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FAMSI © 2005: Karl Taube, Zachary Hruby and Luis Romero |
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Jadeite Sources and Ancient Workshops: Archaeological Reconnaissance in the Upper Río El Tambor, Guatemala Terrace 4 This terrace contains the most complex mound group at Sitio Aguilucho, and has some 22 structures (Figure 27, Figure 28, Figures 29 & 30, shown below). In terms of architecture, Terrace 4 is very similar to Terrace 1, and both appear to be residential areas, with Terrace 4 being the principal residential group at Sitio Aguilucho. The eastern side of Terrace 4 abuts the hill on which Terrace 1 was constructed. This side of the hill is quite steep, and it is highly unlikely that it was a common way of access between the two terraces. Although the principal access between Terrace 1 and the lower Terrace 4 could have been from Terraces 2 and 3, a modern trail passes from the ridge just below Terrace 1 to the southern end of Terrace 4, and it is entirely possible that there was similar access in antiquity (Figure 30, below). As in the case of most of the architecture at the site, the platforms of Terrace 4 were typically faced with schist blocks.
It is important to note that there is evidence of jade working with a number of the structures, indicating that at least some of the individuals living in Terrace 4 were engaged in the working and probably procurement of local jadeite. In addition, a lower area off the west side of Terrace 4 is rich in jade debitage and partially worked jade celts as well as ceramic material, and it is clear that this midden was formed by residents of Terrace 4. It is possible that slabs of ecologite containing garnet, a stone harder than jadeite, may have been used as a cutting tool for jade, although no cut jade was found at the site (Figure 38, below). Most of the worked jade in the area is flake debitage of light green to light blue, the type often referred to as "gema" by modern prospectors (Figure 36a, Figure 36b, Figures 37 & 39, shown below). Given the fact that jade debitage frequently has sharp, jagged edges, it was probably often removed from residential areas to avoid injury. However, yet another reason for this midden area may have been soil enrichment for farming, as serpentine soils are notoriously poor in plant nutrients. Maize is currently being cultivated is this area, and this probably was also the case for the ancient residents of Sitio Aguilucho.
The lowest platform of the Terrace 4 group is Structure 1, which is close to the aforementioned midden area near Terrace 3. Interior stone alignments atop the platform indicate that it supported a superstructure. North of this platform is Structure 2, which has been badly damaged by recent looting. Structures 3 and 4 are adjoining buildings, with Structure 4 being slightly higher as it was cut into serpentine bedrock, much of which is visible in the center of the platform. Still further north is Structure 5, which had large roughly hewn serpentine blocks as retaining stones. The western side of this structure has been largely destroyed by looting. Structure 6 is the lowest of a series of seven buildings that extends in a northwest direction towards the center of the Terrace 4 group. On the lower south side, Structure 6 is fronted by a large platform that has massive serpentine boulders at its southern edge. Most of the original fill in the platform seems to have been removed by gradual erosion. Considerable jade debitage occurs in this area and to the west of the platform (Figure 30). In addition, a fragmentary stone bowl or mortar portraying a toad or frog was found in the platform region. The form of this object recalls the Late Preclassic stone or frog mortars found in Tomb 1 of Mound E-III-3 at Kaminaljuyú (Shook and Kidder 1952:fig. 78c-e). A fragmentary schist slab with a central perforation was also found in the platform area. Structure 7 occurs further up the hillside from Structure 6, and is a rectangular platform some 1.5 meters in height. A stone alignment on the east side of the platform may be the remains of a stairway. Centered on the same axis of Structures 6 and 7, Structure 8 is of considerably higher elevation. It was supplied with a large frontal platform and supported a superstructure. Structure 9 also had a superstructure atop the platform, and is on a terrace rising some 30 cm above the platform surface behind Structure 8. Structures 10 and 11 are atop a still higher terrace shared with Structure 12, which is one of the largest and highest structures in the Terrace 4 group. The platform seems to have originally had two superimposed terraces as well as a superstructure. Between Structures 10 and 12, a spherical jadeite hammerstone was found (Figures 31 & 32, below). Given the toughness and density of jadeite, it is appropriate that this material was worked with jadeite hammers. Similar spherical hammerstones are known for La Laguna, a large Río El Tambor site located down river near its juncture with the Río Motagua.
Structures 13 to 15 are located on the eastern edge of Terrace 4, close to where the hill rises sharply to the summit. Structure 14, the highest platform on Terrace 4, appears to have supported two superstructures. Located at a lower elevation, Structure 16 is part of a plaza group including four other platforms, Structures 17 to 20. Of this plaza group, Structure 16 is the principal building, and steeply rises some 2.5 m from the plaza floor. Most of the structures of this group, including Structures 17, 18 and 19 have been damaged by recent looter’s excavations with Structure 18 having a central pit almost 2 meters in depth. The other four buildings of this group all show evidence of having superstructures atop the platform. Two more platforms occur behind Structure 20, and mark the northernmost extension of Terrace 4. Further north and downhill from Terrace 4, there is Terrace 5, a small group of several platforms. Several sites were found below Sitio Aguilucho adjacent to the stream of Quebrada Seca (Figure 9). One site, located on the west side of the stream just above the massive jadeite boulder (Figure 16, below) is a lithic reduction area with jadeite of various colors, including highly translucent material. The primary activity appears to have been the rough processing of jadeite, and no structures or ceramics were visible in the area. Further downstream, where the Quebrada Seca joins the Quebrada El Silencio, two sites were found on the south side of the Quebrada El Silencio, east and west of the mouth of the Quebrada Seca. To the east, sparse amounts of pottery and a fragmentary metate were encountered in a flat region adjacent to the river. However, much more archaeological material was discerned for the site on the west side of Quebrada Seca, which has several platforms with ceramics and abundant jade debitage on the surface. Among the sherds encountered was a piece of plumbate ware, indicating a Late Classic or Early Postclassic date. Much of the jade is of the white, semi-translucent material often termed luna by contemporary prospectors.
On the opposite west side of Sitio Aguilucho, there is the Quebrada del Mico, which also drains into the Quebrada El Silencio. On a hilly flank on the north side of the Quebrada del Mico there is an arroyo containing large jadeite boulders approaching five tons in weight. As has been mentioned, this region also contains light, translucent blue jadeite (Appendix, Figure 11). Just to the east of this arroyo there are a series of terraces with ceramics and jade debitage, although no house platforms were discerned. |
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