Quelepa
Encyclopedia
Quelepa is an important archaeological site located in eastern El Salvador
. The site was founded around 400 BC, in the Late Preclassic
period (500 BC - AD 250). The inhabitants constructed a platform from plaster and pumice
and rebuilt it a number of times. Artefacts recovered during the excavations of the site indicate that the local population depended upon subsistence agriculture
, these artefacts included metate
s (a kind of mortar
) and comales
(a type of griddle
). The site belonged to the Mesoamerica
n cultural region. Quelepa is generally considered to have been settled by the Lenca people. Quelepa means "stone jaguar" in the Lenca language
, probably in reference to the large Jaguar Altar found at the site.
Throughout its occupational history, the inhabitants crafted stone tools from obsidian
. The site appears to have been linked to trade routes to western El Salvador and the Guatemalan Highlands
and also to the north in Honduras
.
Although sites in western El Salvador were severely affected by the eruption of the Ilopango Volcano
in the Early Classic, the only affect this had upon Quelepa was the cutting of trade routes into Mesoamerica. This did not result in stagnation at the site but rather resulted in the florescence of a local culture.
which flows into the Pacific Ocean. The site is located 8 kilometres (5 mi) west-northwest of the town of San Miguel
. Quelepa is 13 miles (20.9 km) north of the neighbouring site of Los Llanitos. The archaeological site divided into East and West groups by a small stream called the Quebrada Agua Zarca, which has high, steep banks. The ruins have an altitude of between 160 and 180 m (524.9 and 590.6 ft) above mean sea level
.
The archaeological remains of Quelepa are on privately owned land under cultivation, the entire East Group together with a part of the west group are on the land of the Hacienda El Obrajuelo farm. The area to the west of the Quebrada Agua Zarca is planted with maize
and cotton
, as is the area south of the river.
The general area around Quelapa is part of the flood plain of the Río Grande de San Miguel, lying between the hills to the north and the San Miguel volcano
some 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) from the Pacific Ocean. The volcano is the most prominent local landmark, with its peak at 2132 metres (6,994.8 ft) above mean sea level. Although the volcano has erupted 6 times since 1699, most recently in 1924, and continues in a low state of activity it has never dropped sufficient volcanic ash
on Quelepa to be detectable archaeologically.
The climate of Quelepa is classified under the Köppen system
as tropical wet and dry
. The majority of rainfall falls between in months of September and October with a long dry season
from November to May. Monthly rainfall averages between 300 and 400 mm (11.8 and 15.7 in) in September and less than 25 millimetre (0.984251968503937 in) in March. Native fauna
has been practically extinguished by the heavy use of pesticide
s on the local cotton crops. Andrews reported many iguana
s near the watercourses and the occasional snake.
period (500 BC - AD 250). The first inhabitants of the site constructed a platform from plaster and pumice
and rebuilt it a number of times Quelepa is generally considered to have been settled by the Lenca people.
Around AD 200 the Ilopango volcano erupted and devastated western El Salvador, breaking Quelepa's link with Mesoamerica. Between AD 150 and AD 625 Quelepa turned instead to the Intermediate Area
beyond the frontiers of Mesoamerica, with artefacts arriving from the north and the east. The major ceremonial architecture of the East Group was built in the Early Classic.
In the Late Classic
to Early Postclassic
periods (from approximately AD 625–1000), the ceremonial centre of the settlement was abandoned and smaller structures were built around a small plaza. This has been interpreted as a Mesoamerican influence with its origins on the Gulf coast of Mexico, or perhaps from Seibal
, a Maya
city in the Petén Basin
of northern Guatemala
. The stone facing from this period is cruder than that of earlier times and stairways replaced the earlier use of access ramps. The ballcourt
also dates to this time.
Quelepa as a whole was abandoned around AD 1000, at the beginning of the Early Postclassic period. The abandonment of the site has been linked to the arrival of the Pipil people in the El Salvador region, although there is no evidence that they ever occupied the site.
, he listed Quelepa in his list of archaeological sites in El Salvador under the alternative name of Mayacaquin. The site was visited by Antonio Sol, the Director of the Departamento Nacional de Historia, in 1929.
The first excavation of the site took place in 1949, directed by Pedro Armillas. The investigations focused on Structure 3 in the East Group and were never completed and the results were unpublished, although the fieldnotes he made were forwarded to E. Wyllys Andrews V.
The principal excavations of the site were carried out under the direction of E. Wyllys Andrews from 1967–1969, funded by the Middle American Research Institute of Tulane University
and by the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare
.
Although the site is officially listed as a National Archaeological Monument, as recently as 2005 it was effectively unprotected.
to small, badly eroded mounds. These smaller mounds probably served as platform bases for perishable structures. The site also possesses a Mesoamerican ballcourt
. Agricultural land use of the site continues to constantly erode the archaeological remains.
The site, unusually for Mesoamerica, features ramps in place of stairways for some structures. Ramps have also been reported from Los Naranjos
in Belize
and from Bilbao
on the Pacific coast of Guatemala
, although the latter differed in form and function from those at Quelepa. In all cases, the ramps have been dated to the Classic period.
The two groups are fairly distinct in their architectural styles, probably due to being built in different periods. The West Group is probably the later of the two groups and is similar to a miniature Maya-style acropolis
.
The area south of the San Esteban River lacks structures but contains a great number of tombs.
A cache was uncovered at the site that contained a collection of artefacts associated with the Mesoamerican ballgame
, including finely sculpted yokes, palmas and a hacha. They were all placed under a stone slab. These, together with other artefacts such as flutes and wheeled toys indicate a link with the Gulf coast of Mexico.
