A New Study of the Gruta de Chac, Yucatán, México

Settlement Survey

One of the major questions that this study sought to address relates to the spatial and temporal relationship between the settlement at Chac II and at the Gruta (Chac I). Northern settlement at Chac II reaches to within 800 m of Chac I.  Reconnaissance survey at Chac I has located a number of platforms and residential groups reaching more than 600 m south of the cave, with only a series of high hills breaking the continuous settlement distribution. Based on these spatial data, it appears that Chac I and Chac II is one and the same site. Although the historic Rancho Chac visited by Stephens lies about 500 m to the E-NE and overlies a number of prehispanic settlement remains (Sabloff et al., 1985; Dunning, 1991), we were unable to investigate this area.

Settlement immediately around the Gruta was cleared of vegetation and mapped (Figure 4). The largest settlement investigated is a plaza group made up of 3 stone vaulted buildings and several low platforms adjacent to the cave opening oriented about 60^o east of magnetic north. This plaza orientation is the same as the internal causeway at Chac II. The NE plaza structure is classified as an Early Puuc style building with two central columns leading to an undivided building interior. A four-step staircase and platform of megalithic stone work underlies the vaulted building. These architectural characteristics are identical to early style buildings excavated at Chac II dated to the 6^th century A.D. (Smyth, 1998; Smyth et al., 1998). The largest building on the plaza is on NW side and unfortunately has been looted to such an extent that is it impossible to accurately reconstruct the building’s configuration without full excavation. In addition, we were unable to locate the X-shaped plan building mentioned by Sabloff et al. (1985) and Dunning (1991) as being 100 m SW of the Gruta. It seems likely that the Gruta Chac Plaza is the X-plan group which is actually located in the opposite direction less than 50 m NE of the cave.

Just south of Gruta Plaza is a low platform with the remains of two monolithic stelae in situ roughly facing towards the cave opening (Figure 4). The stelae appear to be similar in form to ones found near the entrance of Loltún cave dated to the late Preclassic-Early Classic periods. A large, bare (dance?) platform to the south suggests that this area was designated for special ceremonies. About 100 m SE of the cave entrance is a residential group with two low foundations for perishable buildings and an underground water cistern (chultun) built along the north edge of a long limestone ridge. In fact, on reconnaissance survey we have located numerous other platforms and house foundations along this ridge extending south over a distance of some 500 m.

The finding of two chultuns, one collapsed and one intact, associated with ceremonial and residential architecture suggests that the Gruta itself was not a primary source of daily water. Serving vessels such as hemispherical bowls and out-flaring dishes so common from residential contexts at Chac II and Sayil are virtually absent from the excavation unit placed within the Gruta Chac Plaza (below). These observations indicate a special function for this settlement group suggesting a sacred place for ritual, pilgrimage, and the procurement of the holy waters associated with the great rain gods. These preliminary data support the idea that the Gruta de Chac was an important Classic period ceremonial site that attracted early settlers to the water-poor but agriculturally rich Yucatán hill country.

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