Chen K’u: The Ceramic of the Sacred Cenote at Chichén Itzá
Study of the Ceramic Fragments of the Explorations Conducted in the 60’s

Motul Horizon (600 - 800 CE)

The Motul Horizon, in the classification conducted in 1998, presented a total of 2,638 sherds, equivalent to 3.7% of all the ceramics analyzed. This sample, for the variety of types as well as the quantity of sherds, is one of the greatest surprises encountered in the investigation, as no ceramics corresponding to this period had been previously reported for the Cenote, although a number of other artifacts from this context had in fact been dated to this period. Among them, there are outstanding jades of the Palenque style, particularly one with the name of the ruler Chan Bahlum from Palenque, and the date (2 Kib 14 Mol, 9. 12. 18. 5. 16, or 690 CE) (Coggins and Shane, 1989). These jades were carved close to the significant date of 9.13.0.0.0., which ends in 8 Ahaw (692 CE), the moment when according to the Chilam Balam of Tizimín, Chichén Itzá was founded (Edmonson, 1982: XVI).

Several of the anthropomorphic jade heads and the Nebaj style jade plaques also date between 700 and 800 CE.  Although the coincidence of dates between jades, the founding date of the Chilam Balam of Tizimín and the Motul Horizon ceramics may not have more than an accidental significance, it may be fitting to explore the possibility that in fact around that time the founding of Chichén Itzá may have occurred, and the suggestion that its founders may have had links with the region of Palenque should not be ruled out for the moment.

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Around this time we see a significant shift in regard to the functionality suggested by vessel forms. Among them, 56.7% are vases, 22.3% are bowls, 14.7% are pitchers, 5.4% are cylinders, and only 0.6% correspond to cazuelas. Thus a continuity in the water provisioning function is observed, and a higher incidence of vessels of a possible ritual function. Some of the bowls recovered display polychrome paintings with palace scenes, warriors, feathered serpents, etc.

As to imported vessels, the Tres Marías type shows connections with the southern area of Quintana Roo and northern Belize, while the Tinaja Group points to relationships with Petén, and the Becanché type with the Río Bec area. At this point, it is worth remembering that according to some chronicles and following the founding of the site during Katun 4 Ahaw, between 711 and 731, the Great Descent and the Little Descent took place (Noh Emal y Tz’e Emal) and the Itzás ruled for 13 katuns (260 years). Barrera and Morley (1949) argued that the Great Descent originated in Chiapas and in the Usumacinta’s drainage on the west coast of Yucatán, to Uxmal, Ichcansiho (today identified as Dzibilchaltún), and finally to Chichén Itzá.

The Little Descent could have come from Central Petén, to the North of Belize and on the east coast towards Cobá and eventually to Chichén Itzá. Therefore, the foreign ceramic of this period could well support the existence of both migrations, though the evidence, so far, remains weak. One polychrome vessel showing the attack on a city and the flight of a number of personages could be related to the events that led to the foundating of Chichén Itzá during the Late Classic.

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The Early Slate ceramic of Chichén Itzá was first identified during this study of the Cenote’s materials, as it was the first time we had at hand a substantial assemblage of forms of pitchers, pots and vases that did not belong to the Dzitás Slate ceramic of the Sotuta Complex nor to the Muna Slate of the Cehpech Complex. Subsequent studies conducted in the Initial Series Group (Osorio and Pérez de Heredia, 2000), have allowed us to refine our understanding about the Early Slate ceramics, and it is now my belief that sherds of this ware in the Cenote (mainly bodies of pitchers), may have been wrongly classified as Dzitás Slate. A review of the Slate material from the Cenote is necessary to define this issue.

In addition, in the Initial Series, architecture associated to this ceramic was found, in a substructure under the Initial Series Temple (Osorio and Pérez de Heredia, 2000). Therefore, it is possible that the beginning of the urban settlement at Chichén had taken place during the Late Classic period, and that the Cenote had, since then, become a focal point for the settlement.

As to the presence of ceramics and objects from this period in the Cenote, there are several possible interpretations at hand. On one side we may think that it was during the Late Classic period when in fact the cult to the Sacred Cenote began, according to evidence provided by the fine and imported wares, while its use as a water source continued.

Another possibility is that vessels in this period, particularly those of the Tohopkú Thin Slate ware could be pointing to a termination ritual as the one proposed by J. Ball (1992) for later periods.

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