Ciudades mayas en el norte de Petén, Guatemala: cuatro conjuntos palaciegos

Abstract

Special features in the urban structure of the Central Maya Lowlands are the palace complexes. They function as a symbolic scheme that represents the center of the city and the power of its rulers. In other contributions, the author has studied the urban composition of various Maya cities in Northern Petén. On this occasion, the study of two elements is deepened: first, the palace complexes, and second, the plaza that precedes them. We compare these elements in four cities with similar characteristics of chronology and cultural region: the Central Acropolis of Tikal, and the palace complexes of Nakum, San Clemente and La Blanca. In the analysis of these relationships we consider, in addition to the concept of the initial study, other methodological aspects that help us to identify and typify a building pattern for the palace complexes in Northern Petén, Guatemala.