Chiquirines
Place in Retalhuleu Department, Guatemala
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chiquirines is an ancient Pre-Columbian archaeological site, located in the modern-day Retalhuleu Department, Guatemala. It is located near the major Preclassic Period site of Ujuxte and is considered to be a satellite of that city and contemporary with it.[1][2] Chiquirines features a smaller copy of a complex at Ujuxte, consisting of seven mounds arranged around a central plaza upon a basal platform.[1][3] The largest of these mounds had a stairway ascending the west side.[1] Broken fragments of sculpture have been found at Chiquirines.[4]
Chiquirines | |
|---|---|
  Chiquirines Location within Guatemala | |
| Coordinates: 14°33′57″N 92°03′18″W | |
| Country |  Guatemala |
| Department | Retalhuleu Department |
Chiquirines was discovered during a regional survey undertaken during the 1993–1994 field seasons at Ujuxte.[5] The site is situated 5.3 kilometres (3.3 mi) to the northwest of Ujuxte.[2] Archaeologist Michael Love has mapped more than 40 mounds at Chiquirines.[6] Ceramic finds at Chiquirines date to the same period as those at Ujuxte and confirm that the two sites were contemporary.[7]
Chiquirines is the pluralised Spanish name, of Nahuatl origin, of the cicada species Odopoea imbellis.[8]