My theory of Jaredite geography centers on the country of Honduras. I feel that the center of the land, the principal city of Moron, was located near the Bay of Fonseca. I have attempted to locate ancient archaeological sites there, but there are not many recognized sites due to the lack of archaeological surveys in the area. There are a few recognized sites, such as Copan, but there are few in the south of the country, especially on the Pacific littoral and coastal areas. I recently came across an account by Ephriam G. Squier regarding the ancient site of Tenampua, located in the department of Comayagua, which contains a great deal of detail which is not currently available in the literature. This could possibly be one of the ancient Jaredite cities mentioned in the Book of Ether. It is located directly north of the Bay of Fonseca, and would have been on the way from Moron to the Atlantic (or Ripliancum) on the north of the country. I have included the entire text of his 1853 report and have highlighted portions that I feel are especially relevant.
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF NEW-YORK 7 OCTOBER, 1853. RUINS OF
TENAMPUA, HONDURAS, CENTRAL AMERICA.
The
following letter, from Hon. E. G. Squier, giving an account of some
remarkable ruins discovered by him in the State of Honduras, Central
America, was communicated to the Society by Prof. W. W. Turner, of
Washington.
COMAYAGUA,
HONDURAS, Juno 18, 1853.
My
Dear Sir : Honduras, as its name implies, is a region of high
mountains and deep valleys. But although this is its general aspect,
its surface is relieved by a number of large plains of surpassing
beauty. One of the finest of these, and constituting perhaps the most
remarkable natural feature of the State, is the great plain of
Comayagua — so called from the capital city of the same name —
situated in the very centre of the State, midway between the two
oceans. It is upwards of thirty miles long, and from ten to fifteen
wide. This is exclusive of the lateral or dependent valleys of the
streams which flow into this natural basin. It is in this basin that
the Ilumuya, with its hundred sources, takes its origin. Flowing due
northward, at a distance of about twenty-five or thirty miles, it
unites with the Sulaco, and forms the great navigable river Ulua,
falling into the Bay of Honduras. The greatest extent of the plain is
from north to south, and at its southern extremity, where the great
range of the Cordilleras is wholly interrupted, side by side and
interlocking with those of the Humuya, are the head waters of the
river Goascoran, running due south into the Gulf of Fonseca. The
plain is surrounded by mountains five or six thousand feet high, and
consequently enjoys a climate cool, equable, and salubrious,
comparing in respect of temperature with the Middle States of our
Union, during the month of June. The average temperature for the year
is about 77° Fah. The hills and mountains adjacent to the plain are
covered with pines, which in this latitude have their range at
something less than two thousand feet above the sea. Wheat and other
products of the temperate zone also flourish among the hills, and on
the " mesas " or terraces of the mountains. The productions
of the plain, however, are essentially tropical. Its soil is
exceedingly fertile — in fact, the valley offers all the conditions
for attracting and sustaining a large population. We
might therefore expect to find here the traces of a considerable
aboriginal population. But, up to this time, I believe, the world
has had no intimation of the existence of any such remains. They
nevertheless exist, and hardly a step can be taken, in any direction,
without encountering some of them, of greater or less interest. Those
in the plain proper are, however, much injured and defaced. Honduras
was peopled contemporaneously with Mexico, and Comayagua is one of
its oldest towns ; and it is well known that the Spanish conquerors
and bigots, so far from endeavoring to preserve the monuments of the
aborigines, strove rather to deface and destroy them, as a means of
weaning the Indians from their primitive rites, and causing them to
forget their traditions and customs. The names of the principal towns
in the valley, nevertheless, indicate that they were anciently Indian
towns. Indeed, in some of them the predominating portion of the
population is still unmixed Indian. Lamani, Tambla, Yarumela,
Ajuterique, Lajamini, and Cururu, are all Indian names. There are
also many Indian towns which have been entirely abandoned, as the
population of the country has decreased, and of which the traces are
now scarcely visible.
The
principal ruins, strictly aboriginal and of ancient architecture, are
in the vicinity of Yarumela, Lajamini, and near the ruined town of
Cururu. They consist of large pyramidal, terraced structures, often
faced with stones, conical mounds of earth, and walls of stone. In
these, and in their vicinity, are found carvings in stone, and
painted vases of great beauty. The
principal monuments, however, retaining distinctly their primitive
forms, can hardly be said to be in the plain of Comayagua. They are
found in the lateral valleys, or on the adjacent tables ("mesas")
of the mountains. Of this description are the ruins of Calamulla, on
the road to the Indian mountain town of Guajiquero ; of Jamalteca, in
the little valley of the same name ; of Maniani, in the valley of
Espino ; of Guasistagua, near the little village of the same name ;
of Chapuluca, in the neighborhood of Opoteca ; and of Chapulistagua,
in a large valley back of the mountains of Comayagua. I have visited
all of these, but in many respects the most
interesting, and by far the most extensive, are those of Tenampua.
