Caracol

CARACOL-Cayo District, Belize

DISCRIPTION
Caracol (snail in Spanish) is an archaeological zone located in the western part of Belize within the Chiquibul Forestry Reserve. Its original Maya name has been identified as Ux Witza’ or Place of Three Mountains/Stones, and was an important city-state during the Classic Period (250-900 CE). It covered an area of about 55 sq miles/143 sq km including its outlying regions, and had a combined population of around 140,000. The central core area is nearly 1 sq mile/3 sq km, with a radius expanding out 6 miles/10 km. Caracol, along with Calakmul and Tikal, was instrumental in forging the destinies of not only each other, but throughout the Peten and the Maya Lowlands during the Classic Period.

The site was strategically situated on the crucial trade routes that ran from the Guatemalan Highlands down to the Southern Maya Lowlands and the Caribbean. Over 37 miles/60 km of sacbeob (white stone roads) have been discovered within the extensive site. There have been more than 56 stelae, altars and ballcourt markers recovered, many with readable glyphic information.

Caracol is located in a tropical rain forest at the base of the Maya Mountains, and is the largest archaeological zone in Belize. It is within the Caracol National Monument Reservation which is situated in the western part of the country about 5 miles/8 km from the Guatemalan border. Travel to the site can be made from Belize City or from the capital Belmopan.

From Belize City take the Western Highway to Belmopan. Continue west to Georgeville. From there take the road south to the village of Augustine. A free forestry permit is obtained here to enter the preserve. Continue onward about an hours drive from Augustine to the site.

HOURS: 9 A.M.-2 P.M.
ENTRANCE FEE: U.S. $7.50/BZD $15
GUIDES: Yes, inquire at visitor center
SERVICES: Visitor center and bathrooms only, bring food, beverage, and insect spray
ON-SITE MUSEUM: Yes
ACCOMODATIONS: None on-site
GPS: 16d 45’50”N, 89d 07’03”W
MISC: Check the highway security situation before visiting. It is a three-hour drive to the site.

HISTORY AND EXPLORATION
Caracol’s settlement history dates back at least to the Early Preclassic (1000-800 BCE) with monumental structures commencing in the Late Preclassic (300 BCE-250 CE). An uninterrupted series of 8 large Ajaw altars and their associated stelae have been identified as commemorating Katun Period Endings (20-year time frames) from 495 to 652 CE.

There has been sufficient glyphic information retrieved from the site to produce a history of some of its rulers and its associations with other sites. The geopolitics of this era were filled with intrigue, deception, shifting alliances, and warfare.

Caracol is an assemblage of three separate settlements; Hatzcap Ceel, Cahal Pichik, and central Caracol, that early on united together under the title of Uxwitza’, Three Mountain/Stone Place. The earliest rulers incorporated this title into their dynastic name.

A dynasty was established by Te’ K’ab Chaak who is first mentioned on a retrospective text dated back to 8.14.13.10.4, 8 Muluk 7 Mak/ January 8, 331 CE. His accession to rulership was likely through the influence of Tikal, with the dynasty continuing well into the ninth century.

An important Teotihuacan-style burial was recovered from the Northeast Acropolis dated to 300-350 CE, and may indicate a direct relationship with that site as well. There have been 15 kings identified, 11 having been named. The last known king, Ruler XIII, is commemorated on Stela 10 dated to 859 CE.

Tikal’s king Wak Chan K’awiil oversaw the accession of Caracol king Yajaw Te’ K’inich II/Lord Water in 553 CE. Uknown events caused Tikal to launch a successful campaign in 556 CE, and defeated Caracol to bring it back under its control.

Tikal and Dzibanche/Calakmul were the two most powerful kingdoms in the Petén/Maya Lowlands. Both of these great kingdoms fought for control over the extensive river trade routes that connected the Guatemalan Highlands to the Petén region, and eventually west to the Gulf of Mexico, or east to the Caribbean. These two fought continuous wars over a period of centuries, with each defeating the other at times. The results of these wars severely weakened the losers and their allies, and strengthened the winners.

Stela 16, associated with Structure A1, records a Katun Ending of ruler Tutum Yohl K’inich I /K'an I on 9.5.0.0.0, July 3, 534 CE. What is interesting is that it also names a person from distant Copan, Lord Bahlam Nehn. What the significance and reason for his appearance here is not explained, though it reinforces the suggestion of a direct dynastic connection to Copan’s first ruler. K’inich Yax Kuk Mo, whose full title includes Uxwitza’ ajaw, Lord of the “Three Mountain/Stone Place”.

