Continuity and Change in Text and Image at Chich?n Itz?, Yucat?n, Mexico: A Study of the Inscriptions, Iconography, and Architecture at a Late ... Postclassic Maya Site (CNWS Publications)

By Erik Boot

The archaeological site of Chich?n Itz?, one of the best known ancient Maya cities, is located in the northern section of the Yucat?n peninsula in Mexico. Chich?n Itz? has figured prominently in both past and present discussions on the Terminal Classic and Early Postclassic periods in the northern Maya lowlands. Based on archaeological information and information derived from ethnohistorical sources, this city can be dated to a period from circa A.D. 700 to circa A.D. 1250, with its apogee placed between about A.D. 800 to A.D. 1050. The past and present discussions were directed specifically towards the origin of the inhabitants of the city, the arrival of K'uk'ulk?n ("Feathered Serpent"), the origin of non-Mayan ("Toltec") architecture and sculptural programmes at the site, and the model of its political organization. The centre of Chich?n Itz? is dominated by a raised platform, which harbours buildings now known as El Castillo (The Castle), the Great Ballcourt, and the Temple of the Warriors. These buildings contain various non-Mayan architectural and sculptural traits. Buildings south of the centre, erected in a regional Maya style, contain a large number of inscribed monuments (mostly lintels) carrying long hieroglyphic texts, which provide Chich?n Itz? with the largest corpus of surviving inscriptions in the northern Maya lowlands. Chich?n Itz? figures prominently in a wide range of ethnohistorical sources from the Colonial period, such as the "Relaci?n de las Cosas de Yucat?n" by Fray Diego de Landa and the "Relaciones Geogr?ficas" by various authors, all in Spanish, and the so-called "Books of Chilam Balam" of Chumayel, Man?, and Tizim?n, all in Yucatec Maya. In this study Erik Boot discusses the southern Maya lowland origin of the inhabitants of Chich?n Itz?, the arrival of K'uk'ulk?n and the introduction of so-called Toltec architecture and iconography, the identification of both gods and human beings in the inscriptions, and the political organization at Chich?n Itz?. He presents extensive and detailed analyses of architectural and sculptural programmes, hieroglyphic inscriptions, and the Yucatec Maya "chronicles" from the Books of Chilam Balam.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 905789100X
• ISBN13: 9789057891007
• Release Date: January 2013
• Publisher: CNWS Publications
• Weight: 2.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.4" x 1.5" x 6.6"