The I-shaped Ballcourt (denominated Structure 19) is situated 110 metres (360.9 ft) north of the plaza, it has not been excavated. It consists of a mound measuring 31 metres (101.7 ft) long and 2.25 metres (7.4 ft) high that forms one side of the playing area, with the west side formed by the face of a terrace. The ballcourt is oriented north-south. The north and sound end zones are close by low, narrow walls running east-west. In the rain season, runoff water flows through the ballcourt and has buried it under more than 2 metres (6.6 ft) of soil. The original height of the sides of the ballcourt was probably around 4.5 metres (14.8 ft). Two large stone slabs were laid in the centre of the playing area, upon them was a broken sandstone
disc that measured 28 by and was probably a ballcourt marker.
Structure 23 is a small platform dating to the Late Classic. It is located near the edge of a high terrace and closes the west side of a small plaza. It is a single-level platform with vertical sides and measures 8.8 by by 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) high. It was accessed by a 1.9 metres (6.2 ft) wide stairway that extends 3 metres (9.8 ft) westwards from the platform. The use of a stairway indicates a major change in architectural style, moving away from the earlier use of ramps and involving the use of poorly reworked stone blocks for the facing of the building. The platform and the stairway both contained a mix of earth, mud and rock infill. Burnt remains of wattle and daub
were found scattered around the base, together with fragments of mortar and red-painted stucco
. The wattle and daub suggests a perishable superstructure once stood upon the platform but it is not certain if the stucco came from this or from the platform itself. Offering 23 was excavated from the structure and contained three ceramic vessels, including a red effigy vessel. This offering was buried at the time the structure was built and was likely to have been a dedicatory offering. A rough altar had been built in the angle formed by the southern wall of the stairway and the western wall of the platform itself.
Structure 28 is a platform located 6 metres (19.7 ft) to the south of Structure 23. It measured 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) high and has been badly eroded. Its architectural style is identical to that of Structure 23, suggesting that it also dates from the Late Classic. The platform base was buried under a 25 centimetres (9.8 in) thick layer of burnt wattle and daub mixed with ceramic fragments, probably the remains of a perishable superstructure that once stood on top of the platform.
Structure 29 is a small mound that was a three-tiered pyramid platform measuring 17.2 by at the base. It is out of alignment with the other structures in the west group. The mound was 3.5 metres (11.5 ft) high when excavated but the structure's original height has been calculated as approximately 4.1 metres (13.5 ft) based on the angle of its stairway. The stone facing was poor quality, consisting of rough, unequal stones placed haphazardly and cemented with mud mortar. This was then roughly covered with a thick, uneven coating of mortar. The lowest tier of the platform was 0.7 metres (2.3 ft) high, the middle tier measured 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) in height and the third tier was approximately 1.6 metres (5.2 ft) high. The stairway climbed the west side of the platform and projected 1 metres (3.3 ft) from the base of the pyramid. Structure 29 was built over an earlier structure that was similar in form. The poor workmanship associated with Structure 29 indicates that it was probably one of the last major structures to be erected at Quelepa. Ceramic evidence indicates that the building was abandoned at the end of the occupational history of the site, around AD 1000 at the beginning of the Early Postclassic period.
Offering 22 was found in front of Structure 29-sub and consisted of 3 ceramic discs piled on top of each other, a large obsidian
knife, a piece of haematite
, a piece of dusty orange clay, and 43 flakes of obsidian. Offering 24 was found near the southeast corner of Structure 29 and was the most unusual offering found at Quelepa. A stone slab measuring 39 by was placed on top of three U-shaped stone yokes laid out in an interlaced pattern, together two carved palmas and a sculpted hacha. The larger palma measured 49 by and was sculpted to represent a seated deity, probably Ehecatl
, the god of wind. The smaller palma measured 23.5 by and represents a feathered serpent
. The palmas have been dated stylistically to the Late Classic and show affinities with palmas from Veracruz
on the Gulf coast of Mexico
. All these items are associated with the Mesoamerican ballgame.
Most of the structures in the group are aligned north-south, although a few are clustered in arranged groups. The two main structures at Quelepa are found in the East Group. They were step pyramids, distinguished from those normally built in Mesoamerica by having access ramps instead of stairways. Structure 3 is the larger of the two main buildings and Structure 4 is the smaller. Both buildings appear to have been abandoned in the mid-7th century AD. The two pyramids faced south towards the edge of their supporting terrace, one of the largest terraces at the site, and were accessed via Ramps 1 and 2 that climbed the terrace edge and were directly aligned with the access ramps of Structures 3 and 4 respectively. Both ramps were paved with massive slabs and rose at an angle of 13°. The terrace and the ramps were faced with large volcanic tuff
blocks similar to, but larger than, those used to build the base of Structure 3. The terrace facade measured approximately 4 metres (13.1 ft) high.
Ramp 1 extended 9.1 metres (29.9 ft) from the edge of the terrace, at the lower (southern) end it measured 12.1 metres (39.7 ft) wide, it narrowed as it rose and measured 10.9 metres (35.8 ft) wide where it met the terrace in front of the access ramp of Structure 3.
