E-Group

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E-Groups are unique architectural complexes found among a number of ancient Maya settlements. They are central components to the settlement organization of Maya sites and served as astronomical observatories. The alignment of these structural complexes corresponds to the sun's solstices and equinoxes.

[edit] Origin of the name

E-Groups are named after “Group E” at the Classic period site of Uaxactun, which was the first one documented by Mesoamerican archaeologists. [1] At Uaxactun, the Group E complex consists of a long terraced platform with three supra-structures arranged along a linear axis oriented north-south. The two smaller outlying structures flank the larger central temple. A stairway leads down to a plaza formed by Uaxacatun’s Pyramid E-VII. Three stele immediately front the E-Group, and a larger stele is located midway between Group E and Pyramid E-VII. Each of the four stairways incorporated into the complex (the main central one and three leading up to each supra-structure) bear two side masks (for a total of 16).

From a point of observation on Pyramid E-VII, the three structures have the following orientation:

South structure (Temple E-I) – inline with the sunrise on June 21 (solstice)
North structure (Temple E-III)– inline with the sunrise on December 21 (solstice)
Central Structure (Temple E-II)– inline with the sunrise on September 23 and March 21 (equinoxes)

[edit] Distribution in Mesoamerica

E-Groups are found at a number of sites in the Maya area. The construction of several date to the same period as the original in Uaxacatun. These include the "Lost World Pyramid" at Tikal in Guatemala and Str. 5C-2nd at Cerros, in Belize. Caracol, also in Belize and the site that defeated Tikal during the Late Classic, has a large-scale E-Group located in the western portion of its central core.