Mesoamerican builders designed their cities as physical maps of the unseen world. Some civilizations They expressed their vision of the universe Through monumental structures, where heaven, earth and cardinal directions were represented in stone, solar orientation and symbolic materials.
This form of Arrangement of the world based on astronomical and cosmogonic beliefs It led to calls Blueprints of the universeThese are the spaces that transformed architecture into an embodiment of the universe and served as ritual axes for the first complex societies.
Aguada Fénix reveals the scale of collaboration on the oldest known Mayan construction
An international team of archaeologists has identified Aguada Phoenix websitein the Mexican state of Tabasco, is the largest and oldest known Mayan monument. According to the results published in Advancement of science By Takeshi Inomata and Daniela Triadan, professors at the University of Arizona, the structure was built between 1000 and 700 BC and offers Crusader tomb with ceremonial offerings Which proves its cosmic function. The investigation indicates that this huge project was built without a central force, through… Voluntary cooperation Of the population.
The key to the design lies in its main axis, which is It corresponds to sunrise on October 17 and February 24. These dates indicate an interval of 130 days, which is half of the 260-day liturgical calendar used in Mesoamerica. This connection to the solar cycle reinforces the idea that the massive complex represents the universe according to a sacred view of the world.
The discovery began in 2017 using lidar technology, a system that uses laser pulses from the air to detect structures under vegetation. This method revealed a platform 1,600 meters long and 400 meters wide, surrounded by roads, canals and a six-kilometre-long dike, all in keeping with the solar layout of the ceremonial core.
At the highest point of the platform a cross-shaped hole appeared. When excavated, archaeologists discovered Mineral pigment depositsThey are arranged according to the four cardinal points: blue earth in the north, green in the east, yellow in the south, and reddish in the west. This is it For the first time such precisely placed pigments have been foundHe asserts that the color scheme had a specific ritual function in the design of the place.
Along with the dyes, archaeologists recovered Various jade objects Deposited at different stages. The first was a series of ceremonial axes, followed by carved decorations with animal figures such as a bird and a crocodile, and a female figure in a childbirth position. The symbolic value of these pieces confirms the ritual interpretation of the site.
The orientation of the complex, as well as the arrangement of pigments and artefacts, indicate this The Aguada Fénix was conceived as a physical model of the universe. This interpretation agrees with Mesoamerican practice of linking ceremonial architecture to the calendar and solar movement. Its size also equals or exceeds later centers such as Tikal or Teotihuacan.
Excavations also revealed A A network of elevated roads and sunken walkways Who organized the navigation within the site. These elements followed the same axes as the main platform, suggesting a A very sophisticated building planDirected from the beginning to embody an accurate cosmic vision.
The organization of the complex shows advanced artistic planning without the presence of elites
Researchers confirm this There are no signs of grandiose structures, elite sculptures or monumental tombs. As Inomata put it, the majority of those who participated in the work probably did so voluntarily, motivated by a common goal. “The idea of building a cosmogram was really important to them, which is why they worked together.“, he stated Advancement of science.
This social model contrasts with the model of classical cities such as TikalWhere sovereign authority and organized labor were centralized. Aguada Phoenix lacks evidence of a monarchy or ruling classes, which supports the hypothesis that Organization was more horizontal and based on ritual knowledge.
PhD student Zante S. Ceballus pesinawho participated in the excavations, highlighted the scope of the project: “It is very impressive that in the pre-Middle Classic period, people without organization or central authority came together to perform rituals and build this monumental structure.” Advancement of science.
the The data obtained at Aguada Phoenix call into question traditional ideas about the development of Mesoamerican civilizationsQ. Far from being a linear process toward complex structures, this result shows that the capacity for collective planning was present from the beginning, based on shared beliefs and a vision of the universe expressed in compressed earth and stone.
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