72 RESEARCH AT THE RUINS OF CHICHEN ITZA, YUCATAN. 



ADVANTAGES OF CHICHEN ITZA AS A BASE OF OPERATIONS. 



After a careful comparison of the largest Maya cities, the writer has con- 

 cluded that there are many important reasons, practical as well as scientific, 

 why Chichen Itza, in northern Yucatan, is better fitted for immediate inten- 

 sive investigation than any other Maya center. Before giving these reasons 

 in detail, a word as to the situation of the site may not be out of place. 



The ruins of Chichen Itza are in the northeastern part of the peninsula of 

 Yucatan (Plate 12), 15 miles from the nearest railroad and 100 miles from 

 Merida, the capital of the state. The surrounding country is a vast lime- 

 stone plain, level as a table-top and destitute of water-courses. 



This ancient city was named after the tribe which founded it, and from 

 the two great natural wells (or cenotes) found there: Chi, mouths; chen, 

 wells; and Itza, the name of the peojDle which settled there, hence Chichen Itza: 

 "The mouths of the wells of the Itza." To these two large natural reservoirs 

 (see map of the city in Plate 13, and k and l in the panoramic view in Plate 

 14) , the city may be said to owe the fact of its existence. As the Maya moved 

 northward into Yucatan from their former haunts, the more arid character of 

 the new land must have troubled them greatlj', hence where water was found 

 in abundance, as at Chichen Itza, inevitably a large city would rise. How- 

 ever, only one of these wells (k, Plate 14) seems to have been used as a source 

 of water supply in ancient times. This cenote is 100 feet in diameter and 

 about 70 feet in depth to the surface of the water. Down one of its vertical 

 sides there winds a steep stairway which terminates in a platform, where 

 formerly the water-carriers were wont to fill their jars. The remaining well, 

 "The Cenote of Sacrifice (l, Plate 14), had a more exalted use, which will be 

 explained in another place. 



We will now present in more detail the reasons why Chichen Itza is 

 the most promising and, at the same time, the best adapted site in the Maya 

 field for intensive study. 



SCIENTIFIC REASONS. 



1. Chichen Itza, the Political Center of Yucatan. 



Chichen Itza was the largest city of the Maya civilization and, as 

 such, offers a practically inexhaustible field for research. Its temples and 

 palaces cover an area a mile square, and surrounding this on every side, for 

 a distance of 5 miles, the bush is filled with groups of outlying buildmgs. 

 (The map and panoramic view given in Plates 13 and 14 show only the 

 religious and civic center of the city.) In addition to being the largest 

 city, Chichen Itza for many centuries was the political and governmental 

 center of Yucatan, and consequently every activity, such as sculpture, 

 mural painting, and architecture, experienced a correspondingly high devel- 

 opment there. 



