Cambridge World Archaeology Stephen D. Houston and Takeshi Inomata THE CLASSIC MAYA In the first inillenniuin AD. the Classic Maya created courtly societies in and around the Yucatan Peninsula, leaving some of the most striking intellectual and aesthetic achievements ot the ancient world, at large settlements like Tikal, Copan, and Palenque. This book is the first in-depth synthesis of the Classic Maya. It is richly informed by new decipherments of hieroglyphs and decades of intensive excavation and survey. Structured by categories of the person in society, it reports on kings, queens, nobles, gods, and ancestors, as well as the many millions (if farmers and other figures who lived in societies predicated on sacred kingship and varying political programs. The Classic Maya presents a tandem model of societies bound by moral covenants and convulsed by unavoidable tensions between groups, all affected by demographic trends and changing environments. Focusing on the Classic heartland but referring to other zones, it will serve as the basic source for all readers interested in the civilization of the Maya. Stephen D. Houston is the Dupee Family Professor of Social Sciences at Brown University. The author of numerous books and articles, he is also an archaeologist who has excavated and mapped Classic Maya cities for more than twenty-five years. A MacArthur Fellow, Houston is also the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Science Foundation. Takeshi Inomata is Professor of Anthropology at the University of Ari zona. He has conducted archaeological investigations at the Maya Cen ter of Aguateca and at Ceibal in Guatemala. His numerous publications examine Maya political organization, warfare, architecture, households, and social change. CAMBRIDCE WORLD ARCIHAEOLOGY si;rii:S i.nrroR NORMAN YOFFEE. Unii'miiy of I.DITORIAI. HOARD SUSAN Al.COCK. Brown Ihiii'crsity TOM DILLEHAY. Vandcrbilt Unii'crsity STEPHEN SHENNAN. I 'nii'crsify Collc{>c London CARLA SINOPC^LE Unincrsity of Micinyian The (Avnhrid^c World Archacohiiy series is addressed to students and pro fessional archaeologists, and to academics in related disciplines. Most volumes present a survey of the archaeology of a region of the world, providing an up-to-date account of research and integrating recent find ings with new concerns of interpretation. Although the focus is on a specific region, broader cultural trends are discussed and the implica tions of regional findings for cross-cultural interpretations considered. The authors also bring anthropological and historical expertise to bear on archaeological problems and show how both new data and changing intellectual trends in archaeology shape inferences about the past. More recently, the series has expanded to include thematic volumes. RliCHNT HOOKS IN THF, SERIES I.AWRENt'E HARHAM AND PETER MITt.HELL, FilC hil'St AfricoilS ROHIN DENNELL, Tlic Pcihcolitliic Sctticnicfit of Asin CHRISTOPHER POOL, Oinicc Arclidcoh^y and Early Mcsoamcrica SAMUEL M. WILSON, Tlic Arcliacohiiy of the Caribbean PHILIP L. KOHL, The Mahiii^ of Bronze A^^e Eurasia RICHARD HRADLEY, The Prehistory of Britain and Ireland I.UDMILA KORYAKOVA AND ANDREj EPIMAKHOV, The Ikals and Western Siberia in the Bronze and Iron DAVID WENCROW, Tlw Archaeoloi^)'of Early E^^ypt PAUL RAINHIRD, The Arcliaeolog)' of Micronesia PETER M. M. AKKERMANSA AND GLENN M. SCHWARTZ, The Arcliacolojiy of Syria ITMOTHY INSOLL, The Arcliaeoloyiy of Ishmi in Snb-Saharan Africa CAMBRIDGE WORLD ARCHAEOLOGY THE CLASSIC MAYA STEPHEN D. HOUSTON Brown Unincrsity TAKESHI INOMATA Vniversit)' of Arizono CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS \ I' a CAMBUIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, Sao Paulo, Delhi, Dubai, Tokyo Cambridge University Press 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, ny 10013-2473, usA www.C ambridge,o rg Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/y780.s21669726 © Stephen D. Houston and Takeshi Inomata 20oy This publication is in copyright. Subject to st.itutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published 200y Printed in the United States of America A catalog recordf or this publication is availablef ront the British Ubrar)'. Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication data Houston, Stephen D. The classic Maya / Stephen D. Houston, Takeshi Inomata. p. cm. -( Cambridge world archaeology) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-521-66006-8 (hardback)- isbn 978-0-521-66972-6 (pbk.) I. Mayas — Mexico - Yucatan (State). 2. Mayas - Me.xico - Yucatan (State) - Antiquities. 3. Yucatan (Mexico : State) — Antiquities. I. Inomata, Takeshi. II Title. III. Series. F1435.H795 2010 972'.650i-dc22 2009020200 ISBN 978-0-521-66006-8 Hardback ISBN 978-0-521-66972-6 Paperback Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of urls for external or third-party Internet Web sites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Web sites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate. C:ONTENTS List of I'ii^urvs Pnjhcc PART I SETTING 1 I ntroduction 3 2 S ociality 3 B eginnings ^5 4 The Classic Period PART 11 SOCIAL ACTORS 5 K ings and Queens, Courts and Palaces 131 6 Nobles ^^3 7 Gods, Supematurals, and Ancestors I93 8 F armers 9 Craftspeople and Traders 10 End of an Era Epilogue References 3^3 Index 377 vii LIST OF FIGURES Map of Maya region. pane 4 1.1 Map of the central southern Maya lowlands. 5 1.2 Mayan languages. 7 1-3 Distribution of Mayan language groups around 1950. 8 1.4 Flora and launa of the Maya region. 9 1-5 E.xplorers and archaeologists. 1.6 13 Chronological chart of ceramic phases in the Maya lowlands 1-7 and adjacent areas. 18 1.5 A Maya date in the fifty-two-year calendar, Tonina stucco jamb. 19 A Maya Long-Count date, l^os Pilas Stela 8. 21 i-y Ruler as embodied time, Yuknoom Ch'e'n of Calakmul. 23 l.IO C^oncentric walls at Aguateca, Guatemala. 25 I.I I Mava roads or sahhili in Coba, Quintana Roo. 33 2.1 Maya clowns. 35 2.2 Earlv Classic te.xt relating to 3 114 DC, on back of stone mask. 39 2.3 Feasting scene on Panel 3, Piedras Negras. 42 2.4 Degraded captive, Dos Caobas Stela i. 43 2.5 ivinik or "person" in Maya texts. 57 2.^) Dav sign in personal names at Palenque. 58 2.7 Day signs on head of figure, Museo Amparo, Puebla. 59 2.S Distribution of early ceramics in the Maya lowlands. 67 3-J Reconstruction drawings of Cunil ceramics. 68 3- Real-Xe ceramics. 69 3-3 Mainoin ceramic vessels. 79 3-4 E_Group complex at Tikal. 81 3-5 Cruciform cache found at Cival. 83 34"' Jade offerings from Chacsinkin, Yucatan. 85 3-7 C.hicanel ceramic vessels. 87 3-^ Tigre Pyramid, El Mirador. 88 3-y Stucco mask found at Cival. 89 3.10 Stela 2 of Cival, the Late Preclassic period. 90 3-1' Stela 18 of El Mirador. 91 3-1- IX List of Figures 3.13 Maize God depicted on the north wall of the Las Pinturas structure, San Bartolo. 92 3.14 The coronation scene depicted on the west wall of the Las Pinturas structure, San Bartolo. 93 4.1 Dynastic vase from the area of Calakmul, Mexico. 106 4.2 References to Sihyaj K'ahk', "Born from fire." 107 4.3 Structure 5C-49 with talud-tablero, Mundo Perdido complex, Tikal. 109 4.4 Dos Pilas Stela 9, showing Bahlaj Chan K'awiil of Dos Pilas. 111 4.5 Map of Chunchucmil, Yucatan. 113 4.6 Reconstruction drawing of Piedras Negras South Group. 114 4.7 Structure L8-8 at Aguateca, an unfinished temple. 115 4.8 Caana Pyramid, Caracol, Belize. 116 4.9 Balamku, Canipeche, stucco fa<;:ade. 117 4.10 Tonina Monument 146. uy 4.I I Tzakol ceramic vessels. 121 4.12 Tepeu ceramic vessels. 121 4.13 Range of lithics from Aguateca. 123 4.14 Use-wear on stone tools. 124 4.15 Chert eccentric. 125 4.16 Wooden box, Tortuguero area, Mexico. 126 5.1 Maya glyphs for tyViK', "lord." 1^2 5.2 Hero Twins in Late Classic imagery. 5.3 Selection of emblem titles. 5.4 Ceibal Stela 10. 5.5 Statements of subordination. 5.6 Royal accession at Bonampak, Panel i. 5.7 royal diadem from Aguateca. 5.8 Royal sight and agency, -ichml and u-kabjiiy. 5.9 Royal lady from unknown site, probably in Chiapas, Mexico. 147 5.10 Queen and princess on Piedras Negras Stela 3. 5.11 View of courtly life, Bonampak Murals, Room i. ^ ^ i 5.12 Replicative palace at Las Palniitas, near El Zotz, Guatemala. 