[Aztlan] Classic Maya Unit of Length

[David Hixson]

Thanks, Jules!!

I had guessed that the Mecate was likely a Nahuatl
loan word (since the "ate" endings are often
hispanicized "atl" endings).  But hadn't ever come
across that reference.  Thanks a bunch.

The Mecate (as a 20 x 20 meter unit of area) is still
being used by Maya farmers throughout the northern
Maya lowlands.  In fact, we adopted this unit of
measurement for mapping the ancient Maya city of
Chunchucmil.  Much of the land around the ancient city
had previously been measured by the henequen hacienda
owners, and mojoneras (stone markers) were still erect
at the corner of each mecate.

As surveyors, all we needed to do was to re-erect
those that had fallen and apply grid numbers to them,
then map all ancient structures within each mecate. 
When a milpa did not have any mojoneras, I worked with
Maya farmers to establish a mecate grid (occasionally
using the pole technique you mentioned).

Eventually the maps of each plantel were stitched
together using high resolution GPS data and remote
sensing image processing software in order to correct
for variations of the grids.

Thought you might get a kick out of the merging of
centuries-old technology with the latest remote
sensing technology to map over 9 km2 of ancient
settlement.

-Dave


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