Archeological Site Opens in Huatulco, Mexico 2010-1-1 11:57200
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The "Copalita Eco-Archeological Park" opened on December 16. It is located near the tourist resort of Huatulco in the state of Oaxaca.
The site was built on 36 hectares in the middle of a jungle, next to the River Copalita.
But more work needs to be done on the site that was first explored in 1994.
[Raul Matadamas, Archaeologist]:
"This is the natural civic complex and as you can see forty percent of it has already been explored. You can get an idea of the volume of material needed to build these buildings constructed by cultural groups who lived here from the first century to the year 650 of our time."
Five buildings have already been explored, including the basement of a temple, the main plaza, and a ball court which was buried about 4 feet because of constant flooding.
[Raul Matadamas, Archaeologist]:
"Well this is only part of the structures which represent a small amount of everything that exists in this site. I couldn't calculate how much time would be needed to investigate the whole site. Probably what we have seen represents only one percent of everything we still need to see."
A museum will exhibit 150 ceramic pieces found on the site which will give visitors an insight into how the settlers lived.
26 hundred years ago, this place was populated by people from the Zoque region of northern Chiapas. In the year 650 AC, the settlers abandoned the city. It was then re-inhabited nearly four centuries later mainly by Oaxacan Chontals who remained here until the 16th century Spanish conquest.
Archeologists calculate that up to 10,000 people lived here at a single time.
Remains found in tombs indicate that residents lived for a maximum of 50 years.
There are at least 50 archaeological sites that have been discovered along the Oaxacan coast, but only this site has been partially explored.
This site is one of several pre-Columbian cities built close to the sea, apart from Tulum in Quintana Roo and Isla Sacrificio in Veracruz.
http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_na/2010-01-01/081329017921.html
