Granada’s Ancient Maya Guardians Are Reunited At Last
Archaeologists have descended on the tiny community of Granada to reunite the town’s two most beloved ancient relics.
These guardians, as some in the community refer to them, are in fact two Maya carved stone monoliths depicting noblemen in the distinctive Oxkintok style.
In 2019, one of these two monoliths was removed from Granada by INAH researchers. Still, at the time, nobody in the community seemed to understand what had actually happened, or if the people who took the monolith were actually archaeologists.
In Granada, several people were confused, and for years, many believed that one of their town’s treasures was lost forever.
The remaining monolith stood alone at the main entrance of Granada’s hacienda, just as it had for several decades, but now without its partner.
“Regardless of the identity of these men, we should not have allowed anyone to take the figure away without legal assurances and proper documentation,” a schoolteacher in Granada told YM.
Even though the two monoliths have been removed from Granada’s hacienda, evidence of the Mayan past of its building materials remains obvious.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
Hacienda Granada remains well worth visiting, even without its ancient monoliths.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
Granada’s monolithic guardians likely were removed from the ancient city Xumil, less than 1.5 miles from the hacienda, where only the remains of walls now exist.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
As it turns out, the stone monolith had been, in fact, taken by the INAH for restoration — although they certainly could have done a better job of alerting the community.
Nearly six years after the monolith had been removed from Granada’s hacienda, and through the efforts of local authorities like the town’s mayor, Braulio Mut, both stone figures were reunited, though this time at a new location: the atrium of the town’s church, directly across from the hacienda.
The decision to relocate both monoliths was made to ensure their safety from vandals, as a gate surrounds the area. The ancient Maya also placed carved monoliths on stone platforms.
There are also plans to build a thatch roof to protect them from the elements.
The space where the two monoliths now stand is empty, though upon closer inspection, the remains of other ancient carvings are still visible on the staircase leading up to the hacienda.
Both monoliths hold a purse-like figure that, according to epigraphers, represents a divine offering or gift. Both figures also wear sandals and long necklaces that culminate in a large waist-level ornament, which merges with a feathered loincloth.
It is likely that these two figures once served as decorative columns that helped support the weight of an ancient temple, possibly at the nearby archaeological site of Xumil, which was likely a satellite of Oxkintok.
Several other communities near Granada (in the municipality of Maxcanú and beyond), including Paraiso, also feature similar figures and architectural elements that were incorporated into churches and haciendas.
Granada’s locals expressed their hope that people would come to visit the community, see their “guardians,” and maybe even stick around for a bite to eat at one of the community’s small restaurants.
With a population of approximately 500 people, Granada is a small town. Still, it has the potential to serve as a springboard for adventurers looking to explore the many Mayan ruins, cenotes, and caves surrounding the community.
The main attraction in the region is, of course, the massive archaeological site of Oxkintok, famous for its labyrinth, Teotihuacán influence and its own unique take on the Puuc style of art and architecture. Though the section of the site within the archaeological site itself is extensive, entire sections of the ancient city can be seen for miles in every direction.
Like several other archaeological sites in the region, Xumil is relatively inaccessible. Visitors should wear good shoes, long pants, and long sleeves to avoid being scratched by vegetation. But most importantly, do not venture into the jungle alone.
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If you want to explore Granada, Oxkintok or one of the countless amazing archaeological sites on the peninsula, why not visit us? If you are interested, please email us at: carlos.rosado@gmail.com.
Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a journalist, photographer, and expedition leader. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada, and Norway.
