists to have characteristics that made excavation worthwhile. Initial investigations recorded a number of carved monuments and large structures, some standing up to 7 metres (23 ft) high. The site core was mapped in 1986, when archaeologists noted that a number of carved monuments had been damaged by looters and that some of the buildings had been cut by looters' trenches. Various monument pieces that had been cut by looters were transferred to the departmental capital FloresFlores, El Petén
Flores is the capital city of Petén department of Guatemala. It is located at . The population is 13,700 .Flores serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality, with which it shares a name ....
with the intention of later moving them to Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
.
The centre of the site is grouped around the North and South Plazas, both of which are open plazas, and the closed West and East Plazuelas which are completely enclosed by architecture.
The site core includes a formal acropolis, large plazas and a large amount of stelae
Stele
A stele , also stela , is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerals or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living — inscribed, carved in relief , or painted onto the slab...
and altars, totalling at least 25 monuments, all of which have been moved from their original locations by looters in order to excavate below them. Most of these monuments were originally positioned in open plazas in front of the largest structures. The remains of hieroglyphic texts were found associated with the North and South Stairways of the West Plaza. Much of the Late Classic period acropolis was built upon earlier Preclassic structures.
The site periphery between 3.6 to 4 km (2.2 to 2.5 mi) south of the site core included at least three groups of simple perishable Late Classic residential structures laid out around central patios, without being built upon platforms, suggesting that the population of the site was greater than initially thought based on the site's monumental architecture. The entire settled area of Itzan occupies a ridge in a strip about 300 metres (984.3 ft) wide by 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) long, with the site core being situated near the centre of this zone. A modern road cuts through the area of settlement.
Stela 17 includes a hieroglyphic text that mentions lords of Itzan and of the nearby city of Altar de Sacrificios. It also contains a section of damaged text that may indicate warfare between Itzan and the site of El Chorro.
Stela 20 is fragmented. A large piece was found to the northwest of the acropolis.