Tikal suffered a total defeat by the Kaan kingdom, then located at Dzibanche, that was aided by Caracol on 9.6.8.4.2 7 Ik 0 Sip, April 29, 562 CE. This event is the first known “Star War” coinciding during an appearance of the planet Venus, and recorded as such on Altar 21. The victory resulted in the defeat and possible sacrifice of Tikal’s ruler Wak Chan K’awiil, resulting in a hiatus that lasted 130 years in which little new construction or written records are recorded at that site. Caracol and the notable site of Naranjo come under the overlordship of the Kanuu’l dynasty.

Yajaw Te’ K’inich II’s (r.553-593 CE) second son, Lord Kan II/ Tutum Yohl K’inich Itz’uutz’, (reigned 618-658 CE) is considered the sites most successful ruler. His regnal title was K’uhul K’antumaak. He was installed under the supervision of’ Yuknoom Ti’ Chan, the current Kaan king now located at Calakmul, His mother was Lady Batz’ Ek’/ Ixtiwool Chan Ek’ Lem.

Stela 22 was dedicated on 9.10.0.0.0 1 Ajaw 8 Kayab-January 25, 633 CE, and contains the longest glyphic text in Belize. The dedication date records a ritual event between Kan II and a ruler from La Corona. It also includes an “arrival” date of Lady B’atz' Ek' to Caracol on 9.9.9.10.5 3 Chikchen 3 Keh, October 15, 622 CE, that apparently cemented relations between the two sites. This alliance apparently led to their combined defeat of Naranjo, which is mentioned later in the text.

Lord Kan II commenced a series of attacks starting in 626 CE against the powerful city of Naranjo, culminating in its complete defeat in 632 CE as recorded on Naranjo Hieroglyphic Stairway 1.

The Hieroglyphic Stairway at Naranjo has an interesting history. It was previously thought that Kan II had installed the stairway at Naranjo to humiliate them with his victory over that site. Current investigations however, indicate that the stairway was originally placed at the base of Structure B5 at Caracol. The stairway commemorates the half katun period ending on 9.10.10.0.0, 13 Ajaw 18 Kank’in, December 4, 642 CE, and details Kan II’s exploits and dynastic heritage. After the crushing defeat of Caracol at the hands of Naranjo and its allies in 680 CE however, his stelae were defaced, and the stairway was divided up by the victors and removed to Naranjo, Xunantunich and Ucanal.

This defeat, and probable demise, of Caracol ruler Kʼahkʼ Ujol (r.658-680 CE) in 680 CE by Naranjo results in an epigraphic hiatus at Caracol that lasts nearly 100 years. Caracol’s influence in the Petén weakens with the reemergence of Tikal, its defeat by Naranjo, and competition with the rising kingdoms of Dos Pilas, and most likely Xunantunich.

K’inich Joy K’awiil revives the dynasty after his accession in c.799 CE. He constructs Ball Court B, and commissions Altar 23 which includes statements of his lineage. Stela 11 relates to continued warfare and the capture of three prisoners including a lord of Ucanal.

K'inich Toobil Yopaat (c. 804 CE), commissioned several monuments, and conducted another war against Tikal as recorded on Altar 12.

Caracol held on through the next hundred years in a reduced role, yet still a vibrant city. The last recorded monument at Caracol is Altar 26; 10.2.15.0.0, 8 Ajaw 8 Mol/May 28, 884 CE. By the early part of the tenth century Caracol experiences the same collapse as found at other sites. Some areas of the site remained inhabited, but was finally abandoned by the middle of the 11th century.

Caracol was first reported on in 1938 by mahogany logger Rosa Mai. Investigations were carried out by the British Honduras archaeological commissioner A. Hamilton Anderson the following year, and again in 1956-58. Linton Satterthwaite of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology undertook investigations between 1950-53. USAID contributed funding for explorations and stabilization projects beginning in 1993.The site is currently under the direction of Jamie Awe of the Belize Institute of Archaeology, with ongoing investigations and excavations conducted by Dr. Arlen Chase and Dr. Diane Chase of the Caracol Archeological Project (CAP) which began in 1985. Their diligent, and well documented investigations have brought this once great city back to life.