Ramp 2 was 17.6 metres (57.7 ft) long and got wider as it rose. At the lower southern end it measured 8.1 metres (26.6 ft) wide, widening to 8.9 metres (29.2 ft) at the top. Ramp 2 is directly aligned with the access ramp of Structre 4. Three offerings were excavated from the base of Ramp 2. Offerings 20 and 21 were close to each other and each consisted of an inverted ceramic vessel placed over another vessel. Offering 18 was 3 metres (9.8 ft) northwest of the base of the ramp and contained two small ceramic bowls, one inverted over the other. All the ceramics from these offering belong to the Shila ceramic complex dated to the Early Classic.
surface of the terrace before construction began. The pyramid probably had eight stepped levels, with the lowest measuring 48 by and the highest measuring approximately 22.3 by. It is not aligned precisely with Structure 3, being oriented 5° east of north, a 10° variance from the earlier structure. The lower levels of the pyramid measured between 1.1 and 1.3 m (3.6 and 4.3 ft) high, the fourth level was higher, measuring 1.7 metres (5.6 ft). The lower levels had a horizontal depth of between 1.6 and 1.8 m (5.2 and 5.9 ft), the upper levels of approximately 2.5 metres (8.2 ft). The front (south) face of the pyramid was not straight, the angles of the southern corners were slightly greater than 90° with the facade of the pyramid extending out slightly to meet the access ramp. The excavator concluded that this was to create the illusion that the building was larger than its actual size. The pyramidal base originally stood between 9.7 and 9.8 m (31.8 and 32.2 ft) high. The access ramp was 6.4 metres (21 ft) wide and originally faced in stone, as uncovered during the 1949 excavations by Pedro Armillas. However, after the excavations, the owners of the Hacienda La Obrajuelo stripped the stone facing to be reused as construction material in San Miguel. The surviving remains of the ramp project 8.8 metres (28.9 ft) from the front of the pyramid, ending 8 metres (26.2 ft) from the edge of the supporting terrace. The ramp had a total length of approximately 24 to 25 m (78.7 to 82 ft) from base to summit and an initial incline of 18.5° that increased to 28° at the upper levels. The south face of Structure 3, including the access ramp, is badly eroded with the damage having been accelerated by the original excavations at the site. Structure 3 was built on top of an earlier structure that had been deliberately destroyed to make way for the new building. Structure 3-sub is estimated to have been 5 metres (16.4 ft) high. Construction of the final structure is estimated to have begun around AD 500.
The tuff blocks used to dress the lower levels of the structure measure up to 150 by by 30 centimetres (11.8 in) and weigh over a ton, during excavations they were unable to be moved by ten men without mechanical aid. The upper levels of the pyramid used smaller blocks that were able to be carried by a single person. The walls of the pyramid were probably coated in plaster and the upper surfaces were paved. Pieces of burnt wattle and daub
were found scattered all over the surface, sides and base of Structure 3, the remains of a perishable structure that once stood on top of the pyramid.
At least 3 offerings were buried under the floor of the summit of the pyramid. Offering 2 included a large stone disc placed upon a large cylindrical jade bead. Offering 3 included ceramics with a large grey-green river pebble placed on top. Offering 4 contained only an inverted polychrome bowl. A large offering was buried under the upper part of the ramp and was excavated by Pedro Armillas, the excavated artefacts passed into private ownership and their location are now unknown. The Offering included two large stone discs similar to that uncovered in Offering 2. Upon each disc was placed a four-legged ceramic vessel and underneath each disc were three stone balls measuring between 18 and 20 cm (7.1 and 7.9 in) and placed in a triangle. Also underneath each stone disc was a large tubular jade bead. This offering also contained a ceramic vessel inverted upon another with charcoal
between the two, and a large vessel inverted over a bowl that contained five jadeite
beads and a nephrite
hacha, together with traces of a red pigment, probably cinnabar
. A further bowl contained a small piece of charcoal.
beads and an onyx
bowl.
The Jaguar Altar is a huge monolith
ic monument that measures 314 by by 85 centimetres (33.5 in) high and dates to the Late Preclassic, it has a face sculpted on one side in the style of Cara Sucia
and that has affinities with the sculptural styles of Kaminaljuyu
in Guatemala
and Izapa
in southern Mexico
. The upper face of the altar has a 39 centimetres (15.4 in) deep square hollow that measures 140 by. All four sides of the altar bear relief
sculptures. The altar was removed from the site after Quelepa was excavated by E. Wyllys Andrews and is now in the Museo Nacional de Antropología Dr. David J. Guzmán in San Salvador
. It was found 235 metres (771 ft) north-northwest of Structure 29 and 102 metres (334.6 ft) northeast of the ballcourt. It had been placed near the edge of a 4 to 5 m (13.1 to 16.4 ft) high terrace. When excavated the area around and under it had already been explored by looters. It is not known if the altar was found in its original location or if it had been moved there, one corner of the altar had been broken off and archaeologists were unable to locate the missing fragment, suggesting that it had been broken while being moved.
Altar 2 was found upon Structure 9 in this group. It measures 84 by by 46 centimetres (18.1 in) high and was removed to the Museo Nacional de Antropología. The altar is roughly circular with a square hollow carved out of the upper face.
Altar 3 is a fragment that was found in 1970 a few metres east of Structure 36 in the West Group.
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. The site was founded around 400 BC, in the Late 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...
period (500 BC - AD 250). The inhabitants constructed a platform from plaster and pumice
Pumice
Pumice is a textural term for a volcanic rock that is a solidified frothy lava typically created when super-heated, highly pressurized rock is violently ejected from a volcano. It can be formed when lava and water are mixed. This unusual formation is due to the simultaneous actions of rapid...
and rebuilt it a number of times. Artefacts recovered during the excavations of the site indicate that the local population depended upon subsistence agriculture
Subsistence agriculture
Subsistence agriculture is self-sufficiency farming in which the farmers focus on growing enough food to feed their families. The typical subsistence farm has a range of crops and animals needed by the family to eat and clothe themselves during the year. Planting decisions are made with an eye...
, these artefacts included metate
Metate
A metate is a mortar, a ground stone tool used for processing grain and seeds. In traditional Mesoamerican culture, metates were typically used by women who would grind calcified maize and other organic materials during food preparation...
s (a kind of mortar
Mortar and pestle
A mortar and pestle is a tool used to crush, grind, and mix solid substances . The pestle is a heavy bat-shaped object, the end of which is used for crushing and grinding. The mortar is a bowl, typically made of hard wood, ceramic or stone...
