Mexico Finds Two Sculptures of Mayan Warriors Mexico Finds Two Sculptures of Mayan WarriorsBy Olga R. Rodriguez
July 13, 2011 10:54AM
Two 1,300-year-old sculptures of Mayan warriors have been discovered by Mexican archaeologists. The sculptures have hieroglyphic inscriptions on their loincloths and chest that say the warriors belonged to the city of Copan. The discovery proves warriors from Copan helped those in Palenque during the city's' 26-year war against Tonina.
Mexican archaeologists have found two 1,300-year-old limestone sculptures of captured Mayan warriors that they say could shed light on the alliances and wars among Mayan cities during the civilization's twilight.
The life-size, elaborate sculptures of two warriors sitting cross-legged with hands tied behind their backs were found in May in the archaeological site of Tonina in southern Chiapas state along with two stone ballgame scoreboards.
The 5-foot (1.5-meter) tall sculptures have hieroglyphic inscriptions on their loincloths and chest that say the warriors belonged to the city of Copan, archaeologist Juan Yadeun said in a news release Wednesday.
Yadeun said the discovery proves warriors from Copan helped those in Palenque during the city's' 26-year war against Tonina for control of the Usumacinta river.
"The finding of the two captives of Copan is physical evidence that corroborates (the city's) alliance with Palenque in its fight against Tonina," said Yauden, who oversees the Tonina site for Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History.
Yauden said that from A.D. 688 to 714 Tonina and Palenque fought several battles over watershed areas in the region that fed the Usumacinta river, which now marks the boundary between Mexico and Guatemala.
Many experts have pointed to internal warfare between Mayan city states or environmental degradation as possible causes of the Maya's downfall starting around A.D. 820.
One of the warrior sculptures is complete and the figure has fabric Relevant Products/Services strips in its ears instead of the traditional earmuffs warriors wore, a characteristic element of carvings of prisoners. The other warrior is missing its head, Yauden said.
Archaeologists found the sculptures and scoreboards at the southern end of Tonina's ballcourt. The inscriptions also show the captive warriors were used as offerings along with fire and incense smoke during a celebration at the field around A.D. 695, Yadeun said.
The Maya believed temples had a life of their own and were "born" when they were inaugurated and that is why blood had to be spilled during the opening ceremony to mark their birth, the archaeologist said.
"The Copan prisoners were possibly used during the inauguration ritual of the second phase of adorning the ballcourt so they could give 'life' to the structure," Yadeun said.
It was around the time of conflict with Palenque that Tonina's Maya leaders consecrated the ballcourt to battles fought and victories won and new scoreboards were made, Yauden said.
The scoreboards found also have inscriptions that refer to Copan's kingdom, Yauden said.
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