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Tak'alik Ab'aj (; ; ) is a pre-Columbian archaeological site in Guatemala. It was formerly known as Abaj Takalik; its ancient name may have been Kooja. It is one of several Mesoamerican sites with both Olmec and Maya features. The site flourished in the Preclassic and Classic periods, from the 9th century BC through to at least the 10th century AD, and was an important centre of commerce,〔Love 2007, p. 297. Popenoe de Hatch 2005, pp. 992, 994.〕 trading with Kaminaljuyu and Chocolá. Investigations have revealed that it is one of the largest sites with sculptured monuments on the Pacific coastal plain.〔Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 236.〕 Olmec-style sculptures include a possible colossal head, petroglyphs and others.〔Love 2007, p. 288.〕 The site has one of the greatest concentrations of Olmec-style sculpture outside of the Gulf of Mexico.〔 Takalik Abaj is representative of the first blossoming of Maya culture that had occurred by about 400 BC.〔Sharer and Traxler 2006, p. 33.〕 The site includes a Maya royal tomb and examples of Maya hieroglyphic inscriptions that are among the earliest from the Maya region. Excavation is continuing at the site; the monumental architecture and persistent tradition of sculpture in a variety of styles suggest the site was of some importance.〔Adams 1996, p. 81.〕 Finds from the site indicate contact with the distant metropolis of Teotihuacan in the Valley of Mexico and imply that Takalik Abaj was conquered by it or its allies.〔Popenoe de Hatch and Schieber de Lavarreda 2001, pp. 993–4.〕 Takalik Abaj was linked to long-distance Maya trade routes that shifted over time but allowed the city to participate in a trade network that included the Guatemalan highlands and the Pacific coastal plain from Mexico to El Salvador. Takalik Abaj was a sizeable city with the principal architecture clustered into four main groups spread across nine terraces. While some of these were natural features, others were artificial constructions requiring an enormous investment in labour and materials.〔Wolley Schwarz 2001, pp. 1006, 1009.〕 The site featured a sophisticated water drainage system and a wealth of sculptured monuments. ==Etymology== ''Tak'alik Ab'aj 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Takalik Abaj」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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