MAYA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF BELIZE, CENTRAL AMERICA
Historical Context
Since Pilar has not yet been excavated, its historical context is still in question, but there are some initial indicators. On the basis of size alone, the site was unquestionably an important one: certainly archaeologist Anabel Ford believes it to be of significantly greater scale than Xunantunich. The mysterious wall which apparently runs from the site into the Peten remains unexplained.
It is imperative that funding is obtained for excavation, consolidation and salvage before further looting destroys forever our chances of understanding the site and its artifacts.
Since Pilar has not yet been excavated, its historical context is still in question, but there are some initial indicators. On the basis of size alone, the site was unquestionably an important one: certainly archaeologist Anabel Ford believes it to be of significantly greater scale than Xunantunich. The mysterious wall which apparently runs from the site into the Peten remains unexplained.
It is imperative that funding is obtained for excavation, consolidation and salvage before further looting destroys forever our chances of understanding the site and its artifacts.
The Site
Pilar is one of Belize's largest Classic Maya centres. At least 15 courtyards or plaza groups cover an area of 20 hectares (50 acres), making it three to four times larger than Xunantunich. The complexity of the site suggests a long building sequence and the settlement density around the centre doubles that of the surrounding area.
The centre of Pilar consists of temples, palaces and elite structures, the tallest structure standing metres (70 ft.) above the Plaza. At least one ball court has already been located and stepped walls elevate certain platforms and plazas above others. Water catchment reservoirs have already been located and one of the most interesting features of the site is a I to 1.5 metre (3.3 to 5 ft.) wall which runs westward from the site and probably into Guatemala. It is not yet known what the purpose of this wall was, nor has the end of it yet been found. It's interesting to note in this connection that the largest lowland Maya site of Tikal lies about 32 miles west of Pilar in Guatemala.
Projected research would focus on the circumstances of the development of Pilar into the powerful site that it clearly was.
Pilar is one of Belize's largest Classic Maya centres. At least 15 courtyards or plaza groups cover an area of 20 hectares (50 acres), making it three to four times larger than Xunantunich. The complexity of the site suggests a long building sequence and the settlement density around the centre doubles that of the surrounding area.
The centre of Pilar consists of temples, palaces and elite structures, the tallest structure standing metres (70 ft.) above the Plaza. At least one ball court has already been located and stepped walls elevate certain platforms and plazas above others. Water catchment reservoirs have already been located and one of the most interesting features of the site is a I to 1.5 metre (3.3 to 5 ft.) wall which runs westward from the site and probably into Guatemala. It is not yet known what the purpose of this wall was, nor has the end of it yet been found. It's interesting to note in this connection that the largest lowland Maya site of Tikal lies about 32 miles west of Pilar in Guatemala.
Projected research would focus on the circumstances of the development of Pilar into the powerful site that it clearly was.
Archaeological Work
"Pilar", Spanish for "pillar" was named after the army camp in its vicinity, but that is exactly what the site may have represented to the modern inhabitants of the locality, for the site looms in the bush in the hills above the western branch of the Belize River near Bullet Tree Falls.
Our earliest report of Pilar was in 1972 when the Archaeology Commissioner visited the site following a report of looting there. But the site could have been known to residents for decades before that; the Department of Archaeology has made repeated visits to the site since then, each time observing more looters' tunnels and trenches.
When Anabel Ford of the University of California at Santa Barbara began her Belize River Archaeological Settlement Survey in 1982, Pilar was at last included in scientific research. In that and the following two years, Ford began mapping the centre, but further research depends on the availability of funding.
"Pilar", Spanish for "pillar" was named after the army camp in its vicinity, but that is exactly what the site may have represented to the modern inhabitants of the locality, for the site looms in the bush in the hills above the western branch of the Belize River near Bullet Tree Falls.
Our earliest report of Pilar was in 1972 when the Archaeology Commissioner visited the site following a report of looting there. But the site could have been known to residents for decades before that; the Department of Archaeology has made repeated visits to the site since then, each time observing more looters' tunnels and trenches.
When Anabel Ford of the University of California at Santa Barbara began her Belize River Archaeological Settlement Survey in 1982, Pilar was at last included in scientific research. In that and the following two years, Ford began mapping the centre, but further research depends on the availability of funding.
Locale and Access
Pilar lies in a part of Cayo District which has been cultivated for years; although much of the area is under secondary growth many milpas are situated nearby. One of the site's greatest potential assets is that once cleared and exposed, its panorama will probably be matched only by that from Xunantunich; it may indeed be possible to see one site from the other, and to speculate on their relationship and domains.
