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February 21, 2004
Naachtun
New archaeological work at Naachtun seeks to discover the role the city played in centuries of conflict betweek Tikal and Calakmul. Naachtun, or "distant stone," is a misleading modern name for a place which these days is remote but in the Mayan Classic period lay directly between warring powers.
"Tikal and Calakmul hated each others' guts, fought wars, captured each others kings and more to the point they generated alliances around them," said project co-director, Peter Matthews. Naachtun was located directly en route between the two great powers and came to be vitally important to both the war and trade strategies of the rival kingdoms.
"If Tikal or Calakmul ever needed to launch an attack directly on the other they would have to go through Naachtun," said Reese-Taylor. Archeologists are not sure whether Naachtun was neutral territory like Switzerland where people from both sides would come in and discuss with each other or more like Afghanistan, a strategically placed entity where warring third parties would vie for influence.
"If Tikal or Calakmul ever needed to launch an attack directly on the other they would have to go through Naachtun," said Reese-Taylor. Archeologists are not sure whether Naachtun was neutral territory like Switzerland where people from both sides would come in and discuss with each other or more like Afghanistan, a strategically placed entity where warring third parties would vie for influence.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at February 21, 2004 12:00 PM