Ucanal

Ucanal is a site of the ancient Maya civilization.

K'anwitznal was the ancient name of the Ucanal polity, and one of its first rulers was AJAW K'UK' or Lord Quetzal. Ucanal is located on the Mopán River and can be reached from the Road that goes to Melchor de Mencos, from Flores, Guatemala and then, looking for Tikalito village, the site had strong ties with Tikal, 51 miles to the north, and was attacked and destroyed twice by the Kalomté, Wac' Chanil Ahau or Lady Six Sky of Naranjo (Saal), in her way to conquer Caracol. The site has evidence of two man made irrigation channels one is 420 mt. and the other 370 mt. long, both 7 mt wide, there are 114 structures in the main area and at least 150 Residential groups, the protected area is 1 sq. mile but does not include all the minor groups. There are several temples and palaces, and 2 ball courts. Many of the Stelas where destroyed by the Naranjo (Saal) invaders, there are 22 Stelas and 16 Altars . When the Popol Vuh tells about the masters that later founded the K’iche’ supremacy traveled to Tulán (the big city) to obtain the power badges, it narrates the fact that the Ucanal’s soldiers went to the actual Ceibal and proclaimed its domination, and then emigrated south, to the center of the actual Quiché. That is why they came from the east, because Ucanal is at the east of Ceibal. This migration, as others, gave birth to new political expressions, which were successful in the Post-Classic period. Fact|date=February 2007