Chojolom

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
180px
Boulder sculpture at Chojolom, believed to represent the head of a deity.[1]
180px
Artificial cave where one of the stone heads was found

Chojolom is a small Maya archaeological site in the western highlands of Guatemala. The site features a number of sculpted stones that are presumed to belong to the K'iche Maya culture of the Postclassic Period (approximately AD 900–1520).[2] Chojolom is situated on a hill in the municipality of Cantel, in the department of Quetzaltenango.[3] The municipality is inhabited by K'iche' Maya to this day, who make up 93.8% of the local population.[4] Cantel is located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the modern city of Quetzaltenango at Kilometer 217 on the CA2 Highway.[5] Chojolom is believed to have been a ritual site.[6]

Chojolom means "by the head" in the K'iche' Maya language, deriving from the root word jolom ("head").[7] Local historian Mariano Cornejo has speculated that the depositing of the stone heads and the naming of the hill may be linked.[8]

Sculptures

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. As of September 2010 three sculpted stone heads have been found at the site; one of an armadillo, one human and one representing a deity.[9] The heads were discovered when mud was cleared away after a period of heavy rain in 2010.[10] One of the stone heads was found in a cave at the site.[11] Ceramics and bones have also been found, which may represent a ritual offering.[12] In addition to the stone heads, a clay head has also been found.[13] A minor landslide in October 2010 revealed a stone altar under a tree root.[14]

The Armadillo Head measures approximately 15 by 20 centimetres (5.9 by 7.9 in).[15] The Nine-banded Armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus is native to the Cantel region.[16] The Armadillo Head was the first of the three stone heads to have been found by local farmer Sebastián Sam.[17]

The Human Head measures 50 by 50 centimetres (20 by 20 in).[18] It was the second stone head to be discovered at Chojolom.[19]

The Deity Head is the largest sculpture, measuring 1.1 by 1.4 metres (3.6 by 4.6 ft).[20] It was the third stone head to be found at the site.[21]

The Altar measures 25 by 50 centimetres (9.8 by 19.7 in) and bears designs that include circles, hills, human figures and a deer.[22] The combination of six human figures with the deer has been interpreted as a Maya calendrical date by Guatemalan anthropologist Lina Barrios.[23]

Gallery

  • Chojolom 5.jpg

    The Human Head sculpture

  • Chojolom 8.jpg

    The Armadillo Head sculpture

See also

Notes

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

Cite error: Invalid <references> tag; parameter "group" is allowed only.

Use <references />, or <references group="..." />

References

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Further reading

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

  1. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  2. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  3. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18. Rodríguez Rouanet et al 1992, p.2.
  4. ↑ Anonymous 2010-09-18. Servicio de Información Municipal.
  5. ↑ Inforpressca, p.6.
  6. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  7. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18. Christenson, p.46.
  8. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  9. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  10. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  11. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  12. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  13. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  14. ↑ Rodas 2010-10-05.
  15. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  16. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18. Corporación Municipal 2001, p.14.
  17. ↑ Anonymous 2010-09-18.
  18. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  19. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  20. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  21. ↑ Rodas 2010-09-18.
  22. ↑ Rodas 2010-10-05.
  23. ↑ Rodas 2010-10-05.
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Chojolom&oldid=707773775"