El Pilar is about 12 miles north of San Ignacio beyond the village of Bullet Tree Falls. Taking the Bullet Tree Road north of San Ignacio and crossing the Mopan River Bridge you will see signs directing you to the El Pilar Road. The Reserve is located 7 miles from Bullet Tree on an improved all-weather limestone road that ascends 900 feet above the Belize River Valley. It is easily reachable by vehicle or horseback and there are even bicycle rentals available in San Ignacio for those who wish to mountain bike up. Hiking is recommended only for experienced hikers (carrying plenty of water) as the road is unshaded and can be a very hot walk. The caretakers live in a modern green-roofed house along the road at the south end of the site and are very happy to show the visitor around. In addition, the BRASS/El Pilar Program has worked closely with the Cayo Tour Guides Association to train local guides about the Reserve and any licensed tour guide can arrange for a visit and tour. There are picnic facilities in the center of the monumental site core as well as beautiful photographic vistas of both Guatemala and Belize. Several rest stops have been constructed along the trails and the Reserve also has bathroom facilities. One of the longer trails (1 ½ miles) ends at a wonderful small waterfalls with pools which make a refreshing stop after a hike. El Pilar is considered by many as one of the finest bird-watching sites in Western Belize.
The unavailability of public transport to the site makes private vehicles a virtual necessity. From San Ignacio the route is through Bullet Tree Falls; villagers can be asked for further directions.
The El Pilar Archaeological Reserve for Maya Flora and Fauna- Bullet Tree Falls, Belize
The El Pilar Archaeological Reserve for Maya Flora and Fauna is located just 12 miles (approximately 19 kilometers) north of the western Belizean town of San Ignacio, astride the Belize-Guatemala border. The ridge land escarpment where El Pilar is situated extends from Guatemala's Peten into Belize, north of the Belize River valley. The center was recorded by Belize's Department of Archaeology in the 1970's, but its full extent was then unknown. A preliminary map of the site was made by the Belize River Archaeological Settlement Survey (BRASS) in 1984 and the first full-scale investigation of El Pilar was finally begun in 1993. The BRASS/El Pilar Program, an international, multi-disciplinary project headed by Dr. Anabel Ford of the University of California Santa Barbara, is now (1999) in its seventh year of excavation at El Pilar. In May 1997 a statutory instrument was signed designating the nine square kilometer reserve as Belize's newest national park and in 1998 Guatemala also made it a protected reserve. El Pilar has been highlighted by the World Monument Fund's 100 Most Endangered Sites in the World list (1997) along with sites such as Pompeii, the Taj Mahal and Ankor Wat. A preliminary chronology, based on ceramic comparisons, has revealed that monumental constructions at El Pilar began in the Middle Preclassic (450 B.C.) And continued with major remodeling completed in the Terminal Classic (1000 A.D.). This long sequence spans more than 15 centuries and testifies to a continuous and methodical development in the area. El Pilar has more than twenty-five identified plazas in an area of approximately 100 acres (38 hectares), ranking it equal with major centers of the lowland Maya region. It is the largest center in the Belize River area, more than three times the size of other well-known centers such as Baking Pot or Xunantunich. There are more than a dozen large pyramids and many range buildings. The site is divided into three primary sectors: Xaman (North) Pilar, Nohol (South) Pilar, and Pilar Poniente (West). The eastern and western sections are connected by an offset causeway system extending between two large public plazas. Survey and excavations have been concentrated in the eastern side of El Pilar within Belize. The western section, Pilar Poniente, is across the border in the Republic of Guatemala and surveying conducted in 1998 and 1999 has proven that there is still more monumental architecture to be found. While the site is quite large, visitors still experience a sense of discovery while walking through the plazas, as most of the structures have been left intentionally uncleared. In contrast to neighboring Maya sites, El Pilar remains essentially the same as when archaeologists first identified it. The large-scale clearing of rainforest and structures has been rejected in favor of environmental trails and the exposure of choice examples of architecture, a stair here and a room there. This concept prevents the degradation of exposed structures and preserves important archaeological information for future generations and archaeological technologies. There are, however, significant consolidated structures open for the public including an underground corbeled tunnel, a standing temple and examples of elite architecture. In addition the preserved rainforest is home to hundreds of species of birds and animals which will delight the visitor. One significant area of the site is the site of an ongoing project to recreate a Maya "forest garden" surrounding an elite residence with recreated Maya structures. The area has long carried the name of El Pilar and while the origin of this name is obscure, the numerous natural sources of water speak to the old Spanish word for watering basin or pila, whose collective would be designated in Spanish as El Pilar. Two local streams have their origins at El Pilar, one to the east, which we call El Pilar Creek, and one on the west referred to generally as El Manantial (the Spring). About 1.2 miles (or 2.3 KM) east is Chorro, a lovely delicate waterfall. Not far from this waterfall is a minor center named Chorro, after the falls. The abundance of water in the vicinity of El Pilar is rare in the Maya area; the venerable ancient city of Tikal (just 50 KM west) had no natural water sources at all. Currently the Reserve has a total of six trail systems, three archaeological and three primarily nature trails. These range in length from 1/10 of mile to a mile and a half long and are of different degrees of difficulty.
Click here for further information
Pilar lies in a part of Cayo District which has been cultivated for years; although much of the area is under secondary growth many milpas are situated nearby. One of the site's greatest potential assets is that once cleared and exposed, its panorama will probably be matched only by that from Xunantunich; it may indeed be possible to see one site from the other, and to speculate on their relationship and domains.
