Ancient Mayan Farming and Irrigation

Did you know? Archaeologists have learned that the Maya were innovative farmers? In the swampy lowland areas of the Yucatán, seasonal flooding, low soil fertility, and high water tables all make farming a challenge. The Maya cultivated swampy land using a system of raised fields and canals that was low maintenance, all natural, extremely productive, and, most important, sustainable.

Raised fields worked like this: Maya farmers dug canals through the swamps, piling the excess soil onto the inner fields, which raised them two to four feet (0.6 to 1.2 meters) and reduced waterlogging. The canals served the dual purpose of providing irrigation and natural fertilizer. A few times each season the Maya harvested water plants from the canals and spread them on the fields to further enrich the soil. The irrigation and fertilizing resulted in an extended growing season for crops grown on the raised fields.

Archaeologists previously thought that raised fields alone produced more than enough food for the local community, giving people a comfortable surplus for trade. However, new research combined with the real-time experiences of local farmers is giving us a better understanding of agriculture and ecology in the region. To support a growing population and economy during the rise of Maya civilization, raised fields were probably integrated with the dry-field system more familiar to us.

Today, agricultural researchers and farmers are learning from the ancient Maya. In areas of Central and South America impoverished by poor soils and thin crops, researchers are teaming up with local farming communities and governments to develop ways to make small-scale subsistence farming profitable, thereby enriching the local economies. The raised-field system that worked so well 1,500 years ago often proves to be the best way to farm the land today.

For more information, see the website of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, CGIAR.

Thank the Gods for Mexican chocolate!

For all the fame (and high prices) of Belgian and Swiss chocolate, you'd think they invented the stuff. Not so. Thank southern Mexico and northern Central America for the universally craved elixir. Chocolate topped our list of Maya foods that changed the world, and legions of gourmets and chocoholics would argue it is the most important food on the planet.

Most of Mexico's fine chocolate is made not into candy bars but into table chocolate — solid tablets the size of a hockey puck, often combined with sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and other spices — even chile peppers. These aren't designed to be eaten like candy but broken into pieces and melted to make a drink. Still, they are hearty and delicious eaten right out of the wrapper; I've never succeeded in getting one home from a trip to Mexico.

Article posted May 19th in the SFGate by Christine Delsol who is a former Chronicle travel editor and author of "Pauline Frommer's Cancun & the Yucatán." Read more here

Hilario Hiler - Colorful characters of Akumal!

Originally from California, Hilario Hiler has been living on the Yucatan Peninsula for 40 years. He started out in Chichimila, having graduated from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, with a view to settle in Belize. He fell in love with the Maya and settled in the Mayan community there for 11 years where he met his wife and had his family. He first came to Akumal in 1971 and became firm friends with the founder of the village Don Pablo Romero Bush. He later moved his family over to the Caribbean coast which is when he started guiding tours, both on land and in the ocean and cave systems.

Hilario’s tours are made specifically to your specifications. The tour starts when you want it to start, you eat when you want to eat, and return when you want to return. His extensive knowledge of the Maya culture, ancient and modern, ensures that your trip will be informative and fun. Popular tours include Sian Ka’an biosphere, Coba, Valladolid and Ek Balam, Cenotes, Ruins, Xel Ha, and Xcaret.
Hilario speaks fluent English, Spanish, and Maya; works together with Conde Naste Traveler and National Geographic; and is an experienced cultural ecologist and herb doctor. In addition to all of this, Hilario is a specialist in Mayan cuisine, and is currently working on his first Mayan cookbook which will be titled “Eating yellow and digesting colors”.

To arrange custom made and completely unique tours and adventures, contact Hilario by phone on MX (+52) 984 875 9066.

For more information on tours and sightseeing, please have a look at our website http://www.i-akumal.com/tours-and-sightseeing

"Planet 2010" Akumal Art Show, featuring Richard Mazzola

"Planet 2010" Akumal Art Show, featuring Richard Mazzola
The wonders of the Mayan calendar ending in the year 2012 holds fascinating and ancient mysteries alluding to rebirth, enlightenment and harmonic convergence. These concepts are explored in a surrealistic series of paintings by local artist, Richard Mazzola, of Ak-Nah Galeria in Akumal.
There will be a showing of this series of captivating and colorful oil paintings on Friday, February 5th, 7-10 PM at Villa Taj Kumal, located at the entrance to Las Casitas and next to TSA Travel Agency in Akumal.
Wine and cheese served

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Map of the Maya World

In its heyday from about A.D. 300 to 900, the Maya civilization boasted hundreds of cities across a vast swath of Central America. Now archeological sites, these once-flourishing cities extended from Chichén Itzá in the northern Yucatán to Copán, about 400 miles to the south in modern-day Honduras. Each bore ceremonial centers where theocratic rulers practiced a complex religion based on a host of gods, a unique calendar, and ceremonies that featured a ball game and human sacrifice. The ancient Maya also mastered astronomy, mathematics, art and architecture, and a glyph system of writing on stone, ceramics, and bark paper. Using the interactive map, visit 15 of the better-known Maya sites.


Courtesy of one of our favorite websites! Visit NOVA / PBS online and explore Anthropology, Disasters, Earth, Exploration, Flight, Health, History,
Nature or Technology ....just to name a few.

Where does chocolate come from?

Switzerland? Belgium? Not even close!

