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San
Gervasio, Cozumel
The
history of San Gervasio dates back to 300-400 AD. During
the period of 1000 - 1200 AD, the Itzas dominated Cozumel,
from where they controlled the trade between Yucatan
and the rest of the region. Archaeological evidence
exists which indicates that the urban settlement model
of San Gervasio was copied from the capital of the Itza
with its plazas connected by Sacbe (white roads built
by the Maya) like at Chichen Itza, and pottery notably
influenced by this culture.
San Gervasio
is a pleasant place to take a stroll. There are no huge
pyramids like at many of the other Mayan sites. Allow
an hour and be prepared for a 22 peso state tax on top
of the 33 peso entrance fee, there is also a 30 peso
tax if you wish to use a video camera. The payments
are made in different locations, and so you seem to
be paying twice, but it's worth the entrance fee, as
they are restoring many parts of the site, and it is
well maintained. It's cheaper to hire & more convenient
to hire a car when you arrive on the Island, as you
have to hire the Taxi for the entire time that you are
at the site, and you don't have the option to visit
the east coast of the Island if you want to. It's only
about 12 kms from the town of San Miguel to the actual
ruins, but only 6 kms to the turn of from the main road.
In prehispanic
days, this construction was the entrance or exit to
the central part of San Gervasio. This in turn leads
to the coastal sites by means of a Sacbe. The pilgrims
and traders would reach the famous sanctuary of the
Goddess Ixchel and deposit an offering at the altar
that lies in the middle of the vaulted passageway. Here
one can appreciate the kind of vaulting used, which
is shaped like an inverted staircase, common on the
east coast.
"The Little
Hands Structure." aptly named because of the small red
hand prints seen on the wall. It's an small building
comprised of two rooms in which a temple was built in
the interior of one of them. Its use could have been
residential as much as ceremonial since the interior
space is quite ample. It is thought that it could have
been the house of the "Ah Hulneb" Itza Overlord
of Cozumel during the period of 1000-1200 AD and that
the inner temple was his personal shrine.
 The
"Murcielagos" and Round House was the most important
building in the Late classic period in San Gervasio
(600-1000 AD) since the principal centre of the site
was found here and was where the Overlord lived. The
building remained in use during later periods, but was
no longer the centre.This was moved to the Central Plaza
and subsequently, the other structures of the group
were built. The Round House is an unusual building due
to its two rounded platforms and its altar which is
also round.
San
Gervasio Pictures
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