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Linking Cave, Mountain, and Sky: A Subterranean Observation Point for the Sunrise on the Day of Solar Zenith Transit in Yucatan, Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Donald A. Slater
Donald A. Slater*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453 and Robert S. Peabody , Museum of Archaeology, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA 01810 (dslater@brandeis.edu)
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Abstract

In the Maya region scholars have long noted the connection between solar alignments and radial pyramids at sites such as Chickén Itzá, Dzibilchaltún, and Uaxactún. Just. 26.5 km west-southwest of Chichén Itzá, the site of Ikil also contains a massive radial pyramid, known as Structure 1. In May 2011 investigations at Ikil revealed that this pyramid also figures in a solar hierophany-the sunrise over the pyramid's summit on the days of the solar zenith transit. What is unique, however, is that the observation point for this event is situated inside of a cave to the west of the pyramid. In this paper, evidence is presented that suggests the location of Structure 1 was dictated by the orientation of the cave, and that the physical and ceremonial linkage of these two landscape features created the cosmic hub of Ikil. Furthermore, it is argued that ceremonies marking the solar zenith-a day largely ignored in Euro-Christian calendars-would have been enacted by the ruling class as a way to formalize and sanctify the annual rebirth of the agricultural cycle, while publicly displaying their connection to the divine and thus legitimizing their position of high religious and social status.

Resumen

Resumen

Desde hace mucho tiempo los mayistas han reconocido la relación entre alineamientos solares y las pirámides radiales, como las de Chichén Itzá, Dzibilchaltún y Uaxactún. El sitio de Ikil, tan sólo a unos 27 km al suroeste de Chichen Itzá, también tiene una gran pirámide radial conocida como Estructura 1. Investigaciones realizadas en Mayo del 2011 en Ikil revelaron que esta pirámide formó parte de una hierofanía, especificamente el amanecer sobre la cima de lapirámide en los dias delpaso cenital del sol. Lo singular en este caso es que el punto de observation del evento es dentro de una cueva situada al oeste de la pirámide. Aquí se presenta evidencia para proponer que la ubicación de la Estructura 1 estuvo dictada por la orientación de la apertura de la cueva y que la relación fisica y ceremonial entre estos dos elementos del paisaje crearon el “centro cósmico“ de Ikil. También se argumenta que la clase gobernante dirigió las ceremonias del paso cenital para formalizar y santificar el re-inicio anual del ciclo agrícola, al mismo tiempo que hacian patente su intima relación con lo divino, legitimando así su posición de alto estatus social y religioso.

Type
Reports
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , June 2014 , pp. 198 - 214
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 2014

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