El Baúl
Encyclopedia
El Baúl is a Pre-Columbian
archaeological site
in present-day Escuintla Department, Guatemala
. El Baúl, along with the sites of Bilbao
and El Castillo, is part of the Cotzumalhuapa
Archaeological site
s Zone. It is in the prehistoric Formative stage
of the Americas.
, 550 metres (1,804.5 ft) above sea level, 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) from the Pacific. Its southern acropolis complex was destroyed in 1997 by an urbanization of this city, and the main groups are now sugar cane
fields. the ballcourt
is located 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) north of the acropolis with several residential groups in between, united by 2 causeways. Its geologic context is volcanic: the Fuego volcano is active and located just north of the site.
This site shows monumental architecture in its acropolis as well as a sweet house and obsidian
workshops. Analysis of these deposits is particularly important for the study of the ancient obsidian industry. The P31 stratigraphic pit continued below these deposits to a depth of 3.78 metres (12.4 ft), revealing volcanic ash
layers derived from the adjacent Fuego volcano. Obsidian
debitage
continued below these ash layers, suggesting that the area was used as a refuse deposit for a prolonged period.
The largest causeway is 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) long and ranging from 11 to 14 m (36.1 to 45.9 ft) wide, to communicate the acropolis of Bilbao and El Baúl. Before entering El Baúl, the causeway ran across a large bridge over the Santiago River
gorge. The foundation walls of the bridge, which most probably sustained a wooden structure, are still visible along a 330 metres (98.4 ft) span of the river course. An excavation carried out on the western side of the river gorge revealed two constructional stages for the causeway at this location, both of which date to the Late Classic period. Many monumental sculptures have been found along the causeways.
Pre-Columbian
The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic period to European colonization during...
archaeological site
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
in present-day Escuintla Department, 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...
. El Baúl, along with the sites of 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...
and El Castillo, is part of the Cotzumalhuapa
Cotzumalhuapa
Santa Lucía Cotzumalhuapa is the name of a pre-Columbian Maya archaeological zone dating mainly to the Late Classic period in Mesoamerican chronology, although it was occupied since the Middle Preclassic period and there is evidence of a major development during the Late Preclassic period...
Archaeological site
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
s Zone. It is in the prehistoric Formative stage
Formative stage
The Formative Stage or "Neo-Indian period" is an archaeological term describing a particular developmental level. This stage from 1000 BCE to 500 CE is the third of five stages defined by Gordon Willey and Philip Phillips' 1958 book Method and Theory in American Archaeology.Cultures of the...
of the Americas.
Site
The El Baúl acropolis is located 4 km north of Santa Lucía CotzumalguapaSanta Lucía Cotzumalguapa
Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa is a municipality in the Escuintla department of Guatemala.The municipality includes the pre-Columbian archaeological sites of El Baúl and Bilbao....
, 550 metres (1,804.5 ft) above sea level, 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) from the Pacific. Its southern acropolis complex was destroyed in 1997 by an urbanization of this city, and the main groups are now sugar cane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
fields. 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...
is located 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) north of the acropolis with several residential groups in between, united by 2 causeways. Its geologic context is volcanic: the Fuego volcano is active and located just north of the site.
This site shows monumental architecture in its acropolis as well as a sweet house and 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...
workshops. Analysis of these deposits is particularly important for the study of the ancient obsidian industry. The P31 stratigraphic pit continued below these deposits to a depth of 3.78 metres (12.4 ft), revealing 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...
layers derived from the adjacent Fuego volcano. 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...
debitage
Debitage
The term debitage refers to all the waste material produced during lithic reduction and the production of chipped stone tools. This assemblage includes, but is not limited to, different kinds of lithic flakes, shatter, and production errors and rejects....
continued below these ash layers, suggesting that the area was used as a refuse deposit for a prolonged period.
The largest causeway is 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) long and ranging from 11 to 14 m (36.1 to 45.9 ft) wide, to communicate the acropolis of Bilbao and El Baúl. Before entering El Baúl, the causeway ran across a large bridge over the Santiago River
Santiago River
Santiago River is a river of eastern Mexico. It flows through the municipality of Xalapa, in the state of Veracruz.-References:...
gorge. The foundation walls of the bridge, which most probably sustained a wooden structure, are still visible along a 330 metres (98.4 ft) span of the river course. An excavation carried out on the western side of the river gorge revealed two constructional stages for the causeway at this location, both of which date to the Late Classic period. Many monumental sculptures have been found along the causeways.