Classic Maya Seaports: Uaymil, North Campeche Coast

Introduction

The small settlement of Uaymil is located on an island or petén in northern Campeche (Figure 1). According to the Atlas Arqueológico de Yucatán, its UTM coordinates are YN641633 (Garza T. and Kurjack, 1980:88). This former seaport is situated 25 km to the north/northeast of Jaina and 2.5 km inland from the present coastline of Campeche. For four consecutive weeks from late June through early July 2001, the whole island and all visible surface remains of at least 15 structures were systematically surveyed and mapped. Furthermore, we were able to collect from the surface an excellent sample of cultural materials made from ceramic, obsidian, basalt, chert, limestone, and shell.

The systematic surveying and mapping of Uaymil revealed that the settlement is approximately 300 meters long (east-west) and 250 meters wide (north-south), and lays upon a petén surrounded by water. On the surface of Uaymil we recorded the presence of at least 15 structures. Eight of these buildings (Structures 1-8) are situated around a plaza located slightly to the east of the center of Uaymil (Figure 2). In the center of the plaza we found the remains of an altar, which still has the remains of a stela on its north corner. Edwin Shook (1955) reported this stela when he visited Uaymil in 1955. Then–as now–only the lower part of the monument could be observed. In fact, the knees and lower body parts of a person as well as what appear to be one (or two?) highly eroded glyphs can be seen on this stela (Figure 3).

The other seven constructions of Uaymil are situated on or near the edge to the north (Structure 9), northeast (Structures 10-11), southeast (Structures 12-13), west (Structure 14) and northeast (Structure 15). An open space or large plaza characterizes the western part of Uaymil. This plaza is bordered to the east by Structures 1-9, and to the west by Structure 14 only, which has rectangular form. This spatial arrangement consisting of a large plaza bordered by the main structures of the site and a low, rectangular structure situated on the edge of an island is strongly reminiscent of the open space of the south part of Isla Cerritos on the north coast of Yucatán (see Andrews et al., 1988). The following is a general report on the activities undertaken in the fieldwork at Uaymil.

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