3. Semuc Champey : The Hidden Paradise
•Most Unique and least visited place that I have been.
Not even mentioned in many travel book or brouchures.
•Semuc Champey is a collection of tiered pools atop a
natural 300 M limestone bridge in the canyons in the
jungles of Guatemala.
•It’s known for its turquoise lakes, lush greenery and the time and
effort it takes to get there. It is a torcherous drive to hidden
paradise .
•Water tubing in rapid of lcahabon river has moments of
adrenaline rush. However trip to Kan Ba/Lanquin caves
was the ultimate experience of panic.
•More at my blogs : Semuc Champey the hidden paradise
of Guatemala
5. Introduction to Tikal
• The ancient Maya city of Tikal is located deep in the heart of
Guatemala`s El Peten rainforest.
• Tikal was once the major cultural and population center of the Maya
civilization in pre-classic period. More impressive and significant
compare to Chichen itza, Uxmal, Tulum, Atun Ha ( belitze)
• Today Tikal National Park is a sanctuary for the archaeological
monuments, and for endangered wildlife
• Tikal is one of the largest ancient Maya sites, covering 60 square
miles
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tikal-Plaza-Mayor-Panorama.jpg
7. Tikal’s Beginnings
• Some of the earliest temples at Tikal date back to 4th
century BC
• Tikal is the modern name for the site. Hieroglyphic inscriptions show that
the ancient Maya called the site “Yax Mutal”
A panorama time lapse at sunset overlooking the Great Plaza from the North Acropolis.
Click here to watch the movie in an Internet browser
8. Tikal: A Cultural Center of the Maya
• Tikal’s location between two rivers allowed Tikal to become a great
trade, religious, and political center that dominated the region at
times during the Classic Period (200 AD to 850 AD.)
Photo: Tara Todras-Whitehill for The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/12/16/travel/20071216_TIKAL_SLIDESHOW_index.html
9. Tikal at Its Peak
• Tikal reached its peak population of
approximately 55,000 people around
AD 700.
• The city itself contained many different
structures inside its boundaries. These
structures included temples, pyramids,
shrines, ball courts, ceremonial
structures and resident areas.
Photo: Tara Todras-Whitehill for The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/12/16/travel/20071216_TIKAL_SLIDESHOW_4.html
10. Tikal Abandoned
• Site abandoned by the
end of the 10 the
century
• Possible reasons for
the abandonment
include overpopulation,
environmental
degradation, drought
and the Maya's long
history of warfare
• After site abandonment
Tikal was overgrown by
the jungle
• Tikal was largely
forgotten, except as a
legend about a lost city
of the Maya
Image credit : http://www.flickr.com/photos/riodulcechisme/319658936/
The jungle grows very quickly and rapidly covers a building is no
one tend to it.
11. Site Re-discovery
• Site was re-
discovered in 1846 by
a gum-collector
named Ambrosio Tut
• Ambrosio spotted
Tikal’s temple roof
combs rising out of
the jungle
• In 1956 The University
of Pennsylvania
began the first
archaeological study
and excavation of
Tikal
• Before the excavation,
much of the site was
covered by the jungle
Temples I and II rising out of the jungle
12. Map of Tikal
• Map of the the site
The site of Tikal is very large and is made of many different temples and areas
Structures include: temples, ball courts, palaces, residential complexes and causeways.
13. Panorama of the Grand Plaza
Panorama photograph of the Great Plaza and Central Acropolis
Click here to play the panorama in an internet browser
14. Imagining the Past
An artist’s drawing of what Tikal may have looked like.
Trying to imagine what Tikal looked like in the 1500 years ago?
Image source: http://www.authenticmaya.com/images/ancient-tikal.gif
15. Pyramids
• Tikal feature 6 large step
pyramids, Temples I-VI
• Temples served many purposes
• -Platforms used in
religious rituals
• -Observatories
• -Tombs for rulers
Temples constantly built upon and
renovated
Whenever a new ruler came in to
power, a new layer would be built
on an existing pyramid
Some rulers would also build
pyramids for themselves, for their
living family or as a tribute to their
dead relativesImage source: http://www.authenticmaya.com/images/fig_21.jpg
16. Pyramid Features
• Temple at top of pyramid
with very steep stairs leading
to temple
• Some pyramids also had a
small burial chamber
• During ceremonies priests
would ascend the pyramid
from the earth to the sky by
means of staircases. They
believed that this brought
them closer to the gods.
• Exterior decorated with
elaborate stucco decorations
and stone carving.
• Exteriors also covered with
white lime and red paint.
• Interiors decorated with
mural paintings.
• One of the Pyamid is built
by king as tribute to his wife
– Like TajMahal story !
Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tikal_Temple1_2006_08_11.JPG
17. Technology
• Maya buildings were typically made from
limestone
• Stone was cut in quarries and then moved to
the sites
• Limestone in its bed is soft enough to be cut
by stone tools. Limestone hardens in the
sun.