155 5.13 Principal palace at Calakmul, Mexico. 5.14 Palace at Aguateca, Guatemala, Structure M7-32. 139 6.1 Nobleman, "he of4 captives," with "Shield-Jaguar," king of Yaxchilan, Chiapas, Mexico. 6.2 Dwarves and court buffoons. Late Classic period, area of Lake Peten Itza. 6.3 Noble lady. Room 2, Bonampak murals. ,69 6.4 Spatial distribution of noble titles. 170 6.5 Temporal distribution of noble titles. 171 6.6 Titles used by noblemen. 173 6.7 Stone bowl belonging to aj-k'uliuwi. 6.8 Sajcil at Xcalumkin, Campeche, Mexico,J amb 7. 1177.7S 6.9 Possible sajal residence, the "C-Group," at Piedras Negras, Guatemala. j 6.10 Sajal palace. Acropolis, El Cayo, Chiapas, Mexico. 180 Lisi of Fii^urcs xi 6.11 Noble palace. Structure 1)3-1, Tecolote, Cluatemala. 181 6.12 Portraits of magnate, 1 May Mo'Chahk, at various ages. 183 6.13 Noble titles related to objects, Bonampak murals building. 184 6.14 Messenger lord, Bonampak murals, Koom 1. 185 6.15 Sculptor loaned to Bonampak by Ya.xchilan, Bonampak Stela i. 187 6.16 Monkey scribes. Late Classic period. 189 6.17 Ballplay against stairway and seated figure with conch. Drawings 21 and 22, Naj Tunich, Guatemala. 191 7.1 Maya gods. Sun Deity and Moon Goddess. 194 7.2 K'nh and k'ulnil, for "god" or "holy." 195 7.3 Yaxchilan Stela 7, showing l^'uh energy in blood. 197 7.4 The Principal Bird Deity. 199 7.5 IIu/i}''/' or "deity dwellings" from Copan, Honduras. 201 7 6 Ya.xchilan Lintel 39, Structure 16, with summoning of K'awiil. 202 7.7 impersonation of ancestors by Pakal, Temple XXI Platform, Palenque. 7 S Dance or impersonation mask, Aguateca, Structure M7-22. 205 7.9 Whistles and figurines, Aguateca. 206 10 Ixchel an aged goddess of creation, midwifery, and destruction. 207 711 A uuiiiy of the ruler of Calakmul, Mexico. 209 712 Souls of deceased parents, Yaxchilan Stela 4. ^ 11 7.13 1 )epiction of ancestors 213 Piedras Negras Stela 40^ with incensing of royal tomb. 214 7.14 715 Piedras Negras Burial 45- S I Late Classic Maya tamalcs, on polychrome vessel. 220 C:acao (L'uAvtu') mentioned on hieroglyphic text from Vessel 15, Rio Azul Tomb 19- 221 S 3 Ramon fruits and a tortilla made of ramon. 8 4 Tobacco in Maya imagery. 223 8 < Ceramic painting depicting a peccary and a turkey. 224 e z R ec-onstruction drawing of a patio group at Aguateca, Group M6-3. 225 ^ ' 226 8 7 lova de Ceren. « S Plaster cast of maize from Joya de Ceren. 226 Structure i ofjoya de Ceren. 227 P rrerns of phosphate concentration in Group M6-3 of Aguateca. 231 field. Chan Cahal Belize. 234 S 1 1 Terraciiif! near Caracol, Belize. (oncave and convex watersheds at Maya sites. 24.3 Water-storage pits, I'liuc-region, Yucatan, Mexico. 247 'ssible market fiicilities at I'ueblito, Guatemala. 253 9-' , , 2S4 lya backpack. 0.2 Maya backpack. crC^l'lan-siissnsiitcco rMMsaa yysiaag nccaaatnnuooreeesss,. selection from Piedras Negras Stela 12. 258 nff rings of scribal skill to human pair emerging from stone cavity. 259 s; I tofs hand with double-hafted carving tool from Structure 195 ,n Group 9M-22. Copan, Honduras. 260 7 Artist tools fmni Structure M8-4, Aguateca. 260 xii List of Figures 9.8 Aguateca Stela 19. 261 9.9 Shell artifacts from Structure M8-10, Aguateca. 263 9.10 Instruction of supernatural scribes by an elderly god. 265 9.11 Sculptor at work, Emiliano Zapata Panel i. 267 9.12 Woman's clothing, a ceramic vessel from Mundo Perdido, Tikal, Guatemala. 271 9.13 Selection of Terminal Classic Maya spindle whorls, Tonina, Mexico. 273 9.14 Grinding stones from Structure M8-3, Aguateca. 277 9.15 Quarry near the Rio Santa Amelia, Guatemala. 279 9.16 Array of vessels from late ninth-century Aguateca. 283 10.1 Supposed "foreigner" at Ceibal, Stela i. 291 10.2 The ruler of La Amelia, Panel 2. 297 10.3 Storage chamber in Aguateca Structure M7—22, "the House of the hdasks. 299 10.4 Fragments of Piedras Negras Throne i, when found, Structure J-6. 303 10.5 Calakmul Stela 50. ^07 10.6 Cehpech and Sotuta ceramics. ^ j j 10.7 Nunnery Quadrangle, Uxmal. 10.8 "Chac mool" in the Temple of Warriors at Chichen Itza, Yucatan. 315 10.9 Battle scene in the Upper Temple of the Jaguars, Chichen Itza. 317