Chicanel culture

The Chicanel culture was a Late Formative period civilization (300 BCE–100 CE) that flourished in the Maya region of Mesoamerica, particularly in the northern Petén area of Guatemala. This culture is characterized by its distinctive pottery, including dishes with everted and grooved rims, and bowls with composite silhouettes.1

Architecturally, the Chicanel culture is known for its impressive temple platforms, often built with a rubble core faced with thick layers of plaster. Examples include Structure E-VII-sub at Uaxactún, a four-sided, stucco-covered pyramid with god masks flanking stairways. Evidence from Tikal suggests Maya architects were already using the corbel vault principle during this period. The massive site of El Mirador also shows substantial construction from the Chicanel phase. Chicanel-like civilization extended into Yucatán, with large temple pyramids dating to the Late Formative.1