The Battle and the Ruins of Cintla

Names, languages and ruined buildings supply the evidence in Daniel G. Brinton's investigation of Cintla. His historical and archaeological essay examines a battle in Tabasco between Cortes's forces and local defenders in March 1519. Brinton compares contemporary accounts, questions competing spellings and considers possible meanings of place names. The discussion connects the identification of the battlefield with the languages spoken by the region's Mayan communities.

C. H. Berendt's papers and his survey of the ruins provide another line of inquiry. Earthen mounds coated with mortar, preserved stairs and clay animal figures bearing traces of paint give readers specific objects to set beside the written accounts. For readers interested in Tabasco's history or the interpretation of archaeological remains, the essay shows how Brinton builds an argument from chronicles, linguistic evidence and descriptions of structures, while acknowledging doubts about names and locations.