11-01-08 La Munica Guide Search

La Munica is a small Peten style ruin first reported in the 40s. It was never visited again until a few years ago. There are a few reasons why I wanted to go there. First, it is one of only a handfull of sites with standing Peten architecture in southern Mexico. Second, one of the structures has very large stones, an other unusual feature that indicate it may be very old, possibly one of the very oldest standing buildings (in the sence of rooms, not pyrimids). Last, and most intersting it has a true arch, as used by the romans. Get a text book and they will tell you the Maya never developed the true arch, and for it to appear on such an early building is against logic. The possible earliness of this building is supported by a second true arch found in the center of the largest pyrimid at Calakmul. This structure has been dated to 400BC. The building at La Munica could not possibly be this old, but it supports early builders used true arches.

I got a contact from the guy who relocated the ruin. The ruin a few years ago was an hour drive and an 3.5 hour walk by trail. The road is mud, and the trail is gone, but he was still willing to take us. It will be 3-4 days though the forest, and we leave friday. I cannot wait. Very few people have ever been there, and it seems very interesting to me.

It´s jalipenio season, and this truck brimming with them is just one of the dozens I saw (and I spend very little time next to the road).

Distance Rode: 86km
Trip Total: 1233km