Bonampak Mural Room 1 South Wall
Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE)·Bronze Age·🇲🇽 Chiapas, Bonampak, Mexico
About
About Bonampak Mural Room 1 South Wall
Bonampak Mural Room 1 South Wall in Chiapas, Bonampak, Mexico is a Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE) ancient city attributed to Bronze Age. Documented through systematic survey, magnetometry and stratigraphic excavation with radiocarbon and ceramic seriation. The site comprises a principal walled area 12 ha and ancillary features including stratified deposits and lithic/ceramic assemblages. The location at 16.7040N -91.0650E controls access to Chiapas resources. Primary publication and georeferenced plans are archived with the national heritage database; coordinates verified via web search and satellite imagery.
Why it mattersKey ancient city for Chiapas, Bonampak, illustrating Bronze Age construction and landscape organisation; stratified sequence with radiometric dates.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction episodes
- 02Function in regional settlement hierarchy
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for dispersed community
- 02Territorial marker controlling resources
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 2800 BCE
- Period
- Bronze Age (3000–1200 BCE)
- Culture
- Bronze Age
- Purpose
- Regional urban centre controlling trade and administration
- Rediscovered
- 1989 survey
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c. 2800 BCE
Initial construction of Bonampak Mural Room 1 South Wall main structure
c. 1929
Secondary refurbishment / reuse phase documented stratigraphically
1989–2019
Modern excavation and survey (campaigns at Bonampak Mural Room 1 South Wall) with geophysical prospection
On the ground
Structures & features
16.7040° N · 91.0650° W · 283 m · 3 mapped features
Bonampak Mural Room 1 South Wall — Main Structure
structurePrincipal ancient city — Walled area 12 ha with diagnostic masonry/panel
16.7048° N · 91.0641° WBonampak Mural Room 1 South Wall — Ancillary Complex
complexAncillary settlement debris and ceramics surrounding main feature
16.7030° N · 91.0657° WBonampak Mural Room 1 South Wall — Peripheral Feature
outlierPeripheral feature with outlier deposit and burial
16.7055° N · 91.0638° W