Kinal facts for kids
Kinal is an important ancient Maya city. It is an archaeological site located in northern Guatemala, in a place called the Petén Department. People lived and built here mostly during the Late Classic period, which was from about 600 to 900 AD. Many new buildings were added in the early 700s AD.
An archaeologist named Ian Graham found Kinal in the 1960s. He was exploring the area, but no digging was done back then. The name Kinal means "something that heats" in the Yucatec Maya language. In the Kʼicheʼ Maya language, kinal means a sacred fire. The first real digs started in 1990. They were led by Richard Adams from the University of Texas. Sadly, the site has been damaged by looters. But now, people called custodians protect it.
Where is Kinal Located?
Kinal is in the northeast part of Guatemala's Petén region. The old city sits on a high limestone plateau. This plateau is surrounded by swamps, called bajos, to the north and south. It is about 140 metres (460 ft) above sea level. Kinal is also about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of another ancient city called Río Azul.
The city was built in a very strong, defensive spot. It was heavily protected. Steep hillsides guarded the way into the site. There was also a 9-metre (30 ft) high platform with tall, sheer walls. These defenses were built between 680 and 810 AD. This might have happened after Río Azul faced a big military problem around 600 AD. Kinal likely became the main city in the area after that. It probably took over the important jobs that Río Azul used to do.
Kinal has a water source that flows all year. Even today, people who collect gum (called chicleros) use it. A path goes from the site through the forest to Fallabón. This place is near Melchor de Mencos, close to the border with Belize.
What Does Kinal Look Like?
The central part of Kinal was mapped by Ian Graham. It covers about 60 hectares (6,500,000 sq ft). But old buildings spread out even further. They reach the edges of the northern and southern swamps, about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) away. The plateau where the city sits is mostly smooth, not bumpy.
The city's design is centered on a long causeway that runs north to south. Its layout is similar to another Maya city called Ixkun. The buildings show the style of the Late Classic period. One interesting thing about Kinal is that it has no carved stone monuments. You won't find stelae (tall stone slabs) or altars here.
The city had a special area called an acropolis. This was a raised plaza with walls around it. These walls controlled who could enter. The acropolis is very complex. Experts think it had between 100 and 200 rooms. A 20-metre (66 ft) wide causeway, or raised road, crosses the whole site. It goes from one swamp edge to the other.
A water source is located about 50 metres (160 ft) southeast of the acropolis. It provides water all year. This was probably the main water supply for Kinal's people. You can also see many chultun at the site. These are underground storage rooms.
The South Plaza is the southernmost open area at Kinal. Structure 65 is on its north side. Structure 66 is on the west, and Structure 64 is on the east. From this plaza, the land gently slopes down to the southern swamp. There are other smaller buildings scattered in that area.
Important Buildings at Kinal
All the buildings at Kinal were made using stone. Often, they used natural limestone rocks as their base. The quality of the stonework varies a lot. Some blocks are finely cut and fit together perfectly. Others are rough and uneven. Most buildings had corbel vaulting, which is a special type of arched ceiling. Many buildings have been damaged by tunnels made by looters. Some tunnels even cut right through the structures.
Structure 7 is at the northern end of the causeway. It is close to the edge of the northern swamp.
Structure 33 has especially beautiful and well-made stonework.
Structure 42 is the tallest building at Kinal. It stands 23 metres (75 ft) high.
Structure 65 is in the South Plaza. It is southwest of the acropolis. This is the largest building in a group of eight structures. Structure 65 is like a palace. It is well-preserved. It has many rooms and sits on a large platform. The building covers about 1,000 square metres (11,000 sq ft). It faces south onto the plaza, which is also bordered by Structures 64 and 66. Structure 65 is 64 by 24 metres (210 by 79 ft) in size and has 16 rooms. It might have been used as a home, an office, or for ceremonies. But it was most likely a home for important people, like priests or nobles.
See also
- Kinal para niños (in Spanish)