Inspired by the original chocolate first created by ancient Mayans in 500 BC, Häagen-Dazs® Mayan Chocolate blends the finest cocoa beans with cinnamon to create magical Mayan offering: rich, chocolate ice cream with a fudge swirl and a hint of cinnamon.

Cacao (kah-KOW, a Mayan word) was offered as tribute to gods and leaders, as well as having value in day-to-day life as the region’s financial currency. For the Aztecs, cacao was a gift from their most revered God, Quetzalcoatl, forming a bridge between heaven and earth.

Everyone needs a pint of Mayan Chocolate in their freezer!

Spring Equinox at Chichen Itza

UNDER THE MAYAN SUN

The ancient Mayan site, Chichén Itzá is one of the greatest surviving monuments of the Mayan civilization, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as the setting for a spectacular display at the time of the Spring Equinox.

At the precise time of the spring equinox, at 1.31pm GMT, the sun casts its rays on the balustrade, in turn highlighting a feathered serpent that seems to be moving or slithering its way down the steps towards the well of sacrifice.The Kulkulkan temple is the site of a dramatic display of Mayan astronomical knowledge.

Chichén Itzá Spring Equinox 20 Mar 2009
Free Admission Opening Hours
7.30 am (1.30pm GMT)

Featured artisan: Professor Alfredo Gonzalez Castillo, Master Sculptor

Featured artisan: Professor Alfredo Gonzalez Castillo, Master Sculptor of Olmec, Toltec and Mayan statues and pottery.

Location: Coba Highway, KM 22, Puebla Francisco Uh May located on the right hand side of the highway driving from Tulum to Coba mid way through the Puebla.

Driving the Coba highway from Tulum heading to the ruins is an interesting day trip easily reached from the Akumal area. Along the road you will pass through several small pueblos where you will encounter the Maya and other local people selling their arts and crafts. Some of these small markets and local vendors do sell the mass produced tourists items you find in shop after shop. If you look a little harder and visit local homes and shops you might be surprised to find some very talented potters, wood carvers, leather workers and hammock weavers. Purchasing from locals directly helps stimulate the economy and does directly benefit the Maya, a very warm and welcoming people. You may find yourself in Grandma's kitchen enjoying warm, home made tortillas cooked over an open fire.

One of the most special artists on the Coba highway is Professor Alfredo Gonzalez Castillo, Master Sculptor who specializes in creating museum quality reproduction Mayan, Toltec and Olmec pottery. He was formally employed by the Department of Anthropology in Mexico City specializing in restoration and cleaning of ancient Mayan artifacts. His passions are exploration, geology and the mining jade and jadeite rocks that he polishes into brilliant stones that will be inland into one of his incredible pieces of art. He is revered by his neighbors who believe he is a very wise shaman/medicine man.

Alfredo is a kind and very interesting man. A true educator and treasure. He will be happy to give you the tour of his kiln and explain the history of his reproductions that you will see in the books in his library. He will also explain to you the migration of the peoples of the world on the ocean currents. You will notice some figures look Oriental while the early Olmec appear to be from Africa.

Professor Alfredo has also trained his son Glenn faithfully to carry on his work. He named his son Glenn after the astronaut John Glenn when he landed on the moon. Alfredo considered a man walking on the moon a powerful sign from the heavens.

Professor Alfredo’s pieces are worthy to be added to any Pre-Colombian collection. Alfredo can also be commissioned for larger art carvings.

Featured Mayan Artisan: Jose Perez, Master Carver

Master Carver of Limestone, Wood and Mayan Graphic Leather Art.

Location: Drive to Tulum, go right on the Coba highway to the very northern house on the right hand side of the road in the second Pueblo, Francisco Un May. KM 22 – There is a small black sign with white letters, Mayan Graphic Leather Made Here.

I first met Jose Perez 10 years ago in Akumal at the Lol Ha Restaurant. Jose was one of the sponsored Mayan artisans allowed booth space. He would quietly carve glyphs, gods and Mayan and Aztec calendars from limestone using simple and age old tools.

He was mesmerizing to watch work and one could not help but notice the high quality of his art versus the mass produced items that I occasionally would see in the commercial road side markets.

Over the years Jose has become my special amigo and has forged a successful career using his unique talent and craft. Jose now owns his own home and gallery on the Coba road. Jose is a must visit for truly high quality Mayan art.

I have purchased many of his carvings and leather works and commissioned art from Jose. My current commission is the ruler’s scepter, held by the last known King of Coba on Steale #10 located in the great plaza of the Nohoch Mul Group at Coba. The steale is dated November 30, 780 AD. This is the last known date that steales were erected at Coba. The staff represents the balance of the world; the sun and the moon are carved on each end of the staff. These figures represent the light and the dark of the Mayan cosmology. Jose is holding the original that will be mine when I return to Akumal later this year. He will reproduce this carving for future buyers upon commission. It takes 9 weeks of labor to carve the wooden scepter to perfection.

Jose has received many commissions. One example is located in the garden of Casa Redonda in Akumal. The limestone carving represents the Mayan Sun God. The statue has faithfully protected Casa Redonda through three hurricanes according to the owner, Dr. Jim Stoddard. Commissions are made on a verbal basis requiring a small deposit.

Jose and his wife Julie who is also very talented have many beautiful and unique items for sale. Their art ranges in price from inexpensive and affordable to expensive for commissioned pieces. The more intricate the art results in a higher price. Purchasing directly from the people certainly does help the local economy. Please stop by for a visit if you are traveling the Coba road. Jose and Juile are lovely people, they truly appreciate the business.