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Xtampak “Old Walls” Intervened |
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miércoles, 08 de octubre de 2008 |
 In Campeche
Constructed on a natural elevation 137 kilometers away from Campeche, Campeche, the most important Prehispanic city of Chenes region is located: Santa Rosa Xtampak, which might have been Uxmal rival.
Surrounded by mystery, the abundant vegetation protects treasures and secrets. Santa Rosa Xtampak is today National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), research subject. The 2008 archaeological field season includes restoration and consolidation of the buildings, plazas and patios that constitute the heart of the ancient Maya city.
Renee Lorelei Zapata, woman in charge of the project, explained that fieldwork will last seven months, and will continue with tasks performed during the last seven years, to validate the hypotheses that Xtampak kept commercial nexuses with the southwestern area.
“Architectonic, ceramic, pictorial and epigraphic elements found in the site indicate it was a capital and an important interregional crossroad, which benefited from the product flow”, commented the archaeologist.
Santa Rosa Xtampak is one of the few Chenes sites with Stelae; other significant findings are the paintings located in the vault covers of the building known as Mouth of Serpent. Motives include geometric and naturalistic images, as well as animals and characters, on which epigraphic analysis will be conducted.
Architecture and decoration are associated with Chenes style, distinguished by structures known as Palace-pyramids, one-story buildings with one or more overlapping temples; most structures count on three facades and zoomorphic figureheads that surround central and inferior doors.
Xtampak means in Maya “old walls” and makes reference to the site’s occupation from Pre Classic to Post Classic periods (from 300 BC to 950 AD). Although this chronology is documented, in this field season four probing wells will be dug at Cerro de la Estrella to confirm it; new archaeological material can be found in situ.
Lorelei Zapata indicated that work at the structure known as El Cuartel, a space of approximately 2,300 square meters, delimited by buildings in its four sides, could be ready this season.
Northern, southern and western structures count on a single row of rooms and broad staircases at both ends of each building, while the eastern had rows of rooms at both sides of the hallway. “Restoration work includes consolidation of diverse facades, corners and walls”. The INAH archaeologist also commented that structural monitoring at El Palacio, rescued in 2004, is to be continued.
At the building annexed to the Serpent’s Mouth, a Prehispanic cistern it will be excavated, rehabilitated and waterproofed, with the idea of using it to provide water to the site.
An area of 9 square kilometers will be explored to define the site’s chart. As an important Maya state-city, Xtampak urban design was planned.
Xtampak Archaeological field season helps to fight poverty in Hopelchen, Campeche municipality, with the creation of temporary employment, while it encourages population to feel proud of their cultural heritage.
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Modificado el ( miércoles, 11 de noviembre de 2009 )
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