Jadeite Sources and Ancient Workshops: Archaeological Reconnaissance in the Upper Río El Tambor, Guatemala

Terrace 1

Located at almost the summit of the hill of Sitio Aguilucho, Terrace 1 is the highest and northernmost mound group at the site, and has a commanding view of the lower Quebrada El Silencio drainage to its juncture with the Río El Tambor (Figure 22, shown below, Figure 24 and Figure 27, below). Although in an imposing locality with a notably restricted access, the structures of Terrace 1 are fairly small and simple. Moreover, whereas most platforms at Sitio Aguilucho were faced with schist, the majority of platforms of Terrace 1 were formed of roughly faced blocks of serpentine, which constitutes the bedrock of the hill and summit. The one noteworthy exception is Structure 5 which had schist facing on all four sides. This material was probably quarried from the outcrop east of Terrace 3, and then carried through Terraces 3 and 2 to the summit ridge of Terrace 1.

Click on image to enlarge

Click on image to enlarge

The front sides of the Terrace 1 structures appear to be oriented to the south, the direction of the principal mound group at Sitio Aguilucho, Terrace 2. The Terrace 1 group begins at the southern end at the central ridge leading to the summit and then continues northward on the east side of the ridge. The lower, southern portion begins with a line of stones traversing the center of ridge, and marks the southern end of a low platform leading to Structure 1.  A platform almost 2 meters high, Structure 1 is faced with large, roughly hewn blocks of serpentine. A stairway on the southern side appears to have led from the low frontal platform to the summit.

As in the case of Structure 1, Structure 2 of Terrace 1 also has a low frontal platform with a portion of its serpentine retaining wall at the southeast corner. Of the buildings at Sitio Aguilucho, Structure 2 is at the highest elevation, and occurs just below the summit of the hill. Further to the north, the hill drops precipitously into the Quebrada El Silencio. The summit, at roughly 1290 meters above sea level, occurs only some 15 meters north of Structure 2. Although it is conceivable that the summit was used as a platform, no stone alignments, retaining stones or other constructional features were discernable on the surface. The remains of a stairway on the south side of Structure 2 originally led to its low, frontal platform. The principal, northern platform of Structure 1 displays no signs of a superstructure, although a serpentine boulder occurs in the center of the platform surface.

Structures 3, 4 and 6 are on a slightly lower portion of the terrace east of Structures 1 and 2. From the eastern edge of Terrace 1, the hillside drops off in the form of a steep talus slope into Quebrada Seca. Although Structure 3 resembles the low frontal platforms on the south sides of Structure 1 and 2, there is also an alignment on the northern side, suggesting that it is a distinct building. To the north of Structure 3 there is Structure 4, a low rectangular platform rising roughly ½ of a meter above the terrace surface. In contrast, Structure 5 is a larger and more imposing platform, and is some 1.5 meters in height. As has been mentioned, this is the only Terrace 1 structure that had schist facing stones, remains of which can be discerned on all sides. Whereas the western side of the platform abuts into the hill leading to the summit, there is a passage on the east side of Structure 1 leading to a flat extension of the terrace. As in the case of the summit, no alignments or other architectural features were visible in this portion of Terrace 1.

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