Tulane University

Article from the Tulane University News
By Carolyn Scofield cscofiel@tulane.edu

Archaeologists with the La Corona Regional Archaeological Project in Guatemala, who in 2012 discovered the second known reference to the so-called ‘€œend date of the Maya calendar‘€, have announced more significant finds from the same site.

The discoveries, announced this week by archaeologists from Tulane and Del Valle universities, include a stucco mask found inside a nearly 70 foot pyramid at the site of the El Achiotal, project in Guatemala. The pyramid, which dates back to the 1st century BCE, is the tallest building at the site.

The approximately 6 foot tall mask, still covered in its original polychrome paint decoration, depicts the Principal Bird Deity, an important character in the Maya creation myth and integral to early kingship in the Maya lowlands.

‘€œMore than half the temple is still to be excavated,‘€ notes Marcello A. Canuto, co-director of the project and Director of Tulane University‘€™s Middle American Research Institute. ‘€œThis is a beautifully preserved stucco mask from one of the early periods of this interesting site.‘€

Tulane graduate student Maxime Lamoureux St-Hilaire, a member of the La Corona team, also discovered two hieroglyphic panels in nearly pristine state at the nearby La Corona palace.

Read the full article here.