7. Late Preclassic Flashcards
Notes 7
Late Preclassic
350 BCE - 250 CE
Izapa (Lowlands - near guatamala)
Late Preclassic ceremonial center on Pacific shore
of Chiapas. Possibly transitional between Olmec and Classic
Maya cultures. Important Characteristics: Stela Altar Complex (amongst 1st in mayan culture), 2D art style to depict mythic stories, Lacks full blown script.
Itzamnaaj Mut
Principal bird deity - found in Izapa ceremonial center
Chaak
Rain and Lightning Deity. Discovered on Izapa stelas as well as in art depicted in san bartolo.
kaminaljuyu
One of the most important
Preclassic cities.
Near obsidian sources and
controlled its trade
Controlled greenstone (jade) trade from the Motagua River
Valley
Mound E-III-3
Large stepped temple-pyramid platform, fronted
by a broad stairway.
construction core of clay with perishable monument on top.
Funeral Monument
Kaminaljuyu and Lake
Miraflores
Kaminaljuyu’s development was
bolstered by its strategic location near
Lake Miraflores (used to be pyramids arranges around lake miraflores)
It was the largest water source in the
region, providing water resources for
farming(irrigation)
Failure of Kaminaljuyu Canals
By 150 CE canals had silted over and the water supply failed as the lake miraflores retreated (Possibly due to drought)
Facing water shortage, city was in upheaval by 150 CE
Kaminaljuyu Monument 10
Late Preclassic ruler at
Kaminaljuyu wears the mask of
Itzamnaaj Mut – the Principal
Bird deity
Kaminaljuyu Monument 65
depicts Rulers with names seated on thrones
Captives with hands bound on both sides
Late Preclassic in the Maya Lowlands
Urbanism emerges and large cities appear
Large vertical architecture, such as triadic
groups
Regions are integrated with networks of roads
(sacbes)
Social inequality grows and hierarchies become
entrenched
Centralized government based on kingship
emerging
(Authority is legitimized based on religious
doctrine
Writing appears in public contexts)
Intensive agricultural practices are innovate (Large drained field systems)
Long distance trade increases due to rise of cities in stategic points along lowlands
El Mirador
largest Major center in central karstic uplands by 350 BCE.
Site core includes platforms on
natural rises surrounded by low
lying swamp (bajos).
The largest pyramids ever built by
the Mayas.
Multi-terraced platforms topped by
three buildings – “triadic groups”
(Large structure flanked by two smaller
structures facing into a shared
courtyard.)
Strategic location of
El Mirador
Center of portage route between two
river drainages, the Candelaria to the
west and the Hondo to the east.
Trade with regions across the Maya
world
In the midst of an extensive system
of bajos and wetlands
Fertile Soils of the Bajos
Fertile soils of the bajos
Major bajos located in the
Central Karstic Uplands
Muck from bajos used to
mulch gardens in uplands
Raised fields located on
bajo edges allowed for easy irrigation of crops (corn, cotton)
limestone block masonry
Maya pyramids were
built with stone walls,
plastered, and usually
painted red.
