El Palma
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El Palma, known anciently as ''Lakamtuun'', is an archaeological
Maya Maya may refer to: Ethnic groups * Maya peoples, of southern Mexico and northern Central America ** Maya civilization, the historical civilization of the Maya peoples ** Mayan languages, the languages of the Maya peoples * Maya (East Africa), a p ...
site located in the
Lacantún river The Lacantún River is a river in Chiapas state of southern Mexico. It is a tributary of the Usumacinta River. The Lacantún originates in the Chiapas Highlands, and runs southeastwards nearly to the Guatemalan border, where it turns northeastwar ...
of
Chiapas Chiapas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Chiapas, is one of the states that make up the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 federal entities of Mexico. It comprises Municipalities of Chiapas, 124 municipalities and its capital and large ...
in
Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...
. El Palma or Lakamtuun was an ancient Mayan state of the Classic period that ruled a part of the western territory of the
Usumacinta The Usumacinta River (; named after the howler monkey) is a river in southeastern Mexico and northwestern Guatemala. It is formed by the junction of the Pasión River, which arises in the Sierra de Santa Cruz (in Guatemala) and the Salinas R ...
Basin along the Lacantún River. According to the inscriptions found in the region, the site faced constant wars against other Maya states of the Usumacinta region, mainly with
Yaxchilan Yaxchilan () is an ancient Maya city located on the bank of the Usumacinta River in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. In the Late Classic Period Yaxchilan was one of the most powerful Maya states along the course of the Usumacinta River, with Pied ...
.


History

The kingdom of Lakamtuun developed during the Classic period in the Usumacinta Basin on the banks of the Lacantún River in constant political and military conflicts for the domination of the region by major powers such as
Yaxchilán Yaxchilan () is an ancient Maya city located on the bank of the Usumacinta River in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. In the Late Classic Period Yaxchilan was one of the most powerful Maya states along the course of the Usumacinta River, with Piedr ...
and
Piedras Negras Piedras Negras may refer to: * Piedras Negras, Coahuila, a city in the state of Coahuila, Mexico ** Piedras Negras Municipality, a municipality in Mexico, with the center in the eponymous city * Piedras Negras (Maya site) Piedras Negras is the ...
. Some rulers of El Palma and the sites's emblem glyph are mentioned in several inscriptions along the region showing that the site had political relevance during its development. El Palma had under its domain and influence neighboring sites on the Lacantún River such as Primera Sección de Benemérito de las Américas,
Yaxún Yaxún is a Maya archaeological site located between the Lacantún river and the Usumacinta river in the municipality of Benemérito de las Américas of the state of Chiapas in Mexico. Yaxun developed in the late classic period of the Maya civili ...
, Planchón de las Figuras and Boca Lacantún. On Piedras Negras panel 12, a victory of the local dynasty over several cities is shown, including the capture of four important captives, one of them identified as the ruler of Lakamtuun named Ahiin Chan Ahk. In Yaxchilán, K'ihnich Tatb'u Jol II began conquering sites along the Usumacinta and expanding its influence to other regions through military conflicts. In the year 537 AD, Yaxchilan captured several rulers of cities like Bonampak, Tikal, Dzibanché and El Palma. On Yaxchilan's building 33, it is recorded that Ajaw Yaxun B'alam IV, dressed as a ball player, performed the human sacrifice of a ruler of Lakamtuun identified as lk' Chih through a type of ritual sacrifice a type of ritual sacrifice in which the captive embodied the figure of a large human ceremonial ball from the
Mesoamerican ballgame The Mesoamerican ballgame (, , ) was a sport with ritual associations played since at least 1650 BC by the pre-Columbian people of Ancient Mesoamerica. The sport had different versions in different places during the millennia, and a modernized ...
to then be thrown and fall fatally down the stairs of a structure.
Seibal Seibal (), known as El Ceibal in Spanish, is a Classic Period archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the northern Petén Department of Guatemala, about 100 km SW of Tikal. It was the largest city in the Pasión River regio ...
stela 10 records the visit to the site of several Maya leaders from distant cities, including a ruler of Lakamtuun called Kan Waxak Ek', according to the date inscription carved on the stela, the event took place in the year 849 AD.


Rulers

Known rulers of El Palma or Lakamtuun: * Ahiin Chan Ahk * lk' Chih * Kan Waxak Ek'


References

{{coord, 16, 22, 02, N, 90, 44, 41, W, display=title, region:MX_type:landmark Maya sites Maya sites in Chiapas Former populated places in Mexico Maya Classic Period Archaeological sites in Chiapas