El Perú (Maya site) facts for kids
El Perú (also known as Waka') is an ancient Maya city. It was built long ago, between about 500 BC and 800 AD. This city was the capital of a Maya kingdom. You can find it near the San Pedro River in northern Guatemala. El Perú is about 60 kilometers (37 miles) west of another famous Maya city, Tikal.
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Discovering Waka'
Oil explorers first found the ancient Maya city of Waka' in the 1960s. Later, in the 1970s, a researcher named Ian Graham studied the stone monuments there. In 2003, David Freidel and Héctor Escobedo started digging at the site. They wanted to learn more about its past.
What's in a Name?
When the city was found again in the 20th century, it was named "El Perú." But ancient writings, called Hieroglyphs, show its old name was Waka'. Both names are used today. However, "El Perú" is more common on maps. Sometimes, people use both names together, like "El Perú-Waka."
A Look Back in Time
The first time the powerful city of Teotihuacán met the Maya was at Waka'. This happened in 378 AD, just before they arrived at Tikal. This event is called “La Entrada” by experts. At first, Waka’ was friends with Tikal.
But Waka’ later changed its mind. It became friends with Calakmul, a rival city to Tikal. This friendship became stronger when King K'inich Balam of Waka' married Lady T'abi. She was a princess from Calakmul. This marriage was a smart move to create a strong team. Lady T’abi even got a special title, ix kaloomté, meaning "empress" or "warlord." This showed she was very important. Calakmul's leader, Yuknom Cheen, wanted to unite many Maya kingdoms.
Waka's friendship with Calakmul eventually led to its downfall. Tikal grew strong again and defeated Calakmul. In 732 AD, Calakmul's ruler, Yuknom Cheen, was captured and sacrificed in Tikal. Waka’ then became a smaller kingdom controlled by Tikal. Tikal defeated Waka' in 743 AD. After this victory, Tikal took a special image of a sky serpent from Waka'. This serpent might have been Waka's main god. Waka' was finally destroyed about ten years later. Its new ruler was captured and sacrificed.
A Hub for Trade
Waka' was a powerful trading city. It was close to the San Pedro River, which was a major waterway. It also had a land route connecting southern Campeche and the Petén Basin. Being near big Maya cities like Calakmul and Tikal also helped Waka's trade.
Waka's market offered many goods. These included maize (corn), beans, chili peppers, avocados, and latex. The city also got valuable items like jade and quetzal feathers. These were used for fancy clothes and decorations.
City Life and Layout
Around 400 AD, Waka' had tens of thousands of people. This was when the city was at its strongest. Its great location and trading power helped it grow so large.
The city had hundreds of buildings, four main plazas, and special centers for ceremonies. Experts have divided El Perú into different areas. Plaza 1 is in the middle of the city. Other plazas, with homes, were built nearby. There was also a ballcourt for the ancient Maya game.
Exciting Discoveries
Many tombs have been found at Waka'. They help us understand the ancient Maya.
The Queen’s Tomb
One very important discovery is the “Queen’s Tomb.” It held the remains of a woman. Inside, there were many valuable items. A special tool for bloodletting, shaped like a stingray spine, was also found. This suggests she was a very important person.
Another tomb for a high-ranking person was found inside an 18-meter-tall pyramid. This tomb was long and wide. It contained many treasures. These included jade items, shells, ceramic pots, and 12 ballgame player statues. There were also jaguar paws and special stones from far away. These items showed how wealthy the person was. This tomb dates back to 200-400 AD. It shows Waka' was important very early on.
Lady K'abel's Tomb
In 2004, a tomb was found that might belong to Lady K'abel. It dates from 650 to 750 AD. This tomb held the remains of a high-status woman. It was considered a royal tomb because of all the jade inside. The items found were similar to those shown with Lady K'abel on a stone monument called Stela 34.
The tomb was found in the main courtyard, under a building. It contained 23 pots for offerings, beads, shells, and a special jewel called a huunal. This jewel was often worn on helmets by war leaders. This suggests the woman was very powerful. However, experts think she was more likely a guardian of battle items, rather than a war leader herself.
Tomb of Two Women
In 2005, archaeologists found the remains of two women. They might have been royal. The women were laid on top of each other, back to back. One of them was pregnant. They were both between 25 and 35 years old when they died. They were likely royal because they were very healthy. Also, there were special vessels in their tomb. Some experts think these women were sacrificed by a new ruler. This new ruler might have wanted to remove the old ruling family.