STRUCTURES
The earliest structures at Caracol date from the Late Preclassic. These consist of a number of platforms with temples, and an “E Group” which is a complex with astronomical associations. The site reached its apex in the Early to mid-Classic Period (250-700 CE.). There are five plazas containing 32 main structures, with sacbeob (white stone roads) leading out to numerous outlying residential and agricultural areas from the core center. There are two reservoirs and one seasonal aguada that provided water for the population. The site axis is about 11 degrees east of North.

Group B is found at the north end of the central core area. The largest complexes are found here, as well as Ball Court B. and are arranged about a plaza, Plaza B. Most of the structures date from the Late Preclassic and were later enlarged/modified.

Caana, Sky Place, is an impressive pyramidal complex on the north side of the plaza that rises off of a massive platform base and reaches a height of around 143 feet/43.5 meters. It is the tallest structure at the site, and in all of modern Belize. A broad central stairway rises up first to a series of linear chambers, and then proceeds upward to a second set of linear chambers that controlled access into the summit courtyard. The summit courtyard houses three temple pyramids. They are set up in a standard triadic fashion; that is, the main temple is at the rear of the courtyard, in this case Structure B19, with the other two flanking temples, B18 and B20, facing each other onto the courtyard. These structures display the remains of stuccoed, and stone block masks.

Structure B19, Canna Temple, is the central and most important structure. A broad, central stairway rises up to the summit terrace. The stairway incorporates an inset space featuring a large Ajaw altar, Altar 16, that celebrated the 10th Baktun on 10.0.0.0.0, 7 Ahau 18 Sip/March 13, 830 CE. A parallel, two-chamber temple is located at the back of the terrace exhibiting three entryways.

Two shrines, each with a single entryway, flank the courtyard level of the stairway. A number of elite burials have been discovered within the shrines, as well as within the entire pyramidal structure. The most important is a tomb crypt that was painted in white stucco with a linear red line encircling it about halfway up the wall. At the rear of the tomb is a red panel displaying a number of glyphs containing a date of 634 CE. The occupant was a female interred with jade earrings and ceramic vessels, and may be that of Lady Batz’ Ek’, mother of Kan II.

Structure B20 is located on the east side of the courtyard. A broad stairway leads up to lower terrace platform. A secondary stairway then continues up to a summit temple. Four tombs have been discovered within the pyramid. A painted text on the capstone of the most important tomb records a date of 537 CE, and is thought to be of a female due to spindle whorls associated with weaving found within the tomb. Ceramic vessels, jadeite ear spools, and obsidian blades were also recovered. A large, stylized witz monster mask at plaza level formed the entrance to the vaulted tomb.

Structure B18 is located on the west side of the courtyard. It rises up three levels from the courtyard with a broad, central stairway that extends to the summit. The construction of this building is more in line with a palace configuration than a pyramidal temple construction. The summit houses four chambers, the center chambers being accessed by a central entryway. The other chambers are accessed from the side. A stucco frieze once adorned the east façade of the structure.

On the summit courtyard level are two multi-room palace complexes (Northeast Quadrangle and Northwest Quadrangle) that flank Structure 19. Further down on the Canna pyramid base on the north and west sides are several smaller structures that run along the length of the base (Structures B36-37, and B10-13). The remains of several mural paintings have been discovered within some of the rooms. All told, there are over seventy chambers associated with this structure.

Adjacent to the lower Canna platform base on its east side is the Northeast Acropolis and the Barrio complex; two palace compounds set on a shared platform base arranged around a plaza.

The Northeast Acropolis is on the northside of the platform plaza, and houses several constructions set around a raised, interior courtyard. The most important structure, Structure B34, a Preclassic, pyramidal type construction, is located on the east side of the courtyard with a height of around 19.3 feet/5.95 meters.

An important discovery of the tomb of Caracol’s first ruler, Te’ K’ab Chaak, (c,330 CE) was excavated at the base of this structure in 2025. The floor and bones in the chamber were covered in cinnabar. The funerary artifacts recovered included lidded ceramic vessels, two carved bone handles, jadeite earflares and beads, and an exceptional jadeite mask.

Among other burials associated with Structure B34 is that of a woman buried in the guise of the moon goddess. She was located in front of an earlier sub-structure accompanied by 32 ceramic vessels dating to c.150 CE that display iconographic similarities to the Guatemalan highlands around Kaminaljuyu. Also recovered were over 7000 shell and jadeite beads thatat one time were sewn onto a cloth mantle.

