CHAPINADAS

Los Kaqchikeles construyeron una fortaleza impenetrable en el sitio conocido como Mixco Viejo, localizado a 60 kilometros de la capital.  Esta fortaleza esta completamente rodeada por barrancos en tres lados y con solo una entrada.  Mixco Viejo se encuentra cerca de San Martin Jilotepeque y cuenta con mas de 120 estructuras.  Entre estas estructuras se encuentran piramides, centros ceremoniales y dos campos de juego de pelota Maya.  De acuerdo a los expertos, es una de las dos ciudades mas importantes de los Kaqchikeles y una de las mejores conservadas y restauradas.  Esta ciudad fue contruida a finales del sigle XIV y se encuentra localiza en la parte alta de un cerro con precipicios alrededor y una sola entrada.  El verdadero nombre de Mixco Viejo es Chwa Nima Ab’aj, que en kaqchikel significa "Frente a la Piedra" y pertenece al periodo Maya Postclasico Tardio.  Lamentablemente, esto sitio no es muy promovido por la industria turistica pues no cuenta con mucha infraestructura para promover turistas.  Visitantes entrevistados en el lugar expresaron que se trata de un sitio que es un buen referente para que los estudiantes conozcan los antecedentes de nuestra cultura.  Esperemos de que la infraestructura necesaria sea construida para que asi, los turistas tanta nacionales como extranjeros puedan disfrutar y aprender de nuestra cultura.   

Guatemala, by means of Euda Carias, got a third bronze medal in the World University Games in Valencia, Spain.  Euda Carias practices Taekwondo and has always been able to put Guatemala’s name high in this discipline.  With this medal, Carias joins Paulina Morataya and Luis Donis who won medals in California in 2002.  Euda Carias has impressive achivements under her belt.  Some of them are:

-Iberoamerican champion in 2005.
-Bronze medal in Panamerican Games in 2003
-Fifth place in Olympic Games, 2004
-Bronze in Youth World Championship in 2000.

Keep it up Euda, thank you for putting Guatemala’s name in the map.  I hope that you are an example for our youth.

A Mayan Funerary Chamber was discovered last week in the archeological site of Waka-Peru located in the Laguna del Tigre National Park.  This chamber was discovered while archeologist working on the site were doing investigate work.  An investigator working on site describes the site as a chamber 1.50 meter deep and 1.50 meters wide.  In it, 14 urns with glyphs, miniature urns, shell artifacts, jade and different works made on bone were found.  Also a bench with human skeletons laying on it.  The ceramic found on the place, goes back to the transitional period between the Early Classic and Late Classic periods of the Maya (between 550 and 700 AD).  It is also believed that there is a Royal Tomb nearby.  Waka-Peru is located 90 kilometers from Flores Island.  A Mayan Royal Tomb was found in this place at the beginning of May.  This tomb dates back to the Early Classic Period.

A natural water filter invented by a Guatemalan is being used in 14 countries.  Mud, sawdust, sand and natural bacteria are the basic components of this invention that has benefited more than 200 families in Guatemala and in 14 other countries.  Fernando Mazariegos Anleu invented this filter  which is and economical, efficient and ecologic water purifier.  A study made last year demostrated that this filter reduces diarrhea by 50 %.  Diarrhea is the main cause of infant mortality in many countries.  This water purifier utilizes a mud recipient and a plastic container as a dispenser.  The approximate cost of each filter is 245 quetzales and can filter up to 22 gallons of water a week.  This filter is being used in 14 countires like Cambodia, Tanzania and Sri Lanka.  It is also being used by the US military in Irak.  Fernandu Mazariegos Anleu, a pharmaceutical quemist born in Solola, was awarded the Market Place Award by the World Bank in 2003 because of his contributions to humanity.    

A bulletin from The Guatemalan Embassy in Sweden is exhibiting 140 Mayan pieces in the Historical Museum of Stockolm. The name of this exhibition is “El Juego Maya, Cancuen” and shows objects found in recent excavation in the Mayan Palace of the Mayan city of Cancuen. Arthur Demarest is the archeologist that has excavated this city. The Mayan city of Cancuen, is one of the most recent archeological discoveries and is located in Sayaxche, Peten. Cancuen flourished between 700 and 800 B.C. and became in the most important city for Mayan commerce. Taj Chan Ahk, considered one of the most powerful kings, lived in Cancuen and ordered the construction of the Mayan Palace between the years 765 and 790 DC. Cancuen, were jade and other precious stones were worked, has awakened world interest.

The recent finding of a Royal Mayan Tomb dating back to the Early classic period in Waka-Peru which is located in the Laguna del Tigre Park in Peten, could be just the start of new and interesting discoveries. Hector Escobedo, of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala found the tomb. According to Escobedo, the royal tomb contains jade offerings, shells, ceramic, royal symbols and paws of jaguar skin dating back to 1500 years old. The tomb was found inside an 18 meter pyramid located in the center of the Waka-Peru archeological site. The funerary chamber is 5.1 meters long by 1.5 meters wide. This proyect is being financed by the Methodist University of Dallas and private donors. Unfortunately, The Peru-Waka site inside the Laguna del Tigre Park, is one of the sites that registers the major number of stolen pieces. Escobedo and other people working on the site have requested the help of army and Seprona to protect this important discovery and site. Experts have said that very soon they will be able to show new and interesting findings in this site. Let us hope that our patrimony can be protected because it is part of who we are as Guatemalans.