Copan: Suburbs

The archaeological sites known as Los Sapos, Las Sepulturas, El Bosque and Rastrojón are actually suburbs that were part of the city of Copán.

Due to its large amount of resources, the Copán Valley was occupied since the beginning of the Preclassic period and gradually grew until it became an important center.

With the establishment of long-distance trade networks, Copán was favored by its strategic position to control the trade that flowed through the Motagua River.

That is why archaeological evidence indicates that Copán was already the most important settlement in the area at the beginning of the Classic period, and there are even references to rulers for the 2nd century AD.

However, the heyday of Copán is directly related to the arrival of K'inich Yax K'uk Mo' in the year 426 AD. C., who established a dynasty of 16 kings who would govern the city until its abandonment at the beginning of the 9th century AD

The arrival of this character is directly related to the expansion of Teotihuacán and Tikal during the first half of the Early Classic, as evidenced by the presence of buildings, objects and symbols from these two regions. In the following two centuries, Copán consolidated itself as a regional capital, with strong ties to the Lowlands.

It is the time of the reign of K'ahk Uti' Witz' K'awiil (Jaguar Smoke) and his son Waxaklajuun Ubaah K'awiil (18 Rabbit), between the years 628 and 738 AD However, history had a change of course when King K'ahk' Tiliw Chaan Yopaat of Quirigua captured the latter and sacrificed him.

Although this event did not mean the end of Copán, it did mark the beginning of a gradual weakening, which would end with political collapse around the year 822 AD. During the second half of the 8th century AD, the rulers of Copán were forced to redirect their connections policies, given the emergence of Quiriguá as a new regional center in the Middle Valley of the Motagua River.

That is why at this time the presence of objects from the Lenca region increases. Likewise, the government of Yax Pasah Chaan Yopaat (Madrugada or Yax Pac) (763-810 AD) is characterized by the decentralization of political power, including lower sectors of the nobility within the government.

However, although these strategies maintained the splendor of Copán until the beginning of the 9th century AD, they did not prevent the city from being abandoned in the following decades, as happened with many other contemporary Mayan cities.

A flood was produced by the Heart of Heaven; A great flood formed, which fell on the heads of the stick figures.

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