The Lamanites Show Their True Colors ~ Shemlon

Zeniff continues he record:

Now it was the cunning and the craftiness of king Laman, to bring my people into bondage, that he yielded up the land that we might possess it . . .  Now they were a lazy and an idolatrous people; therefore they were desirous to bring us into bondage, that they might glut themselves with the labors of our hands; yea, that they might feast themselves upon the flocks of our fields (Mosiah 9: 10, 12) [1]

After a dozen years of peace, the Lamanites began to rise up against the Nephites.  It began with isolated raids from the Lamanite city of Shemlon upon the herds and farms around the Nephite city of Shilom.  The Nephites were forced to flee behind the walls surrounding their city (see Mosiah 9.) Apparently, the Lamanites found it easier to steal grain than to grow it.

What began as isolated raids soon bloomed into full warfare.  Within a score of years, the Nephites were virtually prisoners of the Lamanites, forced to pay a tribute of 50% of their increase. Constantly under fear of future Lamanite warfare and exorbitantly taxed, the Zeniffites lived in constant terror and penury.

Where is Shemlon?

Sorensen states that there are three sites in the area that could easily qualify as Shemlon.  I will be discussing one of these below.  There are also many underwater archaeological sites in the lake itself (Amatitlan, the smaller of the two lakes on the map above.)

What geographical characteristics must Shemlon have to fit the descriptions in the Book of Mormon?  These are the fact that I gleaned from Sorensen:

• Shemlon must be at a lower elevation than Shilom because Lamanite raiders are always described as going up to Shilom and up to Nephi.
• The Nephites are described as setting watches on high bluffs and towers to watch for Lamanite attacks.  The land around Shilom (Fructa) ends in a high bluff, so Shilom must be south of the bluff and/or at a lower elevation.
• It must be geographically and culturally tied to the Lamanite cities along the coast, the site of first landing of Lehi's family.
• It must be situated as a gateway location into the Guatemala Valley.
• Lamanite warriors would have to travel northward from Shemlon to reach Shilom and Nephi.

One of those possible sites for Shemlon is Amatitlán on the southern shore of the lake that bears its name.  It fits all of the above criteria.  Archaeologically speaking, cultural artifacts show that the area was occupied from around 500 BC, the middle Pre-Classic period.[1] This also fits the Book of Mormon timeline of the Lamanites moving up from the ocean piedmont areas to the higher elevations of the Land of Nephi.

There is evidence of agricultural terraces on both the north shore and the south shore of the lake (which would encompass both Shilom and Shemlon.)  Pottery and other cultural artifacts, buildings, and road have been found in the area, both on land and in underwater sites in the area.

The modern-day city occupying the southern shore of Lake Amatitlán is Amatitlán Antigua, or Ancient Amatitlán
 

[1] Evidence of ancient agricultural terraces is evident on the hills of the northern and southern shores of Lake Amatitlán, and several Maya archaeological sites have been identified on the shores as well. The order and type of ceramic styles found at a site can provide clues to its age. At Lake Amatitlán the ceramics indicate that the area has been occupied from at least 500 BC, the Middle Pre-Classic period. http://www.mpm.edu/research-collections/anthropology/online-collections-research/lake-amatitl%C3%A1n-guatemala-collection/ar 

 

Copyright August 2013, Gebara Education

 

Pictures:

Two pictures from www.lds.org

Map from www.latinamericanstudies.org

Ancient Amatitlan from www.tripomatic.com