Archaeology and History at Quirigua, Guatemala

Abstract

The Quirigua Project is nearing the completion of a five year program of archaeological research at the lowland Maya site of Quirigua, Guatemala. The investigations are centered at the site of Quirigua proper and within the surrounding lower Motagua valley. This research has provided a wealth of data that, when combined with the historical information deciphered from the hieroglyphic inscriptions at Quirigua, allow a unique interpretation as to the origins, growth, and demise of a Classic Maya site.Several alternative explanations of Quirigua's origins are proposed. The archaeological evidence demonstrates that construction at the site began several centuries before the first historically-identified ruler at Quirigua, Cauac Sky, assumed power at about 723 A.C. The historical record indicates that Cauac Sky's reign lasted some 61 years, during which Quirigua appears to have gained complete political autonomy. Quirigua's growth in prestige and power during Cauac Sky's reign seems to have been based on its control of the rich trade along the Motagua valley route, a corridor for the transport of jade and obsidian from their highland sources to the Caribbean coast. Quirigua's rise to power is dramatically reflected in the archaeological record by a massive building program that transformed a former small residential compound into a large “royal” administrative center for the lower Motagua valley.After Cauac Sky's death in 784 A.C. the power of Quirigua was maintained, if not increased, well into the 9th century A.C. by a succession of rulers whose reigns were relatively brief This final era at Quirigua can be historically traced to at least 810 A.C., and archaeologically documented somewhat longer, probably until at least the mid-9th century. While we do not yet know exactly when and why Quirigua was abandoned, we do know that by the time of the 16th century Spanish Conquest its role in controlling the Motagua trade route had been assumed by the site of Nito, located closer to the Caribbean coast.

Cite this work

No public copy is stored for this record, so only the metadata is cited.

Stored only when both papers are in the corpus — 54 citations exist upstream.