Cotzumalhuapa facts for kids
The Cotzumalhuapa culture was an important ancient civilization. It was located in the foothills of the mountains in the Escuintla Department of Guatemala. The main area where this culture lived is called the Cotzumalhuapa archaeological zone. It is close to the modern town of Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa. (Notice the town's name has a 'g', while the ancient culture's name usually has an 'h').
This archaeological zone is a pre-Columbian site. This means it existed before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas. It was part of the Maya world. Most of the important findings here are from the Late Classic period. This time was between 600 and 1000 CE. However, people lived and developed here much earlier, starting in the Middle Preclassic period.
One very famous stone carving is Stela 1 from El Baúl. It has one of the oldest writings found in Mesoamerica. This writing includes a date from the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. It shows the year 37 CE, which is very early for such a clear date in Guatemala.
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Exploring the Ancient City of Cotzumalhuapa
Cotzumalhuapa was a major city in ancient times. It was located on the Pacific coast side of southern Guatemala. This area is part of the Escuintla Department. The city was very large during the Late Classic period. It covered more than 10 square kilometers (about 4 square miles).
The city included three main areas. These were known as El Baúl, Bilbao, and El Castillo. There were also many smaller settlements all around them. The Cotzumalhuapa Zone also had a smaller site called Golón. Ancient stone roads and bridges connected these different parts.
The main buildings were made from earth and carefully chosen stones. Archaeologists have found over 200 structures here. They also found 187 carved stone monuments. These date from the Pre-Classic period (like Stela 1 from 37 CE) to the Late Classic period (600-1000 CE). During the Late Classic period, El Baúl was one of the most important places on the Pacific coast.
Amazing Art and Sculptures
More than 200 large sculptures have been found in Cotzumalhuapa. Similar artworks are also found in nearby places. These include sites like Palo Verde and Palo Gordo. Examples of the Cotzumalhuapa art style are seen across the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. They even reach into El Salvador. The site of Cara Sucia in El Salvador shows how far this art style spread.
The people of Cotzumalhuapa created a unique art style. They also had their own writing system. However, we still don't know what their writing means. The signs in their writing are often in round shapes. Sometimes, they look like complex, lively figures. We don't have many examples of their writing.
The Cotzumalhuapa people made many large stone sculptures. These include carvings on rocks and tall stone slabs called stelae. They also made altars and huge heads. Some sculptures were free-standing. Others were part of buildings, like carved stairs or pillars. Many smaller, portable sculptures have also been found.
Unique Artistic Style
The Cotzumalhuapa art style is known for how real it looks. Especially in how it shows human figures. The faces of the people in their art look very strong and individual. Their bodies are flat but well-shaped. They are often shown in active poses.
Many sculptures show detailed scenes. People in these scenes interact with each other. They also interact with supernatural beings. Scenes of sacrifices are often shown. A special feature of this art style is the "speech scrolls." These look like vines with different flowers and fruits. They show what a person is saying or thinking.
Widespread Influence
Cotzumalhuapa was likely the center of a powerful state. This state probably controlled a large area along the Pacific coast. The spread of their unique art style shows how far their influence reached. This style is found along 200 kilometers (about 124 miles) of the Pacific coast. This stretches from the border of Guatemala and El Salvador to the Suchitepéquez Department.
The Cotzumalhuapa style was also strong in some parts of the Central and Eastern Highlands. This was especially true near Antigua Guatemala. Some parts of their style can be seen in sculptures from other sites. These include places in Chimaltenango and the Motagua River valley.
See also
In Spanish: Cotzumalhuapa para niños
