Holmul facts for kids
Holmul is an ancient city built by the Maya civilization. It is an archaeological site located in the northeastern Petén Basin area of Guatemala. This area is close to the modern border with Belize. Even though Holmul was not a huge city, it was very important to two powerful Maya kingdoms: Tikal and the Kaanul (or "Snake") dynasty.
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Why Was Holmul Important?
Holmul was in a very good spot for trade and travel. It was like a crossroads for the ancient Maya.
- It was on the best east-west path between the city of Tikal and the coast.
- It was also on a north-south path. This route connected the Kaanul capital, Dzibanche, with the Guatemalan Highlands. This path was important because it allowed trade without going through Tikal's land. People could bring in important materials from the highlands this way.
How Do We Study Holmul?
Archaeologists are like detectives who study the past. They dig up old cities and objects to learn about how people lived long ago.
Early Discoveries at Holmul
The first archaeological team visited Holmul in 1911. This team was led by Raymond Merwin from Harvard University. Their work helped create the first timeline for Maya pottery. This timeline showed how pottery styles changed over time. The findings from this early work were published much later. After that, Holmul was not studied much for a long time.
New Research Begins
In the year 2000, new research began at Holmul. A team from Boston University, led by Dr. Francisco Estrada Belli, started exploring the site. This project received money from Vanderbilt University for a few years. Then, Boston University took over funding the research again in 2008.
Holmul's Long History
Holmul was a city for a very long time. It started around 800 BCE (Before Common Era) and was abandoned around 900 CE (Common Era). This means people lived there for about 1,700 years! It was one of the longest-occupied Maya cities.
When Holmul Was Strongest
Holmul was most powerful between 750 and 900 CE. It likely had a lot of influence over the smaller communities around it. This area is sometimes called the "Holmul Domain."
Signs of Outside Influence
Near Holmul, there is another archaeological site called La Sufricaya. Murals (wall paintings) found there suggest that people from other places might have been involved in the Holmul Domain. These outsiders might have been from Teotihuacan or even from Tikal. This idea could change how we understand the relationship between the Maya and the people of Teotihuacan, especially between 300 and 550 CE.
A Royal Discovery
In 2013, archaeologists found a building from about 600 CE. It had a large stucco frieze (a decorative carving on a wall). This frieze showed a main ruler with two other rulers next to him. Below the frieze was a long inscription. It seems that King Ajwosaj of Naranjo ordered this building to be made. Naranjo was a city on the Holmul River. Naranjo was under the control of the Kaanul dynasty, which ruled Dzibanche and Calakmul. The kingdom of Calakmul was a big rival to Tikal.
Mysterious Walls
Holmul was one of the last Maya cities to be abandoned. Because of this, archaeologists are very interested in walls built around the city in its final years. Walls also exist around another city in the Holmul Domain called Cival. These walls might suggest that there was a final siege (an attack where an army surrounds a city) around the time these cities collapsed. However, the true meaning of these walls is still a mystery.
Holmul Ceramic Art Style
The name Holmul is also used for a special style of pottery art. This style was popular in the wider Holmul-Naranjo area during the Late Classic period. It uses red and orange colors on a cream background. A common image in this style is the "Holmul dancer." This dancer is usually the Tonsured Maize God, shown dancing with a ceremonial back rack.
See also
In Spanish: Holmul para niños
- K'o
