Among all the Mayan cities, Chunchucmil was the most perplexing yet discovered by modern archaeologists, and believed to be among the most important as it gave the modern world the knowledge as to how their individual city-based empires connected and interfaced. It is not known by breathtaking buildings, holding few pyramids, stelea, or significant ancient monuments of any kind. It was not reigned over by a popular ruler. It wasn't even built in a notably beneficial site - relatively the contrary, in accordance with modern scientists. Nevertheless, such city was more than compared to any other region because it informs and illustrates our knowledge about the ancient Mesoamerica trade systems. In the time of its peak, it was an exceptional and also significant commercial heart, free of manipulation by any single governing faction, nevertheless the meeting place as well as melting pot for a diverse variety of cultures and influences from all over the region - without whose consistent interaction and mutual exchanges the Chunchucmil city would not have been able to survive by any means.
An Unfriendly Site
Chunchucmil was built on one of the Yucatan peninsula's most inhospitable sites despite its apparent importance. The city's remains sit a top of a thin strip of partially desert ground, in among the driest Mayan lands with the driest environments. In this area, the soil is mainly poor and sparse; measuring just a couple of inches at its deepest, nearly half of the region is with no any covering, causing the limestone substrate which lies beneath most of the Yucatan precisely uncovered. Originally, it was name after a well, which means "well at the base of the Chukum Tree". It sits at the north-western tip of the peninsula, located about 30 kilometres from the ocean and halfway between then shore and the inland Mayan city of Ixkintok. The city's exact size hasn't been determined, but was approximated in the range of 25 to 65 square kilometres. In spite of being constructed in such a harsh environment - and perhaps, specifically due to this fact - there's sufficient evidence that Chunchucmil was a massive trade route centre which spanned the distance in between the Gulf of Mexico and also the peninsula's interior.
Pile Of Structures
Chunchucmil's development reached its apex during the Mayan Classical Pyramid. Although it city was not known for its monuments, its layout was clearly defined and affords us a fascinating insight into the utilization of land. The majority of Chunchucmil was split up into "quadrangles", or rectangular grids where individual settlements were developed. Such quadrangles were joined with a network of stone-lined paths that branched outward from the center of the city, offering its framework that is akin to that of a honeycomb; these stone paths, when leaving the city, led to the outlying suburbs with larger roads connecting them, and ultimately to the long-distance roads that connected Chunchucmil along with its trading partners.
These quadrangles have 2 major varieties which are determined by the types of buildings that are inside them. The so called "picj" quadrangle groups were determined by pyramids, generally between 8 and 18 meters tall. Resting between the pyramid and also the other buildings lining the edges of the rectangular plot was a huge courtyard, which would usually include ceremonial platforms or altars; this group is thereby considered to be of religious significance. The residential groups, by comparison, were enclosed by stone walls, and possibly included housing for the population of Chunchucmil. There is a small yard inside the centre of these building groups. The distinct boundaries between lots, and the shrine or small temple for household rituals which is depicted at most such excavated plots, isn't different in style to the ones located at some other cities in Mesoamerica such as Teotihuacan, providing enough evidence to the true reach of the trade routes of Chunchucmil.
A Thriving Economic Condition
Chunchucmil's existence is one of its major puzzles. How could such a city live, survive and grow enough food to support its citizens in such a dry and unforgiving environment with such poor prospects for agriculture? It was because of the fact that Chunchucmil was among the most booming marketplaces of Mesoamerica. Goods throughout the region traveled back and forth this city on the various roads which generally spiraled from its hub, driving a significant as well as diverse range of people and merchandise together within a immense marketplace. This furthermore goes a long way towards explaining having less any specific king, lineage, or religious dynasty enshrined on stele over the urban center, as was de rigour for some Mayan cities; it was a centre of many influence, where many different tribes, religions and cultures met and made trade, and commerce is significant than religion and politics.
A historical hint to such marvel arrives in the form of "prismatic blades", or sharp cutting tools disintegrated from bigger valuable stones such as obsidian, that are significantly found at Chunuchmil. We know these blades were not locally produced, from close examination and even if ample technology and resources existed to make them; as a matter of fact, they came from Guatemala which is more than thousand kilometers away! The amount of these blades hauled from the location - just enough that they can be regarded as disposable items for the hoi polloi of the city - provides a clear conclusion that the frequent long distance trade made them available and easily obtainable that the people of Chunchucmil thought nothing of getting such tools from the trading markets, just like we seldom rethink about the main geographical source of the processed or canned food we grab from the grocery store!
Wishing to see and explore the ancient Mayan cities? If that's the case, simply come to Chichen Itza.
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