Tikal - Tikal (English spelling)

Japanese: ティカル - てぃかる（英語表記）Tikal

A large Mayan ruin in the northern part of the Peten lowlands in Guatemala. Many scholars have investigated the site since the end of the 19th century, but from 1956 to 1970, the University of Pennsylvania Museum surveyed the entire ruins, which cover an area of about 60 square kilometers. The central area covers 16 square kilometers, and on a plateau that rises intermittently about 50 meters above the surrounding swampland, there are pyramid-shaped temples, a group of buildings on a platform called the "acropolis," and stone monuments. There is evidence of habitation from around 600 BC, but it was not established as a large ceremonial center until after 250 AD. The oldest stone monument dates to 292 AD, and the decipherment of Mayan characters has revealed the history of the dynasty's rulers from 376 to 768. During the early classical period of the Andean civilization (300-600), it was influenced by Teotihuacan, but in the later period it developed independently and was the largest political force among the lowland Maya until the beginning of the 9th century. The population began to decline around 830 and the town was eventually abandoned.

[Yoshiro Masuda]

World Heritage Registration

In 1979, the national park including the ruins of the ancient city was registered as a mixed World Heritage Site by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as "Tikal National Park" (Mixed World Heritage Site).

[Editorial Department]

[References] | Maya Culture

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

グアテマラのペテン低地北部にあるマヤの大遺跡。19世紀末以来多くの学者が調査したが、1956年から1970年までペンシルベニア大学博物館が約60平方キロメートルにわたって広がる遺構の全体を調査した。中心部は16平方キロメートルを占め、周囲の沼地から約50メートルの高さに断続して立つ台地の上に、ピラミッド状神殿、「アクロポリス」とよばれる基壇の上の建物群、石碑などが建ち並ぶ。紀元前600年ごろから居住の形跡があるが、大祭祀(さいし)センターとして確立するのは紀元後250年以後である。もっとも古い石碑の年代は紀元後292年であり、マヤ文字の解読により、376年から768年に至る王朝の統治者の歴史が解明されている。アンデス文明古典期前期（300～600）にはテオティワカンの影響を受けたが、後期には独自の発展を遂げ、9世紀初めまで、低地マヤ最大の政治勢力であった。830年ごろから人口が減少し始め、やがて放棄された。

［増田義郎］