Landscapes of the Itza: Archaeology and Art History at Chichen Itza and Neighboring Sites

319 Pages·2017·7.71 MB·English

by  Linnea Wren

Landscapes of the Itza
University Press of Florida
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers
Florida International University, Miami
Florida State University, Tallahassee
New College of Florida, Sarasota
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of West Florida, Pensacola

Landscapes of the Itza
Archaeology and Art History
at Chichen Itza and Neighboring Sites
Edited by Linnea Wren,
Cynthia Kristan-Graham,
Travis Nygard,
and Kaylee Spencer
University Press of Florida
Gainesville / Tallahassee / Tampa / Boca Raton
Pensacola / Orlando / Miami / Jacksonville / Ft. Myers / Sarasota
Copyright 2018 by Linnea Wren, Cynthia Kristan-Graham,
Travis Nygard, and Kaylee Spencer
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
This book may be available in an electronic edition.
23 22 21 20 19 18 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Wren, Linnea Holmer, editor. | Kristan-Graham, Cynthia, editor. |
Nygard, Travis, editor. | Spencer, Kaylee R., 1975– editor.
Title: Landscapes of the Itza : archaeology and art history at Chichen Itza
and neighboring sites / edited by Linnea Wren, Cynthia Kristan-Graham,
Travis Nygard, and Kaylee Spencer.
Description: Gainesville : University Press of Florida, 2018. | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017018509 | ISBN 9780813054964 (cloth)
Subjects: LCSH: Chichén Itzá Site (Mexico)—Antiquities. | Mayas—Mexico—
Yucatán (State)—Antiquities. | Indians of Mexico—Antiquities. | Excavations
(Archaeology)—Mexico—Chichén Itzá Site.
Classification: LCC F1435.1.C5 L36 2017 | DDC 972/.65—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017018509
The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency for the State
University System of Florida, comprising Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic
University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida
State University, New College of Florida, University of Central Florida, University
of Florida, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, and University
of West Florida.
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
http://upress.ufl.edu
Contents
List of Figures vii
List of Tables x
Preface and Acknowledgments xi
1. Introduction: Looking Backward, Looking Forward at Chichen Itza 1
Cynthia Kristan-Graham and Linnea Wren
2. The Archaeology of Chichen Itza: Its History, What We Like to Argue
About, and What We Think We Know 28
Beniamino Volta, Nancy Peniche May, and Geoffrey E. Braswell
3. K’ak’ Upakal K’inich K’awil and the Lords of the Fire: Chichen Itza
during the Ninth Century 65
Eduardo Pérez de Heredia and Péter Bíró
4. Rulers without Borders: The Difficulty of Identifying Polity Boundaries
in Terminal Classic Yucatan and Beyond 109
Scott A. J. Johnson
5. In the Shadow of Quetzalcoatl: How Small Communities in Northern
Yucatan Responded to the Chichen Itza Phenomenon 138
J. Gregory Smith and Tara M. Bond-Freeman
6. The Castillo-sub at Chichen Itza: A Reconsideration 171
Virginia E. Miller
7. The Osario of Chichen Itza: Where Warriors Danced in Paradise 198
Annabeth Headrick
8. The Least Earth: Curated Landscapes at Chichen Itza 226
Cynthia Kristan-Graham
9. To Face or to Flee from the Foe: Women in Warfare at Chichen Itza 258
Linnea Wren, Kaylee Spencer, and Travis Nygard
List of Contributors 289
Index 293

