The North Acropolis of the ancient Maya city of Tikal in Guatemala is an architectural complex that served as a royal necropolis and was a centre for funerary activity for over 1300 years. The acropolis is located near the centre of the city and is one of the most studied of Maya architectural complexes. Excavations were carried out from 1957 to 1969 by the University of Pennsylvania, directed by Edwin M. Shook and William Coe.Martin and Grube 2000, p. 43.
The first traces of human activity at the site date to approximately 800 BCE, with the first structures being built about 350 BCE. Around 250 CE the complex underwent a major redevelopment with the construction of a massive basal platform that supported a cluster of temples; this was followed around 450 CE by the addition of a row of four pyramids on a terrace to the south of the main platform.
A number of royal tombs have been excavated that have been identified with named kings, including the tombs of Yax Nuun Ayiin I (ruled 379 CE – c. 404), Siyaj Chan K'awiil II (ruled 411–456), Wak Chan K'awiil (ruled 537–562) and "Animal Skull" (ruled c. 593–638).Martin and Grube 2000, pp. 32, 34, 38–40. An early tomb in the North Acropolis has been tentatively identified as that of the dynastic founder Yax Ehb' Xook (ruled c. 90).
A large number of stone monuments were placed in the North Acropolis. By the 9th century CE these included 43 stelae and 30 altars; 18 of these monuments were sculpted with hieroglyphic texts and royal portraits. A number of these monuments show the influence of the great city of Teotihuacan in the Valley of Mexico.
Development
The earliest traces of working of the limestone bedrock under the basal platform of the acropolis date to about 800 BCE, consisting of deep cuts into the rock associated with refuse from domestic and ceremonial activity.Loten 2003, p. 233. The first structures in what became the North Acropolis were built around 350 BCE, towards the end of the Middle Preclassic period (c. 1000–300 BCE).Martin and Grube 2000, p. 43; Coe 1999, p. 10.
Late Preclassic period During the Late Preclassic (c. 300 BCE – 250 CE), a wide causeway was built to unite the North Acropolis with the Mundo Perdido complex to the southwest.Laporte 2003, p. 288; Martin and Grube 2000, p. 24. The earliest dated architecture in the North Acropolis was built in the second century BCE and consisted of a low basal platform to the north with two smaller platforms immediately to the south, which were forerunners of the triadic pyramid complex formed by the later Temples 22, 23 and 24.Loten 2003, pp. 233–235. These were not the first structures to be built since the remains of earlier versions of the platforms have been identified underneath but these suffered such extensive destruction prior to the building of the 2nd century BCE version that no physical sequence can be reconstructed.Loten 2003, p. 234.
In the 1st century CE the complex underwent a major expansion.Martin and Grube 2000, p. 26. At this time there was a gradual shift in focus from the major Preclassic Mundo Perdido complex to the North Acropolis, which was marked out as the new ceremonial centre of the city and received the first royal burials, so far not conclusively identified with named rulers.Fitzsimmons 2009, p. 112.
Classic period During the Classic period (c. 250–900 CE) the royal dynasty of Tikal developed the complex into a royal necropolis, with each successive ruler superimposing new temples over earlier structures. Around 250 CE, the pre-existing architecture was demolished and a new basal platform was built, supporting four corbel-vaulted structures.Coe 1967, 1988, p. 43. Around 400 CE the complex was expanded southwards from its original basal platform with the addition of a row of tall pyramids that divided the original architecture from Tikal's main plaza. Towards the end of the 7th century, King Jasaw Chan K'awiil I ordered the construction of a new version Temple 33, possibly to house the remains of Nuun Ujol Chaak, his father. This new building completely blocked the entrance to the North Acropolis, formerly ending its role as the preferred burial ground of Tikal's kings.Sharer and Traxler 2006, pp. 390–391. Around 734 CE king Jasaw Chan K'awiil was entombed in Temple I on the east side of the plaza, ending the tradition of interring rulers within the North Acropolis.
Postclassic period Funerary activity continued as late as the Postclassic (c. 900–1525). Towards the end of Tikal's dwindling occupancy, during the 10th or 11th centuries, squatters were mining the North Acropolis in search of jade grave goods in the elite tombs; some of the easier-to-find burials were located and looted at this time.Martin and Grube 2000, p. 53.
Structures
The North Acropolis closes off the Great Plaza on the north side.Harrison 2006, 2011, p. 221. The basal platform of the North Acropolis covers an area of just under ; measuring approximately .Drew 1999, p. 186. It stands above its bedrock foundation and above the Great Plaza, and is accessed by a number of stairways on its south side. During the Preclassic period, the facades of many of the temples were decorated with brightly coloured stucco ornamentation, including giant masks flanking some of the access stairways.Coe 1967, 1988, p. 41. By the Early Classic, eight temple-pyramids stood upon the platform, each with an access stairway flanked by masks, a small summit shrine and an elaborate roof comb.