Structure 33, a range type structure consisting of several chambers, is located on the north side of the courtyard. It has a length of about 121 feet/37 meters, and a depth of about 26 feet/8 meters, and is set on a raised platform about 15.7 feet/4.8 meters above the plaza level. The building was accessed through three entryways. An Early Classic burial, perhaps of a female, was excavates within the structure. Funerary goods included ceramic bowls, a spondylus shell necklace, and pyrite mirror fragments.

Excavations within the Northeast Acropolis courtyard uncovered the burial of an individual believed to be from the important city/state of Teotihuacan. This burial has been dated to c.350 CE which would predate the all-important “entrada” of Siyaj K’ak in 378 CE that would forever change the political dynamics of the Peten, the Maya Lowlands, and beyond. This burial has contributed to a growing body of evidence of an earlier, peaceful trade relationship between the Maya and Teotihuacan.

The Barrio complex is located on the east side of the plaza. An interior courtyard is surrounded by three range-type buildings and a possible temple structure, Structures B23-26. The complex is accessed from the plaza through Structures B24/25. An altar was located in the plaza in front of Structure B24 that depicts a seated female within a moon sign cartouche representative of the moon goddess.

Backing onto the south side of the Northeast Acropolis Plaza and on the east side of Plaza B is a complex known as the North Acropolis. This complex is built upon a raised platform and has its origins in the Preclassic. Several structures, Structures B27-29, were built and enlarged upon throughout the Classic Period (200-900 CE).

Altar 23 was recovered in front of Structure B28 in Plaza B, and has a Period Ending date of 9.18.10.0.0 10 Ajaw 8 Sak-August 17, 800 CE. This large altar, dedicated by ruler K'inich Joy K'awiil, portrays two bound captives seated on a large stone, possibly Altar 23 itself. The text identifies one of the captives as Xub Chahk, Lord of Ucanal/K’anwitznal, who had been previously captured by a ruler form Yaxha four years earlier. How he survived and ended up at Caracol is unclear, and illustrates the complex political dynamics that took place during the turn of the century. This scene also lends credence to the suggestion that not all captured rulers and lords were sacrificed, but became subjugated vassals, or prized captives perhaps to keep the defeated populace in check.

The south side of Plaza B is anchored by Structure B5. This pyramidal structure, with flanking platforms, has a central, plaza facing stairway that extends upward to its summit. Stuccoed earth monsters flank the central stairway, and appear to extend farther up the stairway as well. The side platforms each have their own stairway that led to chambers at the back of a terrace. It is in a mostly restored condition, and exhibits two construction phases.

Ballcourt B, Structures B8 and B9, is situated within the northwest corner of the plaza, and is oriented on a North/South axis. The structures have been restored, though any upper chambers had long since collapsed. A ballcourt marker, BCM4, displays a date of 9.18.9.5.9 6 Muluk 5 K’ayab, December 10, 799 CE with glyphic text relating to the accession of K’inich Joy K’awiil. It was discovered in the center of the ballcourt. A sacbe leads out from the southeast corner of the plaza to elite residential compounds.

Southwest of the B Group, and east of the A Group, is the Central Acropolis. This complex of several structures is set upon a large platform base about 16.5 feet/ 5 meters in height. Structure A34 is of a pyramidal design with a height of about 23 feet/7 meters. The summit temple features two tandem chambers. Three Late Classic tombs were excavated within this building. Structure A39 is set on the south side of the plaza, and is a palace complex featuring three parallel rooms with additional chambers.

The east side of the Central Acropolis Plaza is bound by Structures A37 and A38. Structure A37 is a pyramid that attains a height of around 23 feet/7 meters. A single chamber temple is located on the summit level. A tomb within the structure records a text on a capstone including a date of either 577 or 582 CE as it is partially effaced. A burial was excavated in the plaza in front of Structure A37. Within Structure A38 three Late Classic tombs were recovered during excavations. Between Structures A34 and A37 is a small structure, Structure A36. A reservoir/aguada is located to the east of the Central Acropolis.

Group A is located on the western portion of the core area about .4 miles/700 meters west of the Central Acropolis. Several structures surround a small plaza, Plaza A, two of them forming an E Complex. The plaza incorporates a number of stelae and altars.

The E Complex consists of two main structures, Structures A2 and the A6 complex. A pyramidal structure, Structure A2 is located on the west side of the plaza, and has a height of about 82 feet/25 meters. It has a central stairway that extends up to a summit temple, and is flanked by two smaller stairways. Two stelae, Stela 22 and 23, were located upon the summit along with Altar 17.

