Tohcok
Archeological site
Tohcok
Singular Maya city, small, rich and strongly hierarchical, it flourished 12 centuries ago. Two particular architectural styles dominate: Chenes and Puuc. Notable are the columns with circular base, well-braced false arches and vaulting, mosaics and masks with complicated filigree designs in stone.
The pre-Hispanic remains of Tohcok open to visitors today form only one part of the original settlement that must have covered an average of 0.8 square miles, and include two buildings that fom a large plaza. The constructions combine elements of both Chenes and Puuc architecture—a fusion of styles found in the northeast of Campeche and the southern areas of the Yucatan and the northwest of Campeche. In common with other sites, Tohcok shows the signs of an organized labor force and materials enabling the creation of monumental works produced with simple technology (equivalent to the Neolithic period). Numerous and highly skilled workers evidently succeeded in producing astronomical orientations and moving enormous stone blocks. This site was inhabited by a society with few rulers, who were viewed as sacred beings on account of their relationship with the gods. However, many people provided water, foodstuffs, products and the necessary muscle. It should be recalled that the Maya did not use the wheel for technical uses, nor did they have beasts for carrying or pulling loads.
- Dirección del Centro INAHAdriana Velazquez Morletadriana_velazquezm@inah.gob.mx+52 (981) 816 9111Operación de Zonas Arqueológicas del Centro INAHCandelaria del Carmen Duarte Patzarqueologicas.camp@inah.gob.mx+52 (981) 816 9111, ext.138016
Grupo Central
The archaeological remains are distributed on both sides of the road; some of them preserve walls and parts of vaulted arches still standing; others have collapsed and are only visible as mounds.
Grupo Central
The archaeological remains are distributed on both sides of the road; some of them preserve walls and parts of vaulted arches still standing; others have collapsed and are only visible as mounds. The architectural group open to the public has been called the Central Group and only two buildings that bordered a courtyard have been recorded in detail.
Building of the Jambs or Structure 1: The building of the Painted Jambs or Structure 1 is located on the west side and has only been partially explored, registering four rooms on its south end and two rooms on the north side. Its central sector is a solid core that served as a base for other corridors located in the upper part. The staircase on the east side has a vaulted corridor that runs from north to south. Building 1 was a palatial two-story construction. On its west side there was another staircase leading to two rooms erected above. The overall dimensions of Building 1 are 40 m long by 20 m wide. It may have reached an average height of 8 m. An interesting detail is the combination of simple entrances with tripartite entrances formed by monolithic columns.
Structure 2: Formed by a quadrangular platform, nine meters long, with stairways to the east and west. It has three masks in the south side; one in the center and one in each corner. The corner motifs extend to the north and end at the narrow stairways. Unfortunately, the representations were looted and partially destroyed in their middle and upper sectors. The elements that conform the central mask are similar to those of the corners and their characteristics indicate that they are representations of the Aquatic Serpent.
To the north of the platform we find a chamber with a single entrance from the north. It is reached through a corridor that shares with another room with access from the south. It is noteworthy that both rooms and the corridor they share were roofed with a false arch finished in point, that is to say, without keystones or lids. The east and west sides of the first room again have anthropomorphic masks in the corners. From them emerge vegetal guides topped with flowers, some containing human faces.