El Pilar is about 12 miles north of San Ignacio beyond the village of Bullet Tree Falls. Taking the Bullet Tree Road north of San Ignacio and crossing the Mopan River Bridge you will see signs directing you to the El Pilar Road. The Reserve is located 7 miles from Bullet Tree on an improved all-weather limestone road that ascends 900 feet above the Belize River Valley. It is easily reachable by vehicle or horseback and there are even bicycle rentals available in San Ignacio for those who wish to mountain bike up. Hiking is recommended only for experienced hikers (carrying plenty of water) as the road is unshaded and can be a very hot walk. The caretakers live in a modern green-roofed house along the road at the south end of the site and are very happy to show the visitor around. In addition, the BRASS/El Pilar Program has worked closely with the Cayo Tour Guides Association to train local guides about the Reserve and any licensed tour guide can arrange for a visit and tour. There are picnic facilities in the center of the monumental site core as well as beautiful photographic vistas of both Guatemala and Belize. Several rest stops have been constructed along the trails and the Reserve also has bathroom facilities. One of the longer trails (1 ½ miles) ends at a wonderful small waterfalls with pools which make a refreshing stop after a hike. El Pilar is considered by many as one of the finest bird-watching sites in Western Belize.
The unavailability of public transport to the site makes private vehicles a virtual necessity. From San Ignacio the route is through Bullet Tree Falls; villagers can be asked for further directions.
The El Pilar Archaeological Reserve for Maya Flora and Fauna- Bullet Tree Falls, Belize
The El Pilar Archaeological Reserve for Maya Flora and Fauna is located just 12 miles (approximately 19 kilometers) north of the western Belizean town of San Ignacio, astride the Belize-Guatemala border. The ridge land escarpment where El Pilar is situated extends from Guatemala's Peten into Belize, north of the Belize River valley. The center was recorded by Belize's Department of Archaeology in the 1970's, but its full extent was then unknown. A preliminary map of the site was made by the Belize River Archaeological Settlement Survey (BRASS) in 1984 and the first full-scale investigation of El Pilar was finally begun in 1993. The BRASS/El Pilar Program, an international, multi-disciplinary project headed by Dr. Anabel Ford of the University of California Santa Barbara, is now (1999) in its seventh year of excavation at El Pilar. In May 1997 a statutory instrument was signed designating the nine square kilometer reserve as Belize's newest national park and in 1998 Guatemala also made it a protected reserve. El Pilar has been highlighted by the World Monument Fund's 100 Most Endangered Sites in the World list (1997) along with sites such as Pompeii, the Taj Mahal and Ankor Wat. A preliminary chronology, based on ceramic comparisons, has revealed that monumental constructions at El Pilar began in the Middle Preclassic (450 B.C.) And continued with major remodeling completed in the Terminal Classic (1000 A.D.). This long sequence spans more than 15 centuries and testifies to a continuous and methodical development in the area. El Pilar has more than twenty-five identified plazas in an area of approximately 100 acres (38 hectares), ranking it equal with major centers of the lowland Maya region. It is the largest center in the Belize River area, more than three times the size of other well-known centers such as Baking Pot or Xunantunich. There are more than a dozen large pyramids and many range buildings. The site is divided into three primary sectors: Xaman (North) Pilar, Nohol (South) Pilar, and Pilar Poniente (West). The eastern and western sections are connected by an offset causeway system extending between two large public plazas. Survey and excavations have been concentrated in the eastern side of El Pilar within Belize. The western section, Pilar Poniente, is across the border in the Republic of Guatemala and surveying conducted in 1998 and 1999 has proven that there is still more monumental architecture to be found. While the site is quite large, visitors still experience a sense of discovery while walking through the plazas, as most of the structures have been left intentionally uncleared. In contrast to neighboring Maya sites, El Pilar remains essentially the same as when archaeologists first identified it. The large-scale clearing of rainforest and structures has been rejected in favor of environmental trails and the exposure of choice examples of architecture, a stair here and a room there. This concept prevents the degradation of exposed structures and preserves important archaeological information for future generations and archaeological technologies. There are, however, significant consolidated structures open for the public including an underground corbeled tunnel, a standing temple and examples of elite architecture. In addition the preserved rainforest is home to hundreds of species of birds and animals which will delight the visitor. One significant area of the site is the site of an ongoing project to recreate a Maya "forest garden" surrounding an elite residence with recreated Maya structures. The area has long carried the name of El Pilar and while the origin of this name is obscure, the numerous natural sources of water speak to the old Spanish word for watering basin or pila, whose collective would be designated in Spanish as El Pilar. Two local streams have their origins at El Pilar, one to the east, which we call El Pilar Creek, and one on the west referred to generally as El Manantial (the Spring). About 1.2 miles (or 2.3 KM) east is Chorro, a lovely delicate waterfall. Not far from this waterfall is a minor center named Chorro, after the falls. The abundance of water in the vicinity of El Pilar is rare in the Maya area; the venerable ancient city of Tikal (just 50 KM west) had no natural water sources at all. Currently the Reserve has a total of six trail systems, three archaeological and three primarily nature trails. These range in length from 1/10 of mile to a mile and a half long and are of different degrees of difficulty.
Click here for further information
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario