Ixtutz
Encyclopedia
Ixtutz was an important Classic Period
Maya city
located south of Ixkun
in southeastern Petén
, Guatemala
. Ixtutz is situated in the valley of the Poxte River
in the western portion of the Maya Mountains
. The site was inhabited during the Preclassic Period to the end of the Terminal Classic Period of Mesoamerican chronology
and dominated the western portion of the Dolores
valley.
In the Late Classic Ixtutz was one of the most important centres in the Dolores region, competing fiercely with other sites in the area, and maintained strong political relations with the cities of the southwestern Petén such as Dos Pilas
and Machaquila
.
of Dolores
, 8 kilometres (5 mi) southwest of that town, in the Petén Department of northern Guatemala. The site is situated at an altitude of 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) above mean sea level
in the valley of the Poxte River, surrounded by hilly terrain. The river itself flows westwards of the site.
An area of 1 square kilometre (0.386102158592535 sq mi) is protected by the Guatemalan Institute of Anthropology and History
. This area is covered by primary rainforest, although the surrounding countryside has been cleared for agriculture.
Other Maya
archaeological sites in the Ixtutz area include Ixtonton
at 8.7 kilometres (5.4 mi), Ixkun at 12 kilometres (7.5 mi), Ixcol at 8.2 kilometres (5.1 mi), Moquena at 8.8 kilometres (5.5 mi), El Tzic at 9.4 kilometres (5.8 mi), Sukche at 5.7 kilometres (3.5 mi), Ixcoxol at 4.7 kilometres (2.9 mi), Nocsos at 5.8 kilometres (3.6 mi), Curucuitz at 2.9 kilometres (1.8 mi), Mopan 2 at 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), Tesik at 2.9 kilometres (1.8 mi), Ixec at 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) and Ixac at 7 kilometres (4.3 mi).
Ixtutx was first occupied in the Late Preclassic and occupation continued through the Classic Period. The city appears to have already been important before it started erecting sculpted monuments in the Late Classic.
During the Late Classic Ixtutz was one of the five most important Maya cities in the northwestern portion of the Maya Mountains
, along with Sacul
, Ixtonton, Ixkun and Curucuitz. Around 760 AD the political organization of the region appears to have changed and the rulers of Ixtutz and neighbouring Sacul began to erect sculpted monuments with hieroglyphic texts and to use their own Emblem Glyphs.
In the late 8th century AD Ixtutz was subordinate to one of the Petexbatún
cities to the west. A text on Stela 4 mentions that Ixtutz's overlord came from the city of Mutuul and this was likely to have been either the kingdom of Seibal
-La Amelia
or Aguateca
, although at this time four different kingdoms in the region were claiming the Mutuul title of the fallen Dos Pilas kingdom.
A stela dated to AD 780 records a ceremony performed by king Aj Yaxjal B’aak
and attended by his overlord from the Petexbatún, most likely to have been Tan Te' K'inich
of Aguateca, and 28 other lords from both within the Dolores valley and further afield. Ixtutz experienced a decrease in activity during the Terminal Classic
period, after AD 825 all sites in the region ceased to erect further monuments although occupation continued. Ixtutz and other centres in the Dolores region were finally abandoned at the end of the Terminal Classic.
visited the site in 1970–1971. She recorded its monuments and published a site map. Eric Von Euw and Ian Graham
visited Ixtutz in 1972, and published a new map and illustrations of stelae
1–4 together with the fragments of Panel 1. In 1985 archaeologists of the Tikal
Project visited the site, carried out limited test excavations, and moved some monument pieces to Dolores. The Atlas Arqueológico de Guatemala has carried out limited excavations at the site since 1987, including the excavation of four structures located on the Main Plaza.
The ruins have suffered only limited damage from looters.
, a ballcourt and two acropolis complexes with vaulted
palaces. Monuments at the site include 12 stelae
and 4 Altars.
The site contains 9 architectural
groups in the site; in the periphery there are 30 groups with 122 mapped structures. The groups in the site core include a ceremonial group and three groups that could be elite residencial complexes. The site lacks a Mesoamerican ballcourt. A large enclosure within the ceremonial group may have been dedicated to the cultivation of a high-value crop such as cacao although this has not been confirmed. Although the site was occupied during the Preclassic period, the majority of the architecture is believed to date to the Late Classic. The ceremonial city of the centre, in spite of the simplicity of its layout, possesses traits that distinguish it as an important regional site. Among these traits the most unusual is the presence of an E-Group
complex, the only such complex in the entire Dolores region. Ixtutz has stylistic similarities with Machaquila in southwest Petén.
A hieroglyphic text on a stela at the site mentions the Late Classic
city of Dos Pilas in the Petexbatún
region. At least one monument from the site depicts a war captive.
Structure 1 is on the north side of Plaza A. The structure has two levels and a south-facing stairway where the treads are much wider than the height of the risers. The summit of the upper level of the structure was flat, possessing no superstructure.
Structure 2 is the West Pyramid of the E-Group. It is very poorly preserved with various part of the building having collapsed and with no surviving trace of any access stairway. It supported a bench on the summit. The remains of Stela 5 were found in front of this building.
Structure 3 is at the southern extreme of the west side of Plaza A and is in a poor state of preservation. It was built from large blocks that measured up to 0.8 metres (2.6 ft) high by 0.6 metres (2 ft) thick. The steps start wider than their height, with the treads 0.92 metres (3 ft) wide until the sixth step, after which they decrease to a width 0.6 metres (2 ft). A raised bench is set into the upper platform.
Structures 4, 5 and 6 together form the South Platform, enclosing the south side of Plaza A. They were built with thin, flat stones without much mortar between. The platform's access stairway climbs the central section (Structure 5).
Structure 4 is a small structure set upon the lowest section of the platform on the west side. The platform is only 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) high on this side.
Structure 5 is 4 metres (13.1 ft) high and comprises the centre section of the south platform. The facade of the structure supports the platforms access stairway while the rear descends in two terraces. Two benches are upon the upper part of the structure.
Structure 6 is very similar to Structure 4 and forms the east section of the South Platform.
The East Platform of the E-Group supports Structures 9, 10 and 11. The platform is 65 metres (213.3 ft) long and 2 metres (6.6 ft) high.
Structure 9 is upon the southern part of the East Platform. It is 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) high.
Structure 10 is the central structure of the E-Group East Platform. The structure had no superstructure but supported a 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) high platform. The stub of Stela 7 was found in front of this platform.
Structure 11 stands upon the northern part of the East Platform. It is 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) high.
Structure 12 is a basal platform on the west side of the patio. It supports two platforms.
Structure 15 is a platform with a wide access stairway located on the east side of the patio.
Panel 1 was originally set into Structure 1 on the north side of Plaza A.
Panel 2 is fragmented, the pieces have been moved to Dolores and are now in the Museo Regional del Sureste de Petén
(Southeastern Petén Regional Museum). It was originally set into Structure 1 with Panel 1.
Stelae 1 through to 4 were all erected at the east end of the main plaza and were served by a single altar. All five monuments were likely to have been erected by Aj Yaxjal B’aak.
Stelae 1, 2 and 3 all remain in situ at Ixtutz, protected by palm-leaf canopies.
Stela 4 was originally located at the base of the platform that supported Structures 9, 10 and 11 in Group A. The monument carved from limestone
and is sculpted on one face only and contains a hieroglyphic text without any accompanying portrait. The text is largely well-preserved due to the monument having fallen face down in ancient times. This text records that the stela was dedicated on 28 November in AD 780.
Stela 5 was a limestone monument erected in front of Structure 2 (the West Pyramid). The stela was badly fragmented and may have been plain.
Stela 7 was placed on the summit of Structure 10, in front of its summit platform. Only the base of the stela remains in place.
Mesoamerican chronology
Mesoamerican chronology divides the history of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica into several periods: the Paleo-Indian , the Archaic , the Preclassic , the Classic , and the Postclassic...