The
ruins of Tenampua are popularly called "Pueblo Yiejo," Old
Town. They are situated on the level summit of a high hill, almost
deserving the name of mountain, about twenty miles to the southeast
of this city, near the insignificant village of Lo-de-Flores, by the
side of the road leading to the city of Tegucigalpa. The summit of
the hill is a plain or savannah, covered with scattered pines, and
elevated about sixteen hundred feet above the plain of Comayagua,
of which, in every part, a magnificent view is commanded. The hill is
composed of the prevailing soft, white, stratified sandstone of this
region, and its sides, except at three points, are either absolutely
precipitous, or so steep as to
be nearly if not quite inaccessible. At the accessible points, where
narrow ridges connect the hill with the other hills of the group, are
heavy artificial walls of rough stones, varying in height from six to
fifteen feet, and in width, at the base, from ten to twenty-five
feet. These walls are terraced on the inner side, for convenience of
defence. At various points there are traces of towers, or buildings
designed perhaps for the use of guards or sentinels. The dimensions
of the wall correspond to the greater or less abruptness of the slope
along which it is carried, and are greatest where the ascent or
approach is easiest. Where narrow gullies or natural passes existed,
the hollows have been filled with stones, so as to present a vertical
outer face, corresponding to the rocky escarpment of the hill.
Naturally, I think this place is the strongest position I have ever
seen. That it was selected, in part at least, for defence, is
obvious. Under any system of warfare practised by the aborigines, it
must have been impregnable. The defensive design is made still more
apparent by the existence, in the centre of the area of the summit,
at a place naturally low and marshy, of two large square excavations,
now partially filled up, which were clearly designed for reservoirs.
But the most interesting features of Tenampua are not its ruined
walls and defences. The
level summit of the hill is about one and a half miles long, by half
a mile in average width. The eastern half of this large area is
crowded with ruins. They consist chiefiy of terraced mounds of stone,
or of earth faced with stone, of regular rectangular forms, their
sides conforming to the cardinal points. Although the stones are
uncut, they are laid with great precision. Most of
the
small mounds, which occur in groups, and are arranged with obvious
design in respect to each other, are from twenty to thirty feet
square, and from four to eight feet in height. There are none of less
than two, but most have three or four stages. Besides these there are
a considerable number of large pyramidal structures,
varying from sixty to one hundred and twenty feet in length, of
proportionate width, and of
different heights. These are also terraced, and generally have ruins
of steps on their western sides. There are also several rectangular
enclosures of stone, and a number of platforms and terraced slopes.
The principal enclosure is situated in the very midst of the ruins,
at a point conspicuous from every portion of the hill. It is three
hundred feet long by one hundred and eighty feet broad. The wall is
fourteen feet broad, but now elevated only a few feet above the
ground. It seems to have consisted of an outer and inner wall, each
about two feet thick, between which earth had been filled to the
depth of two feet. Transverse walls then appear to have been built at
regular intervals, dividing it into rectangular areas, resembling the
foundations of houses. It is not improbable they were surmounted by
structures of wood, devoted to the use of the priests or guardians of
the great temple — in the same manner that, according to the
chroniclers, " the cloisters of the priests and attendants"
surrounded the court of the great temple of Mexico. The line of the
wall is only interrupted by the gateway or entrance, which is on the
western side, between two oblong terraced mounds, in which the ends
of the wall terminate. To preserve the symmetry of the enclosure, the
opposite or eastern wall has in its centre a large mound, also
terraced and regular in form, equalling in size both those at the
entrance. Within the enclosures are two large mounds, the relative
positions and sizes of which can only be explained by a plan. The
largest has three stages and a flight of steps on its western side.
From its southwest angle a line of large stones, sunk in the ground,
is carried to the southern wall. The north line of this mound
coincides with one drawn from east to west, through the centre of the
enclosure. Between it and the gateway is a square of stones, sunk in
the ground, which may mark the site of some edifice. The second pyra-
mid is situated in the northeast corner of the enclosure ; it has the
same number of stages with the larger one just described, mid like
that, has a flight of steps on its western side.
At
the extreme southeast corner of the hill is another enclosure similar
to this, except that it is square, and has open- ings in the centre
of each side. It also contains two terraced mounds, ascended by
steps. Between the great enclosure, or central structure, and the
precipice which faces the hill on the south, is a depression or small
valley. This is terraced upon both sides, the terraces being faced
with stone, ascended by various flights of stone steps. The principal
mound beyond this depression is situated upon the edge of the
precipice, due south of the great mound in the principal enclosure.
