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| Leaving the ball court, follow the trail around the
south wing and back into Plaza Copal and the center of Xikna. Originally
built as three structures, Xikna witnessed many remodels. Later enlargements
joined the three separate structures into one winged temple. Evaluation
of the construction remains on the top of Xikna have led us to believe
that this pyramid was abandoned in the middle of its final refurbishment
and not completed before the Maya collapse. It is likely that the
rock crib across the plaza, in the southwest corner next to Nohoch
Aak, held building materials staged for construction at Xikna. |
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Dominating the center of Xikna was a major stairway
that rose in at least two stages from the plaza to the summit of the
temple. Excavations revealed a beautifully preserved original plaster
stairway that lay beneath the tumble of the last stair. Excavations
of the stairway and the building have helped to interpret the building
sequence of this pyramid. Excavations into the plaza in front of Xikna
uncovered nine plaza floors and numerous more plaza resurfacings in
between before reaching the bedrock more than 2 meters (6.5 feet)
below. |
| Still wanting to know more of the pyramid's history, we next excavated
a tunnel underneath Xikna's central stairway and found evidence of
at least nine major renovations at Xikna beginning about 700 B.C.
This is very impressive and to arcaeologists it tells the tale of
3,000 years of prehistory. Due to safety concerns, this tunnel is
not open to the public. |
| If you are interested in experiencing the
view from the top of this great temple, take the path to the summit
marked by the Lookout sign. The rustic stairs, constructed for visitors
safety and convenience, wind up the monument to the crest, where a
magnificent view eastward into Belize and westward into Guatemala
can be enjoyed. Everything you see is part of the El
Pilar Archaeological Reserve. |
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| This completes your tour of the Nohol Trail. Congratulations!
You now have two options: Continue to the Xaman
Trail into the power center of El Pilar or return along the Nohol
Trail, through the ball court to the path marked "To Parking
Lot." |
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