Maya city
Maya city
A Maya city was a centre of population of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization of Mesoamerica. It served the specialised roles of administration, commerce, manufacturing and religion that characterised ancient cities worldwide...
located south of Ixkun
Ixkun
Ixkun is a pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site, situated in the Petén Basin region of the southern Maya lowlands. It lies to the north of the town of Dolores, in the modern-day department of Petén, Guatemala...
in southeastern Petén
Petén Basin
The Petén Basin is a geographical subregion of Mesoamerica, located in the northern portion of the modern-day nation of Guatemala, and essentially contained within the department of El Petén...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. Ixtutz is situated in the valley of the Poxte River
Poxte River
Poxte is a river and valley of the Maya Mountains in Guatemala. The valley is noted for numerous Maya sites such as Ixtutz and the Petén Caves. The river is located on the southwest of the Dolores plateau and northwest of Poptún, in the Guatemalan department of Petén. The source of the river is on...
in the western portion of the Maya Mountains
Maya Mountains
The Maya Mountains are a mountain range in Belize and eastern Guatemala. The highest peaks are Doyle's Delight at and Victoria Peak at . The Maya Mountains and associated foothills contain a number of important Mayan ruins including the sites of Lubaantun, Nim Li Punit, Cahal Pech, and Chaa Creek;...
. The site was inhabited during the Preclassic Period to the end of the Terminal Classic Period of Mesoamerican chronology
Mesoamerican chronology
Mesoamerican chronology divides the history of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica into several periods: the Paleo-Indian , the Archaic , the Preclassic , the Classic , and the Postclassic...
and dominated the western portion of the Dolores
Dolores, El Petén
Dolores is a municipality in the El Petén department of Guatemala. It contains 26,269 people. The municipality includes the Maya archaeological sites of Ixkun, Ixtutz, Ixtonton and El Chal. The town is home to the Museo Regional del Sureste de Petén....
valley.
In the Late Classic Ixtutz was one of the most important centres in the Dolores region, competing fiercely with other sites in the area, and maintained strong political relations with the cities of the southwestern Petén such as Dos Pilas
Dos Pilas
Dos Pilas is a Pre-Columbian site of the Maya civilization located in what is now the department of Petén, Guatemala. It dates to the Late Classic Period, being founded by an offshoot of the dynasty of the great city of Tikal in AD 629 in order to control trade routes in the Petexbatún region,...
and Machaquila
Machaquila
Machaquilá refers to a ruined city of the Maya civilization in what is now the El Peten department of Guatemala. There is also a small Guatemalan village several kilometers from the site that bears the name Machaquilá.-History:...
.
Location
Ixtutz is located in the municipalityMunicipalities of Guatemala
The departments of Guatemala are divided into 332 municipalities or municipios. The municipalities are listed below, by department:-Alta Verapaz Department:*Cahabón*Chahal*Chisec*Cobán*Fray Bartolomé de las Casas*Lanquín*Panzós*Raxruha...
of Dolores
Dolores
-Places:*Argentina**Dolores, Buenos Aires*Belize**Rancho Dolores*Colombia** Dolores, Tolima*Guatemala**Dolores, El Petén*Mexico** Dolores Hidalgo, a town in Guanajuato** Dolores, Baja California Sur** Dolores, Chihuahua*Philippines** Dolores, Abra...
, 8 kilometres (5 mi) southwest of that town, in the Petén Department of northern Guatemala. The site is situated at an altitude of 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) above mean sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
in the valley of the Poxte River, surrounded by hilly terrain. The river itself flows westwards of the site.
An area of 1 square kilometre (0.386102158592535 sq mi) is protected by the Guatemalan Institute of Anthropology and History
Instituto de Antropología e Historia
The Instituto de Antropología e Historia is the national institute in Guatemala responsible for the protection and maintenance of Guatemala's historical and archaeological sites, monuments, artefacts, and other aspects of the nation's cultural heritage.IDAEH was established by governmental decree...
. This area is covered by primary rainforest, although the surrounding countryside has been cleared for agriculture.