) and comales
Comal (cookware)
A comal is a smooth, flat griddle typically used in Mexico to cook tortillas, toast spices, sear meat, and generally prepare food. Similar cookware is called a budare in South America. Some comals are concave and made of "barro" . These are still made and used by the indigenous peoples of Mexico...
(a type of griddle
Griddle
A griddle is a cooking device consisting of a broad flat surface that can be heated using a variety of means, and is used in both residential and commercial applications for a variety of cooking operations. Most commonly, the griddle consists of a flat metal plate, but in the non-industrialized...
). The site belonged to the Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a region and culture area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, within which a number of pre-Columbian societies flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and...
n cultural region. Quelepa is generally considered to have been settled by the Lenca people. Quelepa means "stone jaguar" in the Lenca language
Lenca language
The Lenca language is one of the indigenous Mesoamerican languages. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Central America in the early 16th century, it was spoken by the Lenca people in a region that incorporates northwestern and southwestern Honduras, and neighboring eastern El Salvador, east of...
, probably in reference to the large Jaguar Altar found at the site.
Throughout its occupational history, the inhabitants crafted stone tools from obsidian
Obsidian use in Mesoamerica
Obsidian is a naturally formed volcanic glass that was an important part of the material culture of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Obsidian was a highly integrated part of daily and ritual life, and its widespread and varied use may be a significant contributor to Mesoamerica's lack of metallurgy...
. The site appears to have been linked to trade routes to western El Salvador and the Guatemalan Highlands
Guatemalan Highlands
The Guatemalan Highlands is an upland region in southern Guatemala, lying between the Sierra Madre de Chiapas to the south and the Petén lowlands to the north....
and also to the north in Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
.
Although sites in western El Salvador were severely affected by the eruption of the Ilopango Volcano
Lake Ilopango
Lake Ilopango is a crater lake which fills a scenic 8 x 11 km volcanic caldera in central El Salvador. The caldera, which contains the second largest lake in the country and is located immediately east of the capital city, San Salvador, has a scalloped to high rim.-Eruptive History:Four...
in the Early Classic, the only affect this had upon Quelepa was the cutting of trade routes into Mesoamerica. This did not result in stagnation at the site but rather resulted in the florescence of a local culture.
Location
The Quelepa archaeological site is located 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) outside the small village of the same name. The ruins are situated along the north bank of the San Esteban River, a tributary of the Río Grande de San MiguelRío Grande de San Miguel
Río Grande de San Miguel is a river in southern El Salvador. It empties to the Pacific Ocean in the Usulután Department at ....
which flows into the Pacific Ocean. The site is located 8 kilometres (5 mi) west-northwest of the town of San Miguel
San Miguel, El Salvador
San Miguel is the fourth most populous city in El Salvador after Santa Ana and Soyapango and the second most important after San Salvador. It is located 138 km east of the capital, San Salvador. It is also the capital of the department of San Miguel and a municipality...
. Quelepa is 13 miles (20.9 km) north of the neighbouring site of Los Llanitos. The archaeological site divided into East and West groups by a small stream called the Quebrada Agua Zarca, which has high, steep banks. The ruins have an altitude of between 160 and 180 m (524.9 and 590.6 ft) above mean sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
.
The archaeological remains of Quelepa are on privately owned land under cultivation, the entire East Group together with a part of the west group are on the land of the Hacienda El Obrajuelo farm. The area to the west of the Quebrada Agua Zarca is planted with maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
, as is the area south of the river.
The general area around Quelapa is part of the flood plain of the Río Grande de San Miguel, lying between the hills to the north and the San Miguel volcano
San Miguel (volcano)
San Miguel is a stratovolcano in central-eastern El Salvador. It is situated about 15 km southwest of the city of San Miguel. It is one of the most active volcanoes in this country.- References :*...
some 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) from the Pacific Ocean. The volcano is the most prominent local landmark, with its peak at 2132 metres (6,994.8 ft) above mean sea level. Although the volcano has erupted 6 times since 1699, most recently in 1924, and continues in a low state of activity it has never dropped sufficient volcanic ash
Volcanic ash
Volcanic ash consists of small tephra, which are bits of pulverized rock and glass created by volcanic eruptions, less than in diameter. There are three mechanisms of volcanic ash formation: gas release under decompression causing magmatic eruptions; thermal contraction from chilling on contact...
on Quelepa to be detectable archaeologically.
The climate of Quelepa is classified under the Köppen system
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
as tropical wet and dry
Tropical savanna climate
Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a type of climate that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories "Aw" and '"As."...
. The majority of rainfall falls between in months of September and October with a long dry season
Dry season
The dry season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which oscillates from the northern to the southern tropics over the course of the year...
from November to May. Monthly rainfall averages between 300 and 400 mm (11.8 and 15.7 in) in September and less than 25 millimetre (0.984251968503937 in) in March. Native fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
has been practically extinguished by the heavy use of pesticide
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s on the local cotton crops. Andrews reported many iguana
Iguana
Iguana is a herbivorous genus of lizard native to tropical areas of Central America and the Caribbean. The genus was first described in 1768 by Austrian naturalist Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in his book Specimen Medicum, Exhibens Synopsin Reptilium Emendatam cum Experimentis circa Venena...
s near the watercourses and the occasional snake.
History
Quelepa was founded around 400 BC, in the Late PreclassicMesoamerican 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...
period (500 BC - AD 250). The first inhabitants of the site constructed a platform from plaster and pumice
Pumice
Pumice is a textural term for a volcanic rock that is a solidified frothy lava typically created when super-heated, highly pressurized rock is violently ejected from a volcano. It can be formed when lava and water are mixed. This unusual formation is due to the simultaneous actions of rapid...
and rebuilt it a number of times Quelepa is generally considered to have been settled by the Lenca people.