It commands a view of the entire southern half of the plain of
Comayagua, and fires lighted upon it would be visible to all the
inhabitants below. I could not resist the conviction that its
position had been determined by this circumstance. There are many
other striking features in these ruins, of which no adequate idea can
be conveyed except from plans, and which therefore I shall not
attempt to describe. The most singular, perhaps, consists of two long
parallel mounds, each one hundred and forty feet in length,
thirty-six feet broad at the base, and ten feet high in the centre.
The inner sides of each, facing each other, appear to have consisted
of three terraces, rising like the seats of an amphitheatre. The
lower terraces are forty feet apart, and faced with huge flat stones,
set upright in the ground, so as to present an even front. The outer
sides of these mounds have an appearance corresponding with that of
the walls of the great enclosure, and each seems to have been the
site of three large buildings. The whole rests on a terrace three
hundred and sixty feet long. Exactly in a line with the centre of the
space between, these parallels, and distant twenty-four paces, are
two large stones placed side by side, with an opening of about one
foot between them. Fronting these to the northward, and distant one
hundred and twenty paces, is a large mound occupying a corresponding
relative position in respect to the parallels, aud having a flight of
steps on its southern side. Upon these mounds, as indeed upon many of
the others, are standing large pine trees, upwards of two feet in
diameter.
Without
attempting to define the special purposes of these parallels, it
seems to me probable that they had a corresponding design with the
parallel walls found by Mr. Stephens at Chichen-Itza and Uxmal, in
Yucatan. Doubtless games, processions, or other civic or religious
rites or ceremonies, took place between them, in the presence of
priests or dignitaries who were seated upon the terraces on either
hand. The form of the various mounds at Tenampua precludes the idea
that they were used as the foundations of dwellings. It seems quite
clear that they were either altars or sites of temples —
counterparts of those of Guatemala, Yucatan, and Mexico, and of a
large portion of those found in the Mississippi Yalley, — with all
of which they accurately coincide in the principles of their
construction. I was able to excavate but one, situated in the
vicinity of the great temple. The mass of the mound, after pentrating
the stone facing, was found to be simple earth. But the interior of
the upper terrace was composed almost entirely of burnt matter,
ashes, and fragments of pottery. Great quantities of these fragments
were discovered, and I was able to recover enough of some vessels to
make out their shape, and the paintings and ornaments upon them. Some
were flat, like pans; others had been vases of various forms. All
were elaborately painted with simple ornaments or mythological
figures. One small, gourd-shaped vase, of rude workmanship, I
recovered nearly entire. It was filled with a dark-colored, indurated
matter, which it was impossible to remove. Fragments of obsidian
knives were also found. Near the western extremity of the summit of
the hill are two deep holes with perpendicular sides, sunk into the
rock. They are about twenty feet square and twelve feet deep.
Although now partially filled with earth, a passage is to be
discovered at the bottom of each, leading off to the north. These
passages seem to have been about three feet high, by nearly the same
width. How far they may go, or whither they lead, is unknown. The
water which flows into them during rains finds a ready outlet. I am
unprepared to decide whether these openings are natural or
artificial, but incline to the opinion that they are natural, with
perhaps artificial improvements or adaptations. A ruined pyramid
stands near the principal mouth. The tradition concerning them is
that they were dug by the "antiguos," and lead to the ruins
of Chapulistagua, beyond the mountains of Comayagua, and were
designed to afford an easy means of flight in case of danger.
Altogether there are here the remains of between three
and four hundred terraced, truncated pyramids
of various sizes, besides the singular enclosures, etc., which I have
mentioned. The whole place, as I have already intimated, probably
served both for religious and defensive purposes. This union of
purposes was far from uncommon among the semi-civilized families of
this continent. You will see in my work on the Monuments of the
Mississippi Yalley many instances in which structures strictly
religious occur within works clearly defensive. It was within the
area, and on the steps and terraces of the great temple of Mexico,
that the Aztecs made their final and most determined stand against
the arms of Cortez. It is not to be supposed, however, that this was
a fortified town, or a place permanently occupied by any considerable
population. The summit of the hill is rocky, and the soil thin and
poor, affording few of the usual accessories of a large Indian
population, abundant water and rich lands. The builders doubtless had
their permanent residences in the plain below, and only came here to
perform religious or sepulchral rites, or to find safety in times of
danger. I must not forget to mention that the paintings on the vases
found at Tenampua are identical with those of Palenque and Yucatan.
Some of them are exact counterparts of figures found in the Dresden
MS.
I
am, Sir, etc., etc., E. G. SQUIER.
An interesting video and photos of Tenampua (in Spanish) can be found at:
http://www.elheraldo.hn/entretenimiento/1072627-466/tenamp%C3%BAa-sitio-arqueol%C3%B3gico-riqueza-de-honduras
