Ebook: Corpus of Maya Hieroglyphic Inscriptions 5.1 (Xultun)

Xultun is located on high ground west of the Ixcan River (Rio Azul), approximately 28 km east-northeast of Uaxactun. Several aguadas are within easy reach of the site. Three of these are fairly constant sources of water: EI Delirio (2 km north), Los Tambos (2 km south), and Petipet (3.5 km west-southwest). Two other small aguadas (one 1.5 km south and the other 2 km southwest) are less reliable. Both of my journeys to the site began at Uaxactun, which is accessible year-round by plane and during the dry months by road from Tikal. I used the road in 1974 and traveled by plane in 1975. The route taken during my first visit to XuItun is indicated on the map.

Starting from Uaxactun in a northeasterly direction along the airstrip, one enters the Baja de la Juventud and continues along the trail in the monte baja for two hours (except for a few minutes in serrania) in a generally east-northeast direction. The path then turns eastward for approximately 2 km in changing terrain, before heading north for 4 kIn to the camp and aguada (dry in 1974) of La Palma (one crosses a dry riverbed a half hour before reaching La Palma).

From La Palma one continues east-southeast for a little less than 2 km (crossing mounds on two occasions) before heading generally northeast for 3 km, where, after crossing a baja, more ruins can be noted. Traveling 2 km in an easterly direction, one traverses a group of structures (some of which have been looted), and, after an additional hour of east-northeast travel, comes to the camp and aguada of Santa Marfa (actually a corriente or, here, a series of connected pools). Continuing slightly north of east for 8 km, one reaches the aguada of Hormiguero (dry in 1974). A "trocopas" (an old lumber road or "truck pass") from Yaloche to Dos Lagunas (now overgrown) is passed less than 2 km after leaving Santa Maria, and ruins and chultunes are seen often after crossing this old road.

From Hormiguero one follows a path south, passing several clusters of mounds before reaching the aguada of Petipet. Although the water at Petipet is the color of coffee, it is drinkable and fairly abundant. Fortunately this strangely named chicle camp retained its original name throughout the fifty years following the expeditions of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, as Xultun's approximate location was known in relation to that of Petipet. (Morley places Xultun about 3.5 km east of Petipet; it is actually slightly north of east.)

The path I took from Petipet to Xultun in 1974 was considerably longer than the actual distance separating the two sites (3.5 km). Following a roundabout set of trails, I traveled east-southeast for about one hour, then turned north near the abundant water source of Los Tambos, and continued in this direction for 3 km before reaching the center of Xultun. Another aguada, which was dry in 1974 but which supplied me with water the next season, is about halfway between Los Tambos and XuItun. Mounds are very much in evidence along this route, especially on the section closest to Xultun.