Archaeological Reconnaissance at Tixan: Explorations in the Southern Sierra del Lacandón National Park, Petén, Guatemala

El Túnel

El Túnel was first visited by Edwin Román and René Muñoz of the SLRAP in 2004 (Golden, Romero, et al. 2005). Members of the SLRAP returned to the site in 2005 to use it as a base of operations in an attempt to reach the site of Tixan while avoiding the illegal community of Centro Campesino. While based at El Túnel, the team registered and generated sketch maps for a number of mound groups, the most significant of which are Túnel 09 and Túnel 12.

Túnel 09 consists of a small (about 4 meters high) pyramidal structure accompanied by a small mound as well as a large platform topped with a C-shaped mound and two other mounds (Figure 26). Túnel 12 is another large patio group that consists of a platform topped by a superstructure with standing walls (though apparently unvaulted) and a series of other mounds (Figure 27a and Figure 27b, shown below). As the most significant architecture at El Túnel, Túnel 09 and Túnel 12 may have been part of the site core. However, without more thorough reconnaissance, this cannot be determined with certainty.

Click on image to enlarge.

Like Túnel 09 and Túnel 12, all of the mound groups at El Túnel consisted of formal plaza groups, most of which were located atop artificial platforms. Although surface ceramics were not encountered at El Túnel, this pattern of settlement conforms to what is known of Classic period settlement in the region. Further, the masonry work of the superstructure – a mix of small, fine flat slabs and larger cut stone – is quite similar to that of La Pasadita and Tecolote (Figure 27b). However, one notable difference between the sites is that settlement at El Túnel was focused primarily on flat terrain, whereas at Tecolote and La Pasadita the majority of mound groups are situated atop hills.

El Túnel's similarity in architectural style and proximity to La Pasadita and Tecolote would suggest a possible political affiliation between them. However, a large wall structure measuring 1-1.5 meters high and 100 meters long was encountered midway between La Pasadita and El Túnel. Although the exact function of this construction is unknown, similar such features have been encountered in the vicinity of Tecolote and may have served as the bases for palisade walls (Golden, Scherer, et al. 2005: 12). If this is the case, it might suggest an antagonistic relationship between El Túnel and La Pasadita.

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