Figures
1.1. Plan of the Great Terrace, the site center of Early Postclassic Chichen
Itza 3
1.2. Map of select sites in the Maya region 5
1.3. Chronological chart 7
2.1. Major structures of Chichen Itza that can be visited by tourists 29
2.2. Map of the Central Part of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico 39
2.3. Schematic map of Chichen Itza showing cenotes, causeways, and major
architectural groups 40
3.1. Ceramic complexes at Chichen Itza 66
3.2. Diagnostic forms of the Yabnal ceramic complex at Chichen Itza 67
3.3. Schematic section of the ceramic periods of construction at the Initial
Series Group 67
3.4. Distribution of Yabnal ceramics and platform-building activity 71
3.5. Yabnal burials under the Three Lintels building 72
3.6. Circular Disk of the Caracol 76
3.7. The family of K’ak’ Upakal 77
3.8. Portraits of rulers: the Second Akab Dzib Lintel and the Halakal
Lintel 80
3.9. Chichen Itza at the end of the ninth century 86
3.10. Column of Structure 6E1 93
3.11. Inscription of the lintel at the East Annex of Monjas 94
4.1. Yucatan’s pottery and architecture before and during the rise of
Chichen Itza 115
4.2. Map of central Yucatan showing primary sites 118
4.3. Site map of Popola, Yucatan 119
5.1. Map of north-central Yucatan showing sites 139
5.2. Map of Ichmul de Morley 147
5.3. Stone sculpture from Ichmul de Morley: Panels 1 and 2 148
5.4. Drawing of Ichmul de Morley Structure N300E000 149
5.5. Map of Kuluba Group C 151
5.6. Column drum at Structure 10L7 at Kuluba Group C 152
viii Figures
5.7. Map of Ichmul de San Jose 153
5.8. Map of Popola 155
5.9. Map of Yaxkukul 157
5.10. Map of Chumul 159
6.1. Plan of Castillo by Diego de Landa 172
6.2. Earliest known photograph of Castillo, by Désiré Charnay 173
6.3 Plans, sections, and elevations of inner Castillo 177
6.4. Photograph and drawings of the inner Castillo façade 181
6.5. Chacmool at the entrance to the temple of inner Castillo 182
6.6. Side view of jaguar throne in inner Castillo 184
6.7. Details of the jaguar throne 185
6.8. Photographs of the turquoise-encrusted disks found in the offering
beneath the north staircase 187
6.9. Jade pieces found in the offering beneath the north staircase 188
6.10. Rubbing of a carved wooden lintel from Castillo temple showing seated,
roped figures 189
7.1. The Osario, Chichen Itza 199
7.2. Plan of Chichen Itza identifying the Castillo and Osario complexes 200
7.3. Column 4, Osario, Chichen Itza 201
7.4. Feathered and cloud serpent balustrades, Osario, Chichen Itza 204
7.5. Jade and turquoise serpents on the cornice of the Osario substructure
205
7.6. Stacked witz heads with floral headbands from the corners of the
Osario 206
7.7. Deceased warrior from the exterior walls of the Osario superstructure
208
7.8. Plan of the Osario, Chichen Itza 211
7.9. Plan of the Northwest Colonnade showing the location of the cremation
pit, Temple of the Warriors, Chichen Itza 215
7.10. Plans of two burial shaft temples at Mayapan 216
8.1. Model of Chichen Itza 228
8.2. Plan of the Group of the Thousand Columns, Chichen Itza, with a
separate plan of the Mercado 229
8.3. Two views of the Mercado gallery 231
8.4. View of the Mercado patio 232
8.5. View of the left and center portion of the Mercado dais/throne front/
north face 234
8.6. Drawings of the Mercado dais/throne from various angles 235
Figures ix
8.7. Various glyph drawings 236
8.8. Drawings of benches from Copan and Palenque 238
8.9. Drawing of a detail from a Maya vase that represents a lord on
a throne 243
9.1. Detail of a female warrior, Lower Temple of the Jaguars 261
9.2. North Panel, Upper Temple of the Jaguars 264
9.3. Northwest Panel, Upper Temple of the Jaguars 265
9.4. Southwest Panel, Upper Temple of the Jaguars 266
9.5. South Panel, Upper Temple of the Jaguars 267
9.6. Southeast Panel, Upper Temple of the Jaguars 268
9.7. Detail, South Panel, Upper Temple of the Jaguars 273
9.8. Detail, Southwest Panel, Upper Temple of the Jaguars 273
9.9. Detail, Northwest Panel, Upper Temple of the Jaguars 275
9.10. Detail, Southeast Panel, Upper Temple of the Jaguars 278