Burial #39
In 2006, a collapsed tomb of a possible ruler was found. This king likely died in the early 7th century. The tomb was sealed by a stone wall. It took five days for experts to open it. Inside, they found many valuable artifacts. These included painted bones, mosaics, jade, mirrors, snake-like statues, and ceramic figures. The richness of these items suggests the person was a king. This king ruled after Muwaan Bahlam and before K'inich Bahlam II.
23 Ceramic Figurines
Inside Burial #39, a group of 23 small statues were found. David Freidel believes these figures show a royal court doing a ceremony. One figure shows a king kneeling with his arms crossed. His hair looks like that of the Maize God. So, Freidel called the unknown king the "Maize King." Next to the king is a deer spirit, possibly healing him.
A female singer figure is shown calling the deer spirit. She has a pigtail, often linked to shamans. She is also covered in red paint, which was a color of life. She holds sticks that might have been pens or counting tools.
Next to the singer is a dwarf wearing a deer-like headdress. The dwarf holds a shell trumpet, which might have been used to call the deer from the underworld. Above the dwarf is a toad, a symbol of birth in ancient Maya culture. Two other dwarf figures wear helmets and look ready to fight. Freidel thinks they might be boxers.
Two other figures are thought to be the next ruler of Waka' and his queen. The king figure is called the "Scribe King." His headdress looks like a monkey, and monkey gods were linked to scribes. This headdress has a green mask inside a red seashell. Freidel says this means life rising from the underworld and the dead ruler's soul coming back.
Olmec Style Figurine
Another special item in Burial #39 was an Olmec-like statue. It was found near the buried ruler's head. It was inside two pots placed mouth-to-mouth. The inside of these pots was coated with a red powder called cinnabar. Ancient Maya believed cinnabar-coated pots with offerings helped bring rulers back to life, especially the Maize God. A three-leaf sprout on the statue's head also links it to the Maize God.
The statue has one leg up, as if dancing. Its left arm is bent, and the right arm is missing. The top of its head looks like a fin, suggesting a fish or shark. Its mouth looks like a jaguar's, with a shark-like tooth. The crescent-shaped eyes are like those of the Olmec death god, linking the statue to death. The statue also has special symbols on its eyelids and back. These symbols often mean kingship or a way into the spirit world.
This statue is thought to be an old family treasure. It shows a dancing boy, representing new life. This discovery was important because it proved the ancient Maya knew about the Olmec maize god.
Tolok Group Deposit
A special collection of items was found near a residential area called the Tolok group. This collection included the remains of two people: a two-year-old child and a middle-aged man. The man was found under a staircase. Both were placed between rocks and buried on top of broken pottery. They might have been sacrifices.
Along with the bodies, there were many bowls, plates, vases, animal bones, and ceramic figures of a jaguar head and a monkey. There were also musical instruments. Experts believe these items were intentionally broken for a special meal ritual. This ritual was important for showing social status. The location of the find also suggests a ritual. It happened at the stairs, a common place for a dedication ritual called Och-Otot, meaning "enters house." This ritual was a way to pay respect to spiritual powers, often done when new buildings were made. Experts think the two people were sacrificed to become the "soul" of the building.
Maya Warrior Queen
In October 2012, experts found what they believe is the tomb of an important Maya queen. David Freidel and his team found the tomb in the city's main pyramid temple. They think it belongs to Lady K'abel. She was a military ruler of the Wak kingdom between 672 and 692 AD.
The body in the tomb was buried with many offerings. These included ceramic pots, jade jewelry, stone figures, and a small alabaster jar. The jar was carved like a conch shell, with the head and arms of an old woman coming out. Maya writings on the jar include the names "Lady Water Lily Hand" and "Lady Snake Lord." Both names are thought to refer to Lady K'abel. She ruled the Wak kingdom for her family, the powerful Kan, or "Snake," dynasty, based in Calakmul.
El Peru Altar
An altar has been found at El Peru. It shows a special symbol called a quatrefoil on the back of an animal-like creature. A ruler sits inside this symbol.
The images on the altar are similar to those on another ancient stone, Izapa Stela 8. The writings on the El Peru altar explain what the quatrefoil means. It says tu yol ahk, which means 'at the heart of the turtle' or 'in the portal of the turtle'. This refers to the story of the Maize God's rebirth.
El Perú Today
El Perú (Waka') is open to visitors, but it's hard to reach. It sits on a high cliff in the Laguna del Tigre National Park. This park is part of the Maya Biosphere Reserve. The site is six kilometers north of the San Pedro River. You can get there from Flores, the closest town with an airport.
See also
In Spanish: El Perú (sitio arqueológico) para niños