Around AD 200 the Ilopango volcano erupted and devastated western El Salvador, breaking Quelepa's link with Mesoamerica. Between AD 150 and AD 625 Quelepa turned instead to the Intermediate Area
Intermediate Area
The Intermediate Area is an archaeological geographical area of the Americas that was defined in its clearest form by Gordon R. Willey in his 1971 book An Introduction to American Archaeology, Vol. 2: South America...
beyond the frontiers of Mesoamerica, with artefacts arriving from the north and the east. The major ceremonial architecture of the East Group was built in the Early Classic.
In 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...
to Early Postclassic
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...
periods (from approximately AD 625–1000), the ceremonial centre of the settlement was abandoned and smaller structures were built around a small plaza. This has been interpreted as a Mesoamerican influence with its origins on the Gulf coast of Mexico, or perhaps from 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....
, a Maya
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...
city in the Petén Basin
Petén Basin
The Petén Basin is a geographical subregion of Mesoamerica, located in the northern portion of the modern-day nation of Guatemala, and essentially contained within the department of El Petén...
of northern 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...
. The stone facing from this period is cruder than that of earlier times and stairways replaced the earlier use of access ramps. The ballcourt
Mesoamerican ballcourt
A Mesoamerican ballcourt is a large masonry structure of a type used in Mesoamerica for over 2,700 years to play the Mesoamerican ballgame, particularly the hip-ball version of the ballgame. Over 1,300 ballcourts have been identified, 60% in the last 20 years alone...
also dates to this time.
Quelepa as a whole was abandoned around AD 1000, at the beginning of the Early Postclassic period. The abandonment of the site has been linked to the arrival of the Pipil people in the El Salvador region, although there is no evidence that they ever occupied the site.
Modern history
The first mention of Quelepa in print was a brief description written by Atilio Peccorini and published in 1913. Herbert Spinden mentioned Quelepa in 1915 and Peccorini published another, even less detailed account in 1926. Peccorini reported that the site had many structures faced with stone, a paved "road", artificial terraces and various sculptured monuments, one of which was probably the Jaguar Altar. Also in 1926, Samuel K. Lothrop mentioned that he made a brief visit to the ruins to buy ceramics for the Museum of the American Indian in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he listed Quelepa in his list of archaeological sites in El Salvador under the alternative name of Mayacaquin. The site was visited by Antonio Sol, the Director of the Departamento Nacional de Historia, in 1929.
The first excavation of the site took place in 1949, directed by Pedro Armillas. The investigations focused on Structure 3 in the East Group and were never completed and the results were unpublished, although the fieldnotes he made were forwarded to E. Wyllys Andrews V.
The principal excavations of the site were carried out under the direction of E. Wyllys Andrews from 1967–1969, funded by the Middle American Research Institute of Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
and by the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
.
Although the site is officially listed as a National Archaeological Monument, as recently as 2005 it was effectively unprotected.
Site description
Quelepa has approximately 40 structures occupying an area of approximately 0.5 square kilometre (0.193051079296268 sq mi). They are spread out over a distance of 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) along the bank of the San Esteban River, never at a distance greater the 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) from the river itself. Ceramic remains and isolated mounds extend as far as 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the site core. The site is divided into East and West Groups by a small stream. Structure size at the site varies greatly from 10 metres (32.8 ft) high pyramidsMesoamerican pyramids
Mesoamerican pyramids, pyramid-shaped structures, are an important part of ancient Mesoamerican architecture. These structures were usually step pyramids with temples on top – more akin to the ziggurats of Mesopotamia than to the pyramids of Ancient Egypt...
to small, badly eroded mounds. These smaller mounds probably served as platform bases for perishable structures. The site also possesses a Mesoamerican ballcourt
Mesoamerican ballcourt
A Mesoamerican ballcourt is a large masonry structure of a type used in Mesoamerica for over 2,700 years to play the Mesoamerican ballgame, particularly the hip-ball version of the ballgame. Over 1,300 ballcourts have been identified, 60% in the last 20 years alone...
. Agricultural land use of the site continues to constantly erode the archaeological remains.
The site, unusually for Mesoamerica, features ramps in place of stairways for some structures. Ramps have also been reported from Los Naranjos
Los Naranjos
Los Naranjos is the name for an archaeological region in western Honduras. It lies on the north border of Lake Yojoa. It is significant to the region because of its implications on determining where the Mayan frontier existed, as well as which ancient peoples were in contact and what relations...
in Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
and from Bilbao
Bilbao (Mesoamerican site)
Bilbao is a Mesoamerican archaeological site about from the modern town of Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa in the Escuintla department of Guatemala. The site lies among sugar plantations on the Pacific coastal plain and its principal phase of occupation is dated to the Classic Period...
on the Pacific coast 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...
, although the latter differed in form and function from those at Quelepa. In all cases, the ramps have been dated to the Classic period.
The two groups are fairly distinct in their architectural styles, probably due to being built in different periods. The West Group is probably the later of the two groups and is similar to a miniature Maya-style acropolis
Maya architecture
A unique and spectacular style, Maya architecture spans several thousands of years. Often the most dramatic and easily recognizable as Maya are the stepped pyramids from the Terminal Pre-classic period and beyond. Being based on the general Mesoamerican architectural traditions these pyramids...
.
The area south of the San Esteban River lacks structures but contains a great number of tombs.
A cache was uncovered at the site that contained a collection of artefacts associated with the Mesoamerican ballgame
Mesoamerican ballgame
The Mesoamerican ballgame or Tlatchtli in Náhuatl was a sport with ritual associations played since 1,000 B.C. by the pre-Columbian peoples of Ancient Mexico and Central America...
, including finely sculpted yokes, palmas and a hacha. They were all placed under a stone slab. These, together with other artefacts such as flutes and wheeled toys indicate a link with the Gulf coast of Mexico.
