Nakum and Yaxha during the Terminal Classic period : external relations and strategies of survival at the time of the collapse

Bernard Hermes, Jarosław Źrałka Nakum and Yaxha during the Terminal Classic period : external relations and strategies of survival at the time of the collapse Contributions in New World Archaeology 4, 175-204 2012 Contributions in New World Archaeology 4: 175–204 Nakum and Yaxha During the Terminal Classic Period: External Relations and Strategies of Survival at the Time of the Collapse Bernard Hermes1, Jarosław Źrałka2 1 The Nakum Archaeological Project, Guatemala 2 Jagiellonian University, Poland Abstract Recent investigations carried out at Nakum and Yaxha, two Maya sites located in north-eastern Guatemala, revealed important evidence of Terminal Classic occupation. Accessible archaeological and epigraphic data indicate that both cities established new economic and political alliances and contacts with other Lowland Maya centres and possibly also with more distant regions in Mesoamerica. As a result, new architectural modes and styles as well as new iconographic trends appeared in these centers. In Nakum, as in several other Terminal Classic sites, a combination of these new pan-Mesoamerican modes and the old, traditional symbols were used to legitimize the power of local elites and their rule over local population. The short term success of Nakum and possibly also of neighboring Yaxha was dependant upon a group of factors, the most important being their proximity to important resources (water sources, trade, and communication routes) and the considerable political and economic independence they gained after the collapse of the former hegemons of this area – Tikal and Naranjo. Resumen Trabajos de investigación arqueológica efectuados recientemente en los sitios mayas de Nakum y Yaxha ubicados en el NE de Guatemala (departamento El Peten) han proporcionado evidencia de distinto tipo referente a la ocupación durante el periodo Clásico Terminal. La información arqueológica y epigráfica conocida indica que en ambos sitios ocurren cambios políticos y económicos que resultaron en el establecimiento de nuevas alianzas y contactos con otros sitios de las Tierras Bajas Mayas Centrales y posiblemente también con regiones distantes del área Mesoamericana. Ejemplos claros de los cambios generados por el conjunto de fenómenos sociales acaecidos se observan en nuevos modos y estilos arquitectónicos, en la aparición de formas y modos tecno-estilísticos en la industria cerámica así como nuevas tendencias iconográficas. En Nakum, al igual que en otros sitios del período Clásico Terminal, es evidente una combinación de los nuevos modos pan mesoamericanos con la tradición local cuyo simbolismo fue utilizado por las elites locales para legitimizar su derecho de gobierno sobre la población local. Este éxito de corta duración en Nakum y posiblemente también en el cercano Yaxha dependió de un grupo de factores diferentes, de los cuales el más importante fue su proximidad a recursos importantes (fuentes de agua, vías de comunicación y accesibilidad a rutas comerciales), así como la considerable independencia política y económica alcanzada por los gobernantes locales gracias al colapso de Tikal y Naranjo, los dos sitios que siempre fueron los centros de poder predominantes en la zona. 176 Bernard Hermes, Jarosław Źrałka Introduction The Terminal Classic was a time of profound changes in the Maya Lowlands, marked by the collapse of the majority of the Maya cities. Although several decades ago it was believed that this collapse was a short-term phenomenon caused by a single factor, we now know that only multivariate models can be applied to the Classic Maya Collapse issue (e.g. Aimers 2007: 351). Research conducted in the past few decades has shown that the Terminal Classic period cannot be solely characterized by the demise of the Maya civilization since there is ample evidence of transformation and even growth in some centres that survived these turbulent times and continued to thrive until the Postclassic or Colonial periods (see Demarest et al. 2004; Demarest 2004a: 240276; Yaeger & Hodell 2008). Nakum and Yaxha, two sites located in north-eastern Guatemala (in the Triangulo Park of eastern Peten) are among the few centres of this region that survived the collapse of their neighbours by a century, or more. During the Terminal Classic, both sites established new economic and political alliances with other Lowland Maya centres and possibly also with the more distant regions of Mesoamerica. As a result, new architectural modes and styles as well as new iconographic trends appeared at these centres. At least in the case of Nakum (as in other Terminal Classic enclaves), a combination of these new pan-Mesoamerican modes and the old, traditional symbols were used to legitimize the power of the local elites and their rule over the local population. Here we examine Terminal Classic growth at both sites, emphasizing the appearance of non-local traits in their architecture and iconography. Next, we will interpret these non-local trends, trying to answer a fundamental question: why were they used and what was their provenance? In the final part of this article we will discuss the possible reasons for Nakum’s growth, focusing on survival strategies employed at this site, within the context of a wider geographical perspective. Architecture Many scholars have tried to relate architecture and its different styles to particular people and societies. In this view new modes or forms of architecture may be influenced by the styles or ideas carried by a new group of people and thus may indicate migration and ethnic affiliation. Architecture (especially ritual construction) is clearly tied to social activity. Civilisations usually expend much energy in building these edifices and do so according to canons and styles which can serve as diagnostic markers (Aimers 2004: 310). In the case of Mesoamerica, scholars have debated whether the appearance of Olmec style art, Teotihuacan architecture, or Toltec style buildings and sculptures in the Maya area indicate migration and colonization, or merely the establishment of new cultural and/or trade contacts. As of today, this remains an open question, engendering spirited discussions with little agreement as to the nature of these influences from a scientific standpoint. The same may be said about the spread and adoption of different architectural forms in various Maya sites during the final part of the Classic period – such us C-shaped structures, round and tandem plan structures, central plaza platforms and other “new” constructions. It is not clear, as yet, if their appearance and adoption by many sites conclusively proves the migration of outside groups, or the participation of local groups in a pan-Mesoamerican sphere of interaction (see Schwarz 2009: 415). The latter topic is addressed in this article and below we describe all “non-local”, “foreign”, or “new” traits that were documented both at Nakum and Yaxha during the Terminal Classic period. Naku (...truncated)