• Pyramids build without metal tools
Maya pyramids have
very steep steps
18. Maya Pyramids vs Egyptian Pyramids
Built of small cut stones on a rubble
core
Served many functions-temple, tombs,
platform for public ceremonies
Often built on top of older, existing
temples and pyramids
Built of large blocks of cut stone
Built as as a tomb for pharaohs
Pharaohs would begin
construction of their own pyramid
at the beginning of their reign
19. Temple I
Temple 1, or Temple of the Jaguar
Temple I was built for the 26th ruler of Tikal, Jasaw.
The building date is unknown as it is unclear if Jasaw
built it for himself or if his son, Yik`in, constructed it in
honor of his deceased father.
Large carved piece of stone,
or stelae often depicted
historical events or religious
stories
20. Temple II
Temple II is dedicated to King
Jasa’s wife, Lady Twelve
Macaw (died 704 A.D.)
Lady Twelve Macaw is buried
inside this temple.
Temple II, or Temple of the
Moon
Built in the eighth-century Tikal
ruler Jasaw Chan K`awiil
21. Temple II- Temple of the Masks
Temple II is also known as
Temple of the Masks
The roof comb of Temple II,
while damaged by weather,
has many carved stone
masks.
Roof combs are decorative
structure that sit on top of a
building
Roof combs acts as billboards
projecting political and
religious messages to the
people
Most of the Maya population could not read.
Stone carvings of gods and rulers helped explain
to people their religious ideas
22. Temple IV
• Temple IV is the tallest
structure at Tikal.
• Temples IV is 70 meters in
height and is the second
tallest structure built by the
Maya.
• Built by Yik`in Chan Kawil,
son of Jasaw, in the mid-8th
century.
• Temple contains a tomb,
however, archaeologists
have not identified the owner
of the tombTemple IV is currently undergoing
restoration. It has not been fully excavated.
In this picture you can see the jungle still
covering part of the temple
23. The Central Acropolis
• The Central Acropolis
Central Acropolis
The Central Acropolis, on the right
Temple II, on the left
Most of its buildings are of the so-
called palace type, probably used
for daily functions of the royal court.
Click here to open a panorama of
the Central Acropolis in an
Internet browser
24. The North Acropolis
• The North Acropolis was the focus of
the city's religious architecture and the
preferred place of burial for rulers
• Dozens of tombs dating to the Pre-
classic period.
25. Ball courts
Tikal has five ball courts.
Ball games played as a a sacred ritual
and had an important role in Maya
religion and culture.
Ball courts are often located in or
adjacent to important ceremonial and
monumental areas.
All but the smallest of Maya cities
had ball courts.
26. Ball Games
• Ballgames played as an
important ritual ceremony
• Exact rules of the game are
unknown, but some rules have
been learned from images of the
ballgame on carved stone and
painted on pottery
• Game played with a heavy solid
rubber ball
• Object of the game was probably
to keep the ball in play using hips
and forearms
• Courts had stone rings which
may have been used as goals
Image credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Maya_Vase_Ballplayer.png
A Maya vase shows a ball player
dressed for the game.
27. Tikal Today: The Modern Maya People
• The Maya are still a thriving culture living in Mexico
• The Maya people of Guatemala hold a Maya festival every year as an anti-
Columbus Day to remind the world that their culture is still alive
Photo: Tara Todras-Whitehill for The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/12/16/travel/20071216_TIKAL_SLIDESHOW_2.html
28. Tikal’s Mysteries
• Archaeologists still have much more to learn about Tikal and the ancient
Maya
• Some parts of Tikal are still un-excavated
Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/riodulcechisme/319659318/
29. Damage to Tikal from Nature and People
• Rain, humidity, plants and people can cause damage to Tikal, even when
archaeologists try to preserve the site.
• Weathering is decomposition of rocks and material from contact with the
Earth’s atmosphere.
• Tikal receives 120,000 visitors a year
• Visitors can unintentionally cause damage to site by walking and touching
the buildings
Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/riodulcechisme/319658574/
30. Archaeology Today: Laser Scanning
• New archaeology techniques can help record ancient sites that may be
damaged by weathering over time.
• Laser scanners use lasers and computers to record the measurements of
sites.
• These records are very precise and can help archaeologists learn about the
site even if it gets damaged.
• Laser scanners are much more accurate than older methods of drawings In
2005 UC Berkeley and CyArk used laser scanners and other digital
technology to record Tikal and archive the data on the web for public use
• Pictures and laser scan records for free on http://www.cyark.org.
31. 3-D Models of Tikal
• Laser scanners can make 3-D models of archaeology sites and artifacts.
• These models can help archaeologists learn even more about the site.
• 3-D models also are a record of a site in case the site is destroyed.
• Tikal has been digitally recorded by CyArk using laser scanners and other
methods so future generations can learn about this amazing site.
32.
33. • Orignal capitol of Guatemeala founded in 1542. It was
destroyed in 1773 by earthquakes.
• Pacaya Volcano