West Group
The structures of the West Group are located upon artificial terraces that are generally aligned north-south. To the south of the group the terrain descends steeply to the river. The group consists of a number of mounds, 15 of which are arranged around a rectangular plaza in the southeastern area of the group, most of them upon an artificial terrace. The northeast of this terrace supports a narrow platform upon which was built a long, low structure. A similar structure is on the east side of the plaza. The mounds in the West Group date to the Late Classic.The I-shaped Ballcourt (denominated Structure 19) is situated 110 metres (360.9 ft) north of the plaza, it has not been excavated. It consists of a mound measuring 31 metres (101.7 ft) long and 2.25 metres (7.4 ft) high that forms one side of the playing area, with the west side formed by the face of a terrace. The ballcourt is oriented north-south. The north and sound end zones are close by low, narrow walls running east-west. In the rain season, runoff water flows through the ballcourt and has buried it under more than 2 metres (6.6 ft) of soil. The original height of the sides of the ballcourt was probably around 4.5 metres (14.8 ft). Two large stone slabs were laid in the centre of the playing area, upon them was a broken sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
disc that measured 28 by and was probably a ballcourt marker.
Structure 23 is a small platform dating to the Late Classic. It is located near the edge of a high terrace and closes the west side of a small plaza. It is a single-level platform with vertical sides and measures 8.8 by by 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) high. It was accessed by a 1.9 metres (6.2 ft) wide stairway that extends 3 metres (9.8 ft) westwards from the platform. The use of a stairway indicates a major change in architectural style, moving away from the earlier use of ramps and involving the use of poorly reworked stone blocks for the facing of the building. The platform and the stairway both contained a mix of earth, mud and rock infill. Burnt remains of wattle and daub
Wattle and daub
Wattle and daub is a composite building material used for making walls, in which a woven lattice of wooden strips called wattle is daubed with a sticky material usually made of some combination of wet soil, clay, sand, animal dung and straw...
were found scattered around the base, together with fragments of mortar and red-painted stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
. The wattle and daub suggests a perishable superstructure once stood upon the platform but it is not certain if the stucco came from this or from the platform itself. Offering 23 was excavated from the structure and contained three ceramic vessels, including a red effigy vessel. This offering was buried at the time the structure was built and was likely to have been a dedicatory offering. A rough altar had been built in the angle formed by the southern wall of the stairway and the western wall of the platform itself.
Structure 28 is a platform located 6 metres (19.7 ft) to the south of Structure 23. It measured 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) high and has been badly eroded. Its architectural style is identical to that of Structure 23, suggesting that it also dates from the Late Classic. The platform base was buried under a 25 centimetres (9.8 in) thick layer of burnt wattle and daub mixed with ceramic fragments, probably the remains of a perishable superstructure that once stood on top of the platform.
Structure 29 is a small mound that was a three-tiered pyramid platform measuring 17.2 by at the base. It is out of alignment with the other structures in the west group. The mound was 3.5 metres (11.5 ft) high when excavated but the structure's original height has been calculated as approximately 4.1 metres (13.5 ft) based on the angle of its stairway. The stone facing was poor quality, consisting of rough, unequal stones placed haphazardly and cemented with mud mortar. This was then roughly covered with a thick, uneven coating of mortar. The lowest tier of the platform was 0.7 metres (2.3 ft) high, the middle tier measured 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) in height and the third tier was approximately 1.6 metres (5.2 ft) high. The stairway climbed the west side of the platform and projected 1 metres (3.3 ft) from the base of the pyramid. Structure 29 was built over an earlier structure that was similar in form. The poor workmanship associated with Structure 29 indicates that it was probably one of the last major structures to be erected at Quelepa. Ceramic evidence indicates that the building was abandoned at the end of the occupational history of the site, around AD 1000 at the beginning of the Early Postclassic period.
Offering 22 was found in front of Structure 29-sub and consisted of 3 ceramic discs piled on top of each other, a large obsidian
Obsidian use in Mesoamerica
Obsidian is a naturally formed volcanic glass that was an important part of the material culture of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Obsidian was a highly integrated part of daily and ritual life, and its widespread and varied use may be a significant contributor to Mesoamerica's lack of metallurgy...
knife, a piece of haematite
Hematite
Hematite, also spelled as haematite, is the mineral form of iron oxide , one of several iron oxides. Hematite crystallizes in the rhombohedral system, and it has the same crystal structure as ilmenite and corundum...
, a piece of dusty orange clay, and 43 flakes of obsidian. Offering 24 was found near the southeast corner of Structure 29 and was the most unusual offering found at Quelepa. A stone slab measuring 39 by was placed on top of three U-shaped stone yokes laid out in an interlaced pattern, together two carved palmas and a sculpted hacha. The larger palma measured 49 by and was sculpted to represent a seated deity, probably Ehecatl
Ehecatl
Ehecatl is a pre-Columbian deity associated with the wind, who features in Aztec mythology and the mythologies of other cultures from the central Mexico region of Mesoamerica. He is most usually interpreted as the aspect of the Feathered Serpent deity as a god of wind, and is therefore also known...
, the god of wind. The smaller palma measured 23.5 by and represents a feathered serpent
Feathered Serpent (deity)
The Feathered Serpent was a prominent supernatural entity or deity, found in many Mesoamerican religions. It was called Quetzalcoatl among the Aztecs, Kukulkan among the Yucatec Maya, and Q'uq'umatz and Tohil among the K'iche' Maya...
. The palmas have been dated stylistically to the Late Classic and show affinities with palmas from Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
on the Gulf coast of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. All these items are associated with the Mesoamerican ballgame.