Basal platform Most of the structures upon the basal platform underwent two consecutive construction phases during the Early Classic, except Temple 22 which underwent three phases of construction. The structures upon the basal platform all date to the Early Classic period and were laid out in a symmetrical arrangement over the course of three centuries. This forms the greatest concentration of pure Early Classic architecture at Tikal, using construction methods distinct from that of the major Late Classic temples around the Great Plaza. The Early Classic construction involved the complete finishing of the basal platform as a distinct architectural unit before the additional structures were built upon it.Coe 1967, 1988, p. 44.
Temple 20 (Structure 5D-20) is located upon the northwest corner of the basal platform and looks outwards to the north. It is estimated to date to approximately 550 CE.
Temple 21 (Structure 5D-21) forms a pair with Temple 20; it is located upon the northeast corner of the basal platform and also looks outwards to the north; it is thought to date to around 550 CE.
Temple 22 (Structure 5D-22) is a south-facing building located centrally on the north side of the basal platform.Coe 1967, 1988, pp. 42, 44. Temple 22 underwent three principal phases of construction. The earliest version of this structure was built around 250 CE; a second version of the temple was built over it around 350 CE; this version was decorated with giant stucco masks. The final version of the temple dates to the 5th century CE. Temple 22 has been extensively investigated by archaeologists with portions of the 5th-century architecture being stripped away to expose the earlier versions.Coe 1967, 1988, pp. 42–44. A tomb in the Temple 22 was looted at some point during the Postclassic period.
Temple 23 (Structure 5D-23) has been partially restored and dates to the middle of the 3rd century CE. It is situated on the centre of the west side of the basal platform, facing east.
Temple 24 (Structure 5D-24) dates to around 250 CE. It forms a pair with Temple 23, being located on the east side of the basal platform, facing west. Temple 24 has not been explored by archaeologists.
Temple 25 (Structure 5D-25) is located on the southwest corner of the basal platform; it was first built around 250 CE and underwent a second Early Classic construction phase that completely covered the earlier version.
Temple 26 (Structure 5D-26) is the central building in the North Acropolis, located centrally on the south side of the basal platform overlooking the terrace; the earliest version of this structure dates to approximately 250 CE. Temple 26 has been fully excavated and restored. A tomb in the structure was looted at some time during the Postclassic period. The northern portion of the structure stood over a Late Preclassic tomb (Burial 85) dated to around 100 CE, which has been tentatively identified as that of dynastic founder Yax Ehb' Xook.Sharer and Traxler 2006, pp. 302, 308.
Temple 27 (Structure 5D-27) forms a pair with Temple 25. It is situated on the southeast corner of the basal platform. Archaeologists presume that this structure underwent the same two Early Classic construction phases as its twin. It was built around 250 CE.
Building 28 (Structure 5D-28) is an unusual building at the top of an access stairway on the east side of the basal platform. It appears to have been a guardroom controlling access from the east terrace. The chamber originally contained curtained doorways and benches against the walls. The width of the building completely blocked access from the stairway; this forced visitors to pass through the chamber, where their presence could be scrutinised and passage beyond blocked if necessary. This route may have become important when Temple 33 was built, blocking the main access stairway from the Great Plaza.Coe 1990, p. 449. Structure 5D-28 was built very late in the Early Classic period (around the 6th century).Coe 1964, p. 412.
Terrace
A trio of small Early Classic temples (Temples 29 to 31) stand upon a common platform at the east end of the terrace, facing west.Martin and Grube 2000, pp. 37, 43; Coe 1990, pp. 583–584; Coe 1962, p. 481. It is likely that the platform was purposely built to support the three temples that were built more-or-less simultaneously. Neither the platform nor the temples have been investigated; it is therefore possible that an early version of the central temple (Temple 30) was built first, then decommissioned with the platform being built to cover the early version, followed by the construction of a new version plus the two additional flanking temples.
Temple 29 (Structure 5D-29) is located at the east end of the terrace of the North Acropolis, facing west. Stela 40 was excavated at its base in 1996.Martin and Grube 2000, pp. 37, 43. Temple 29 is one of a trio of similar structures, with Temples 30 and 31. Temple 29 has not been excavated; the corbel vaulting and roof has collapsed to fill the three chambers of the superstructure with rubble. Of the trio of temples, Temple 29 is the only one to display traces of red paint. The basal platform of the temple stands high and the superstructure walls measure high. The building is believed to date to the Early Classic period (c. 250–600 CE).Coe 1990, pp. 583–584.
Temple 30 (Structure 5D-30) is at the east end of the terrace of the North Acropolis; it is one of a trio of similar structures. The roof and vaulting has collapsed, filling the three summit chambers with rubble.Coe 1990, p. 583. Temple 30 is estimated to date from the Early Classic (c. AD 250–600), based upon a stylistic comparison with other structures at Tikal. As with the other temples of the trio, the basal platform of the temple stands high and the superstructure walls measure high.
Temple 31 (Structure 5D-31) is one of a trio of similar structures at the east end of the terrace, together with Temples 29 and 30. As with the other two temples of the trio, the summit superstructure had three chambers; these have been buried under the rubble resulting from the collapse of the vaulting and roof. The temple is believed to date to the Early Classic (c. 250–600 CE). The height of the temple is identical to those of the other temples in the trio, with a basal platform measuring high and superstructure walls standing high.