CHAPINADAS

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.