Excavations in Nakum structure 99: new data on Protoclassic rituals and Precolumbian Maya beekeeping

Abstract

Structure 99, located on top of a large platform occupies a major and prominent part of the North Group complex of the Maya site of Nakum situated in the north-eastern area of Guatemala. Archaeological excavations realized in this structure during a few field seasons have revealed interesting data about the very last moment of Nakum's development during the Terminal Classic period (AD 800-900/950). It also revealed important traces of architectural and ritual activities from the still enigmatic Protoclassic phase (ca. 100 BC-AD 300). Scattered ceramics, stone tools and human bones found on top of Structure 99 -associated with the final hours of its occupation as well as Protoclassic offerings discovered in the lowest layers of this construction, including intriguing clay heads and jade pendants-are evidence of important ceremonial activities and beliefs that everything in the world is alive. By caching or destroying artifacts within the building, it is symbolically animated or killed by the Maya. This paper presents the results of the most important research conducted in Structure 99 that contributes to our knowledge on the ritual and architectural activities of two crucial periods in the history of Nakum: the Protoclassic and Terminal Classic. Among numerous findings described in this article, there is one that merits special attention. It is a cylindrical ceramic artifact lately identified as a beehive, providing a new perspective on beekeeping by the ancient Maya. The artifact is dated to the Protoclassic phase and is one of the oldest beehives discovered in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica.Keywords: Maya culture, Terminal Classic, Protoclassic, termination rituals, beekeeping, beehive.resumen: El Edificio 99, ubicado en la cima de una gran plataforma ocupó un lugar prominente en el complejo denominado el Grupo Norte del sitio maya de Nakum, en el noreste de Guatemala. Durante los recientes trabajos de campo que se llevaron a cabo en esta parte del sitio, se han revelado algunos datos interesantes sobre el último momento del florecimiento de Nakum durante el Clásico Terminal (800-86 estudios de cultura maya xliv 900/950 d.C.). Además se hallaron vestigios importantes de la actividad constructiva y ritual perteneciente a la enigmática fase Protoclásica (ca. 100 a.C.-300 d.C.). Tanto la cerámica dispersa, las herramientas de piedra y los huesos humanos encontrados en la cima del Edificio 99 con fecha del Clásico Terminal, así como las ofrendas colocadas debajo de esta construcción, que incluyen intrigantes cabezas de barro y colgantes de jade, son evidencia de actividades ceremoniales muy importantes y creencias religiosas según las cuales cada cosa del mundo está viva. Al esconder o destruir diversos artefactos en el edificio, los mayas animan o matan simbólica-mente esta construcción. Entre los numerosos hallazgos efectuados en el área del Edificio 99, hay uno que merece una atención especial. Es un artefacto cilíndrico de cerámica, identificado en última instancia como una colmena, que proporciona una nue...

The Discovery of a Beehive and the Identification of Apiaries Among the Ancient Maya

“…This dating was further confirmed by one radiocarbon date of AD 80–260 (2σ cal. ; Źrałka et al 2014: 107). All archaeological data indicate that Offering 9 and the ceramic tube date to the Terminal Preclassic or Protoclassic period.…”

“…7 m high, which during its last architectural stage (in the Terminal Classic, circa AD 800–900/950) was surmounted by three superstructures (Figure 2b-c). The latter construction was extensively investigated during the recent research of the Nakum Archaeological Project when two tunnels, several trenches, test pits, and extensive clearing excavations were carried out (Źrałka et al 2008:77–92, 2014). They revealed that Structure 99 started as a low platform surmounted by a single chamber with a stairway on its southern face (the whole construction was denominated by us as Structure 99 Sub-1).…”

“…8). The latter offering was also dated using ceramics to the Protoclassic phase (Źrałka et al 2008:84–87, 2012:31–32, 2014:107). This dating was further confirmed by one radiocarbon date of AD 80–260 (2σ cal.…”

“…Both the Nakum artifact excavated in Offering 9, as well as the above-described miniature versions of beehives decorating the incense burners and the clay figurine, have counterparts in beehives known ethnographically and used today by various native populations of the northern Maya lowlands (Mayer 2009; Źrałka et al 2014:100–101). Such beehives are known among the modern Yucatec Maya as jobon , literally “something hollow, a cavity” (or as jobonil , and even jobnil ; see Barrera Vásquez 1980:214–215; Bastarrachea Manzano et al 1992:22).…”

“…Such jobon are stored by modern Maya on A-shaped wooden racks, sheltered in simple open huts covered by thatch roofs made of palm leaves, designated as yotoch kaab or “home of bees” in Yukatek (see Mayer 2009:98; Figure 6a). The Yukatekan jobon are all very similar in size; their lengths typically range between 50 and 60 cm, and their diameters are between 20 and 30 cm (Mayer 2009; Źrałka et al 2014:101). They exhibit relatively thick walls ranging around 4 cm and a central hole that is usually less than 1.5 cm in diameter.…”