Draft:Chuitinamit

• Comment: History, Architecture, and Tourism sections are entirely unsourced. Google Earth should not be used as a reference in the article. Utopes _{(talk / cont)} 13:46, 14 August 2024 (UTC)

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Chuitinamit, known earlier as Chiya, is an defensive fortress. It is the capital of the Tz'utujiles, who currently inhabit Santiago-Atitlán.

Geography

Chuitinamit is located on a small hill across from the bay that Santiago-Atitlán borders. The fortress sits about 1,615 meters (5,300 ft) above sea level. on a bay of Lake Atitlán between two volcanoes. It sits right next to Volcán San Pedro, which rises to 2,846 meters (9,337 ft). Across the bay is Volcán Tolimán rising to 3,158 meters (10,361 feet) and Volcán Atitlán, with an elevation of 3,516 meters (11,535 ft)

Climate

Chuitinamit has a tropical savanna climate with warm days and cool nights. Chuitinamit has a wet season extending from May to October. The rainiest months are typically June and September. Exactly the same as Santiago-Atitlán.

History

Chuitinamit also known as Chiyá, was the capitol of the Tzu'tuhil ,“ flower of the nations”  people, founded around 1400 AD, capitol of the Tzikinajai moeity, the primary group that was in control of the fortress had rulers over the Maya Tz'utujil tribe. The Tz'utujil people are known for their rebelliousness against the Spanish and their adherence to their ancestral practices even after they were conquered. They levied tribute over the groups in the surrounding area. Different moiety groups often rebelled against the T'zikinajai influence. It was conquered by the Cak'chiquels, Who kept the north shore of Lake Atitlán (Panajachel and Palopó). The northwest shore of the lake, was conquered by the K'ichés in times of  K'ikab. He took Santa Clara and ‘Panyevar’, now a village in  San Juan, marking the frontier K'iché-Tzu'tuhil. San Juan and  Tzununá continued in Tzu'tuhils hands. A small associated site was  Cho’qu’muc, 2 kilometers east from Santiago Atitlán, which was abandoned in 1548, due to the emigration of their settlers in Santiago. Other Tzu'tujil sites were:  Chacayá, Pachavaj,  Xikomuk, Chejiyú and Tolimán. A couple of years before Spanish conquest the T'zikinajai king, which would go my the name of A'Tziquinajay or ‘he, of the bird house', hired Cqchiquel mercenaries to put down an uprising in Chucumuc, which caused the final rebellion before the Spanish invaded and moved everyone to Santiago Atitlán. Lords that lived in the ceremonial center had its farming lands in the pacific lowlands, where the common people lived. The Bloodletting rituals were used by them, in Xeoj, the performed it, in October when the cacao flowers open to ensure a good crop. A village submerged in Lake Atitlan has been discovered which may have valuable information for the history of Chuitinamit.

Buildings and Architecture

The layout of Chuitinamit

Erosion has caused the buildings to be broken down, but you can still see the architecture that used to be there. The ceremonial center at the top of the hill was Tinamit which functioned as an astronomical observation center. Tinamit also was the administrative center, the lower part near the lake was the amak, that mainly consisted of noble houses and some temples. Chuitinamit has more the 30 structures with a Pyramidal temple and 2 plazas, one of which is closed and surrounded by defensive walls, reserved for nobles and Tinamit. The second plaza was in Amak, open for public ceremonies.

Tourism

Chuitinamit is not a big destination of tourism, and the ruins are typically ignored by visitors of Santiago-Atitlán. The main reason for tourism to Chuitinamit is to visit on a spiritual journey. The few people that do visit the ruins visit to indulge themselves in the culture of the area especially surrounding the practices with cacao. There have also been many incidents of people destroying the carvings and history there. The carving of The Grand Jaguar was covered with cement by the owner of the land who didn't want people to trespass on his land. A hole has also been dug into the main pyramid, presumably in the search of some hidden piece of history.

References

http://www.santiagoatitlan.com/History/Chuitinamit/chuitinamit.html Santiago Atitlán's website

https://newmedia.ufm.edu/video/samabaj-un-sitio-sumergido-en-el-lago-de-atitlan/ Samabaj: a submerged site in Lake Atitlán

http://www.famsi.org/research/pohl/index.html

https://www.mesoweb.org

https://web.archive.org/web/20170116052308/http://www.authenticmaya.com/Chuitinamit.htm

https://www.guatevalley.com/que-visitar/sitio-arqueologico-chuitinamit-santiago-atitlan-solola