Tayasal is a Maya archaeological site located in present-day Guatemala. It was a large Maya city with a long history of occupation. Tayasal is a corruption of Tah Itza ("Place of the Itza"), a term originally used to refer to the core of the Itza territory in Petén. The name Tayasal was applied in error to the archaeological site, and originally applied to the Itza capital. However, the name now refers to the peninsula supporting both the archaeological site and the village of San Miguel. The site was occupied from the Middle Preclassic period (c. 1000–350 BC) through to the Late Postclassic (c. 1200–1539 AD).
The site is a protected national monument.
Location
The Tayasal archaeological site is situated on a peninsula on Lake Petén Itzá a short distance to the north of the modern town of Flores, separated from it by a wide stretch of water, and falls within the municipality of Flores, in the department of Petén in northern Guatemala. At this time, the city fully reflected ongoing developments in the Maya region, such as monumental architecture that included typical Preclassic Maya architectural forms such as the triadic pyramid and the E-Group ceremonial complex. Activity at the site continued right through to the Postclassic period. Very little is known about the use of the peninsula during the time of first contact with the Spanish, although early colonial accounts reported that the Itza frequently conducted rituals there. although the population of San Bernabé dropped off sharply through the course of the 18th century due to high infant mortality.
Modern history
The Tayasal archaeological site was declared a national monument in 1931. The University of Pennsylvania mapped the site in 1971, and its limits were defined by the Instituto de Antropología e Historia (Institute of Anthropology and History) in 1994. Tayasal has been excavated sporadically since the 1920s, beginning with Guthe's excavations in 1921–1922, continuing with Morley's dig in 1937 to 1938, by several others in the 1950s and 60s. The University of Pennsylvania undertook excavations in 1971, and again in 1977. The Proyecto Arqueológico Tayasal was launched in 2009, with particular emphasis on the period of contact with the Spanish, and the early colonial years. The project also remapped the site with the objective of correcting any errors from the 1971 mapping project.
Site description
thumb|right|upright|The Mirador del rey Can'Ek was a [[triadic pyramid dating to the Late Preclassic]]
The University of Pennsylvania project mapped 339 structures; the city possessed large open plazas, palaces, pyramid-temples, an acropolis, defensive walls, residential buildings, and a cenote. The site core includes a number of large structures dating to the Classic period.
Mirador del rey Can'Ek "King Kan Eks Lookout" (Structures T65-T67) was a triadic pyramid, consisting of a massive pyramidal platform with a single access stairway, supporting two lesser structures flanking a principal structure. This architectural form dates it to the Late Preclassic. It was built on the higher portion of the peninsula. At Tayasal, the radial structure appears to have been covered by later construction, including a group of structures dating to the Late Postclassic.
San Bernabé
The San Bernabé portion of the site occupies the northwestern area of the Tayasal peninsula. After the Spanish conquest, San Bernabé was one of two Spanish missions established on the peninsula.
By 1734, seventeen mission settlements had been established around the lake, including Mission San Bernabé, along with San Miguel, San Andrés, and San Jerónimo. The Spaniards established ranches throughout the region as well. While some migration occurred, many residents of these missions were locals and a part of the Maya population. Records link Kowoj and Mopan (Maya individuals) with settlements such as San Bernabé. Historical evidence and records link Kowoj and Mopan with settlements like San Bernabé, indicating that there could be limited to no movement from the other nearby sites and civilizations. and excavators recovered a number of colonial artefacts around the structure, including a silver Spanish coin, probably a real, Maiolica pottery, a lead bullet. It is likely that the platform supported a colonial-period residence.
Structure T30 was a circular structure in the northwestern portion of the site. It was elongated, measuring east-west by north-south, and stood high. It dates to the Preclassic, and served as the basal platform for four structures (denominated T-30a to T30d).
Structure T30a is a circular platform measuring across, and standing high. Its wall consists of three courses of soft limestone blocks, and its fill consists of a mix of soil and small stones. Recovered potsherds are dated to the Late Preclassic Chicanel Phase. A number of ritual deposits were excavated that date to the Late to Terminal Classic period, indicating continued use of the platform long after its construction.
Iconography
Tayasal iconography is typical of Maya artefacts found in the surrounding Petén region that date approximately to the same time period. Examples of the imagery can be found on three excavated vases. The vases accompanied an individual who was interred at Tayasal during the Terminal Classic period; circa 8th century AD. The vases' images are thought to represent the elite status concerns, similar to those as depicted on carved stelae at neighbouring sites.