East Group
The East Group consists of structures clustered close to the edges of enormous artificial terraces. These terraces rise successively to the north as they get further from the river until the highest rests against the base of a range of hills. The massive terraces in the group provided a level base for the construction of further architecture. The terraces were faced with cut stone slabs laid horizontally.Most of the structures in the group are aligned north-south, although a few are clustered in arranged groups. The two main structures at Quelepa are found in the East Group. They were step pyramids, distinguished from those normally built in Mesoamerica by having access ramps instead of stairways. Structure 3 is the larger of the two main buildings and Structure 4 is the smaller. Both buildings appear to have been abandoned in the mid-7th century AD. The two pyramids faced south towards the edge of their supporting terrace, one of the largest terraces at the site, and were accessed via Ramps 1 and 2 that climbed the terrace edge and were directly aligned with the access ramps of Structures 3 and 4 respectively. Both ramps were paved with massive slabs and rose at an angle of 13°. The terrace and the ramps were faced with large volcanic tuff
Tuff
Tuff is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. Tuff is sometimes called tufa, particularly when used as construction material, although tufa also refers to a quite different rock. Rock that contains greater than 50% tuff is considered...
blocks similar to, but larger than, those used to build the base of Structure 3. The terrace facade measured approximately 4 metres (13.1 ft) high.
Ramp 1 extended 9.1 metres (29.9 ft) from the edge of the terrace, at the lower (southern) end it measured 12.1 metres (39.7 ft) wide, it narrowed as it rose and measured 10.9 metres (35.8 ft) wide where it met the terrace in front of the access ramp of Structure 3.
Ramp 2 was 17.6 metres (57.7 ft) long and got wider as it rose. At the lower southern end it measured 8.1 metres (26.6 ft) wide, widening to 8.9 metres (29.2 ft) at the top. Ramp 2 is directly aligned with the access ramp of Structre 4. Three offerings were excavated from the base of Ramp 2. Offerings 20 and 21 were close to each other and each consisted of an inverted ceramic vessel placed over another vessel. Offering 18 was 3 metres (9.8 ft) northwest of the base of the ramp and contained two small ceramic bowls, one inverted over the other. All the ceramics from these offering belong to the Shila ceramic complex dated to the Early Classic.
Structure 3
Structure 3 is the largest structure at Quelepa. It is situated 11 metres (36.1 ft) to the east of the smaller pyramid Structure 4, on the third terrace rising northwards from the river. Both the terrace upon which it stands and the structure itself were faced with large, finely cut stone blocks. Structure 3 was built somewhat after Structure 4, which was already in use during its construction. Considerable effort was made to artificially level the volcanic tuffTuff
Tuff is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. Tuff is sometimes called tufa, particularly when used as construction material, although tufa also refers to a quite different rock. Rock that contains greater than 50% tuff is considered...
surface of the terrace before construction began. The pyramid probably had eight stepped levels, with the lowest measuring 48 by and the highest measuring approximately 22.3 by. It is not aligned precisely with Structure 3, being oriented 5° east of north, a 10° variance from the earlier structure. The lower levels of the pyramid measured between 1.1 and 1.3 m (3.6 and 4.3 ft) high, the fourth level was higher, measuring 1.7 metres (5.6 ft). The lower levels had a horizontal depth of between 1.6 and 1.8 m (5.2 and 5.9 ft), the upper levels of approximately 2.5 metres (8.2 ft). The front (south) face of the pyramid was not straight, the angles of the southern corners were slightly greater than 90° with the facade of the pyramid extending out slightly to meet the access ramp. The excavator concluded that this was to create the illusion that the building was larger than its actual size. The pyramidal base originally stood between 9.7 and 9.8 m (31.8 and 32.2 ft) high. The access ramp was 6.4 metres (21 ft) wide and originally faced in stone, as uncovered during the 1949 excavations by Pedro Armillas. However, after the excavations, the owners of the Hacienda La Obrajuelo stripped the stone facing to be reused as construction material in San Miguel. The surviving remains of the ramp project 8.8 metres (28.9 ft) from the front of the pyramid, ending 8 metres (26.2 ft) from the edge of the supporting terrace. The ramp had a total length of approximately 24 to 25 m (78.7 to 82 ft) from base to summit and an initial incline of 18.5° that increased to 28° at the upper levels. The south face of Structure 3, including the access ramp, is badly eroded with the damage having been accelerated by the original excavations at the site. Structure 3 was built on top of an earlier structure that had been deliberately destroyed to make way for the new building. Structure 3-sub is estimated to have been 5 metres (16.4 ft) high. Construction of the final structure is estimated to have begun around AD 500.
The tuff blocks used to dress the lower levels of the structure measure up to 150 by by 30 centimetres (11.8 in) and weigh over a ton, during excavations they were unable to be moved by ten men without mechanical aid. The upper levels of the pyramid used smaller blocks that were able to be carried by a single person. The walls of the pyramid were probably coated in plaster and the upper surfaces were paved. Pieces of burnt wattle and daub
Wattle and daub
Wattle and daub is a composite building material used for making walls, in which a woven lattice of wooden strips called wattle is daubed with a sticky material usually made of some combination of wet soil, clay, sand, animal dung and straw...
were found scattered all over the surface, sides and base of Structure 3, the remains of a perishable structure that once stood on top of the pyramid.
