San Miguelito: A Post-Classic Maya Trade Hub
San Miguelito, a significant archaeological site from the Post Classic period (1100-1450 A.D.), is situated on Cancun Island. This site forms the northern extension of the larger El Rey site, with Avenida Kukulkan separating the two. San Miguelito was a part of the Ekab polity, which governed the northeastern Yucatan at the time of the Spanish invasion. The original name of San Miguelito remains unknown, with its current name deriving from a former coconut palm plantation in the area.
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Trade and Economy
San Miguelito played a crucial role in an extensive trade network that spanned from Central America around the Yucatan Peninsula to Campeche on the Gulf Coast and further inland. The site was known for exporting dried fish, salt, honey, and stingray spines, the latter being vital for bloodletting ceremonies. In return, San Miguelito imported items such as obsidian, quartz, flint, jadeite, basalt grinding stones, and copper tweezers. This trade network also facilitated the exchange of evolving worldviews.
Modern Discovery and Exploration
The site was only made accessible to the public in 2012, featuring the Museo Maya, which houses artifacts from around the Yucatan Peninsula. San Miguelito is located within a small reserve that showcases the island’s rapidly vanishing typical environment. The site, including the museum, is located at mile marker 16.5 on Avenida Kukulkan, near the Omni Hotel entrance.
Historical Significance
Archaeological evidence indicates that the area of San Miguelito and El Rey was inhabited from the Early Classic period (250-600 A.D.). The site saw a gradual decline through the Late Classic period (600-900 A.D.) but emerged as a significant trade center in the Post Classic period. San Miguelito is characterized by the East Coast architectural style, similar to the more famous Tulum to the south.
Following the Spanish invasion in the 1500s, the established trade routes were disrupted, and the local populations were decimated by diseases introduced by the Europeans, leading to the site’s abandonment.
Architectural Highlights
San Miguelito comprises four main groups of structures, along with several minor platforms, all accessible via a pathway winding through the site. The North Group, considered a residential zone, consists of five raised platforms that likely supported structures made from perishable materials. Over twenty graves have been discovered beneath these platforms.
The Chaak Palace Group, named after the impressive Chaak Palace, features several structures oriented around a plaza. The palace’s design is a squared “C” shape, typical of Mayan architecture, with remnants of columns that once supported a wooden roof.
The Dragon Complex, named for two small stone sculptures found during construction, includes a mix of palaces, altars, shrines, and residential dwellings. One structure within this complex still bears traces of a marine-oriented mural.
The South Group includes a notable palace and the main pyramid, the tallest structure at the site, which is adorned with a small temple in the East Coast Style.
Conclusion
San Miguelito stands as a testament to the complex trade networks and architectural achievements of the Post Classic Maya civilization. Despite the loss of many structures due to modern development, the site offers invaluable insights into the Maya’s economic, social, and religious practices.
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