Evolution And History

258 CHAPTER 11 | The Emergence of Cities and States

Temple IV

250

225

235

200

200

200

735

250

280

71 350

Complex N

Complex O Complex R Complex Q

Group F

Group G

Temple

of the

Inscriptions

Temple

III

Temple

II Temple I

Central Acropolis

North Acropolis

Tozzer Causeway

Mendez

Cau

seway

Mauds

lay Causeway

Maler Causeway

Temple V

Great Plaza

Plaza of the

Seven Temples

Bat

Palace

Plaza of the

Lost World

T

Figure 11.3 Tikal spreads far beyond the Great Plaza and the monumental buildings that have

been excavated and are mapped here. Archaeologists used surveying techniques, test pits, and

other strategies to fully define the city’s boundaries and to understand the full spectrum of lifeways

that took place there. The red outline in the center of the map delineates the royal court, royal

burial ground, and central marketplace. In addition to what is pictured here, Tikal extends several

kilometers outward in every direction. Those familiar with the original Star Wars movie will be

interested to know that the aerial views of the rebel camp were filmed at Tikal, where monumental

structures depicted in this map rise high above the forest canopy.

Surveying and Excavating the Site

Mapping crews surveyed 16 square kilometers of for-
ested land surrounding the Great Plaza, providing a
preliminary map to guide the small-structure excava-
tion process.^4 Aerial photography could not be used
for this mapping, because the tree canopy in this area
is often 30 meters (about 100 feet) above the ground,
obscuring all but the tallest temples. Many of the small
ruins are practically invisible even to observers on the
ground. Four years of mapping revealed that ancient
Tikal was far larger than the original 16 km^2 surveyed.
More time and money allowed continued surveying of
the area to fully define the city’s boundaries and calcu-
late its overall size.^5

The initial excavation of six structures, two plazas,

and a platform revealed new structures not visible be-

fore excavation, the architectural complexity of the

structures, and an enormous quantity of artifacts that

had to be washed and catalogued. Some structures were

partially excavated, and some remained uninvestigated.

Following this initial work, the archaeological team

excavated over a hundred additional small structures

in different parts of the site in order to ensure investi-

gation of a representative sample. The team also sank

numerous test pits in various other small-structure

groups to supplement the information gained from more

extensive excavations.

(^4) Haviland, W. A., et al. (1985). Excavations in small residential groups of
Tikal: Groups 4F-1 and 4F-2. Philadelphia: University Museum.
(^5) Puleston, D. E. (1983). The settlement survey of Tikal. Philadelphia:
University Museum.