At least 3 offerings were buried under the floor of the summit of the pyramid. Offering 2 included a large stone disc placed upon a large cylindrical jade bead. Offering 3 included ceramics with a large grey-green river pebble placed on top. Offering 4 contained only an inverted polychrome bowl. A large offering was buried under the upper part of the ramp and was excavated by Pedro Armillas, the excavated artefacts passed into private ownership and their location are now unknown. The Offering included two large stone discs similar to that uncovered in Offering 2. Upon each disc was placed a four-legged ceramic vessel and underneath each disc were three stone balls measuring between 18 and 20 cm (7.1 and 7.9 in) and placed in a triangle. Also underneath each stone disc was a large tubular jade bead. This offering also contained a ceramic vessel inverted upon another with charcoal
Charcoal
Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of carbon, and any remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen...
between the two, and a large vessel inverted over a bowl that contained five jadeite
Jadeite
Jadeite is a pyroxene mineral with composition NaAlSi2O6. It is monoclinic. It has a Mohs hardness of about 6.5 to 7.0 depending on the composition. The mineral is dense, with a specific gravity of about 3.4. Jadeite forms solid solutions with other pyroxene endmembers such as augite and diopside ,...
beads and a nephrite
Nephrite
Nephrite is a variety of the calcium and magnesium-rich amphibole mineral actinolite . The chemical formula for nephrite is Ca25Si8O222. It is one of two different mineral species called jade. The other mineral species known as jade is jadeite, which is a variety of pyroxene...
hacha, together with traces of a red pigment, probably cinnabar
Cinnabar
Cinnabar or cinnabarite , is the common ore of mercury.-Word origin:The name comes from κινναβαρι , a Greek word most likely applied by Theophrastus to several distinct substances...
. A further bowl contained a small piece of charcoal.
Structure 4
Structure 4 is the smaller of the two pyramids, it is also the earlier of the two buildings. It dates to the Early Classic period. The pyramid base is on the edge of the third terrace rising from the river and is near the centre of the East Group. The structure measures 34.5 by and was aligned just under 5° west of north. The pyramid probably only had two levels, the upper level being set back a little rather than centred and measuring 27.2 by. The lower level measured 2.6 metres (8.5 ft) high and the upper is estimated to have measured 3.2 metres (10.5 ft) high originally but was somewhat reduced. The total height of the pyramidal platform was about 5.8 metres (19 ft). Access to the top of the pyramid was via a south-facing ramp that measured 11.9 metres (39 ft) long with the lower end extending 6.3 metres (20.7 ft) south of the pyramid base. The ramp was 5.4 metres (17.7 ft) wide and rose at an estimated angle of 27°. Excavations revealed that the ramp was built of compacted clay and that the pyramid was packed with unworked stones. Both were built simultaneously. Structure 4 was faced with rough volcanic tuff blocks that varied considerably in size, cemented with mud. The blocks were covered in a coating of mortar that varied between 5 and 7 cm (2 and 2.8 in) thick and that may originally have been painted although no evidence was found to prove this. Around the base of the pyramid were found large amounts of burnt wattle and daub that can only have originated with the burning of a perishable superstructure on top of the pyramidal platform. The structure contained seven caches, among the offerings were Early Classic ceramic vessels, jadeJade use in Mesoamerica
Jade use in Mesoamerica was largely influenced by the conceptualization of the material as a rare and valued commodity among pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures, such as the Olmec, the Maya, and the various groups in the Valley of Mexico. The only source from which the indigenous cultures could...
beads and an onyx
Onyx
Onyx is a banded variety of chalcedony. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color . Commonly, specimens of onyx contain bands of black and/or white.-Etymology:...
bowl.
Other structures and monuments
At the western edge of the East Group is a large rectangular platform supporting architectural remains. The platform was once almost entirely enclosed by walls, leading to its description as a fortress, although the walls are now badly eroded. Structure 9 is located at the southern edge of the platform.The Jaguar Altar is a huge monolith
Monolith
A monolith is a geological feature such as a mountain, consisting of a single massive stone or rock, or a single piece of rock placed as, or within, a monument...
ic monument that measures 314 by by 85 centimetres (33.5 in) high and dates to the Late Preclassic, it has a face sculpted on one side in the style of Cara Sucia
Cara Sucia
Cara Sucia was one of Venezuela's most popular telenovelas, and its most exported to other countries.Produced by Venevisión and filmed in 1992, Cara Sucia presents the story of Miguel Angel Gonzalez and Estrellita Montenegro .Filled with gaps and loopholes in the...
and that has affinities with the sculptural styles of Kaminaljuyu
Kaminaljuyu
Kaminaljuyu is a Pre-Columbian site of the Maya civilization that was primarily occupied from 1500 BC to AD 1200. Kaminaljuyu has been described as one of the greatest of all archaeological sites in the New World by Michael Coe, although its remains today - a few mounds only - are far less...
in 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...
and Izapa
Izapa
Izapa is a very large pre-Columbian archaeological site located in the Mexican state of Chiapas; it was occupied during the Late Formative period. The site is situated on the Izapa River, a tributary of the Suchiate River, near the base of the Tacaná volcano), the fourth largest mountain in...
in southern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The upper face of the altar has a 39 centimetres (15.4 in) deep square hollow that measures 140 by. All four sides of the altar bear relief
Relief
Relief is a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is thus to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane...
sculptures. The altar was removed from the site after Quelepa was excavated by E. Wyllys Andrews and is now in the Museo Nacional de Antropología Dr. David J. Guzmán in San Salvador
San Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
. It was found 235 metres (771 ft) north-northwest of Structure 29 and 102 metres (334.6 ft) northeast of the ballcourt. It had been placed near the edge of a 4 to 5 m (13.1 to 16.4 ft) high terrace. When excavated the area around and under it had already been explored by looters. It is not known if the altar was found in its original location or if it had been moved there, one corner of the altar had been broken off and archaeologists were unable to locate the missing fragment, suggesting that it had been broken while being moved.
Altar 2 was found upon Structure 9 in this group. It measures 84 by by 46 centimetres (18.1 in) high and was removed to the Museo Nacional de Antropología. The altar is roughly circular with a square hollow carved out of the upper face.
Altar 3 is a fragment that was found in 1970 a few metres east of Structure 36 in the West Group.