Across from Structure A2 on the east side of the plaza is a five-structure complex set on a large, rectangular platform base. A plaza facing central stairway leads up to a broad terrace.

Structure A6 is centrally located on the east side of the platform terrace, and is larger than the adjoining temples, Structures A5 and A7 that are found on either side. An observer atop the pyramid/temple on the west side of the plaza, Structure A2, would observe the Sun at or near the equinox sunrise over the central temple structure on the east side of the plaza, while the Sun would rise on the solstices above a temple from either of the adjacent structures depending on the time of year. The E Complex arrangement was first identified at the site of Uaxactun.

Structure A6, Temple of the Wooden Lintel, was extensively remodeled and enlarged over time, and had its origins in the Late Preclassic. It is set on its own platform base rising up 3 levels to a single entryway temple with two tandem chambers. An interior entryway is roofed by a number of wooden beams that give the structure its name. An important cache was discovered deep within consisting of a stone vessel. Inside the vessel was a jadeite mask, pieces of malachite, spondylus shells, and jadeite beads all wrapped in a small cloth bundle. What is of special note here is that the cloth bundle was placed upon a pool of mercury within the vessel, a rare discovery. It has been dated to c.70 CE.

Flanking Structure A6 are Structures A5 and A7. These are small temple platforms with terrace facing stairways and the remains of chamber walls. The east side of Structure A7 has a stairway that leads down to a large plaza that faces across the archaeologist’s camp to the Central Acropolis. On the north and south ends of the platform terrace are two, smaller temple structures.

Structure A3 defines the north side of Plaza A. This is a five-tiered pyramid with a central stairway. The summit contains the remains of a temple structure having three entrances that lead into a single chamber. An additional chamber is located to the back of the main chamber. Large masks adorn the lower stairway. A

Structure A1 is a partially excavated pyramid on the south side of the plaza. Stelae 1, 13-16, and Altars 1 and 7 are associated with this structure.

It is to be noted that Stelae 1 and Altar 1 are located within a courtyard at the back of the structure, not in front of it as would be expected. A tomb with three cremated individuals, and two caches containing jadeite items and large obsidian blades were found here in addition to a large stucco sculpture of a seated dignitary, possibly a ruler. One cache was placed within a lidded, ceramic box.

To the southeast of Structure A1 is a ball court complex, Ball Court A, and is comprised of three structures, Structures A10- A12. The ball court itself, Structures A11 and A12, is set on a north/south axis about 8 degrees west of North. Within the ballcourt is located Altar 21 which commemorates a Katun Ending in 633 CE. along with other historical events relating to the wars against Tikal and Naranjo.

Structure A10 is on the north side of the complex and is a temple-platform building. It has a height of around 21 feet/6.5 meters.

Structure A13 is just to the south of the Ball Court A Complex. This structure is an elongated temple-platform building on a mostly North/South axis. It has a west facing, central stairway, and a height of about 26 feet/8 meters. The summit of the structure exhibits three masonry floor foundations that likely supported constructions of a perishable nature. Altar 26 was recovered on the summit of the structure, and has the latest recorded date found so far at the site: 10.2.15.0.0, 8 Ajaw 8 Mol/May 28, 884 CE. Three stelae are positioned in front of the building at ground level indicating it had an important civic and/or dynastic ritual use.

A sacbe leads south of Structure A13 and past a large reservoir to the South Acropolis. This complex consists of a dozen or so structures built upon a very large platform base and dates to the Late Preclassic. It was an elite residential and funerary complex whose structures enclosed a small plaza. The main palace complex is built upon its own rectangular platform base on the south side of the plaza and houses three structures, D16-18. Within Structure D16 a royal burial was discovered that dates to c.480 CE. Structure D7 is a Temple platform situated on the east side of the plaza. An Early Classic tomb was discovered here. Several other burials were located within the other structures.
There are several smaller residential groups within the core area that feature masonry structures set around small plazas/courtyards. Numeroussacbeob/causeways extend outward from the core area in all directions to dozens of residential and agricultural areas.

Situated at the end of some of these longer sacbeob are administrative/ritual/residential groups. These groups contain complexes that feature pyramids, temples, and range-type masonry structures, along with altars and stelae. This would seem to indicate the high status of many of these enclaves which includeCahal Pichik (NE), Retiro (SW), and Ceiba (NW) that features a sacbe that continues westward from the group and over theGuatemalan border ending at the archaeological zone of La Rejolla.