Other Maya
Maya civilization
The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as for its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period The Maya is a Mesoamerican...
archaeological sites in the Ixtutz area include Ixtonton
Ixtonton
Ixtonton is a Maya archaeological site in the department of Petén in northern Guatemala. It is located in the northwestern portion of the Maya Mountains in the municipality of Dolores. The ruins are situated approximately east of the town of Dolores itself. Ixtonton was the capital city of one of...
at 8.7 kilometres (5.4 mi), Ixkun at 12 kilometres (7.5 mi), Ixcol at 8.2 kilometres (5.1 mi), Moquena at 8.8 kilometres (5.5 mi), El Tzic at 9.4 kilometres (5.8 mi), Sukche at 5.7 kilometres (3.5 mi), Ixcoxol at 4.7 kilometres (2.9 mi), Nocsos at 5.8 kilometres (3.6 mi), Curucuitz at 2.9 kilometres (1.8 mi), Mopan 2 at 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), Tesik at 2.9 kilometres (1.8 mi), Ixec at 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) and Ixac at 7 kilometres (4.3 mi).
History
| Name | Ruled |
|---|---|
| Aj Yaxjal B’aak Aj Yaxjal B’aak Aj Yaxjal B’aak was the only known ruler of the Maya city of Ixtutz. This town was very important.A stela dated to AD 780 records a ceremony performed by Aj Yaxjal B’aak and attended by his overlord from the Petexbatún, most likely to have been Tan Te' K'inich of Aguateca, and 28 other lords from... |
c.780 |
Ixtutx was first occupied in the Late Preclassic and occupation continued through the Classic Period. The city appears to have already been important before it started erecting sculpted monuments in the Late Classic.
During the Late Classic Ixtutz was one of the five most important Maya cities in the northwestern portion of the Maya Mountains
Maya Mountains
The Maya Mountains are a mountain range in Belize and eastern Guatemala. The highest peaks are Doyle's Delight at and Victoria Peak at . The Maya Mountains and associated foothills contain a number of important Mayan ruins including the sites of Lubaantun, Nim Li Punit, Cahal Pech, and Chaa Creek;...
, along with Sacul
Sacul, El Petén
Sacul is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the upper drainage of the Mopan River, in the Petén department of Guatemala. The city occupied an important trade route through the Maya Mountains. The main period of occupation dates to the Late Classic Period...
, Ixtonton, Ixkun and Curucuitz. Around 760 AD the political organization of the region appears to have changed and the rulers of Ixtutz and neighbouring Sacul began to erect sculpted monuments with hieroglyphic texts and to use their own Emblem Glyphs.
In the late 8th century AD Ixtutz was subordinate to one of the Petexbatún
Petexbatún
Petexbatún is a small lake formed by a river of the same name, which is a tributary of the La Pasion river. It is near Sayaxché, located in the southern area of the Guatemalan department of Petén....
cities to the west. A text on Stela 4 mentions that Ixtutz's overlord came from the city of Mutuul and this was likely to have been either the kingdom of Seibal
Seibal
Seibal, known as El Ceibal in Spanish, is a Classic Period archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the northern Petén Department of Guatemala. It was the largest city in the Pasión River region....
-La Amelia
La Amelia
La Amelia is a Pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site near Itzan, in the lower Pasión River region of the Petén Department of Guatemala. It formed a polity in the Late Classic , and was involved in the war between Tikal and Calakmul followed, in 650, by the take over of Dos Pilas, leading to...
or Aguateca
Aguateca
Aguateca is a Maya site located in northern Guatemala's Petexbatun Basin, in the department of Petén. The first settlements at Aguateca date to the Late Preclassic period , and the city was sacked and abandoned in the early 9th century. Aguateca sits on top of a tall limestone bluff, creating a...
, although at this time four different kingdoms in the region were claiming the Mutuul title of the fallen Dos Pilas kingdom.
A stela dated to AD 780 records a ceremony performed by king Aj Yaxjal B’aak
Aj Yaxjal B’aak
Aj Yaxjal B’aak was the only known ruler of the Maya city of Ixtutz. This town was very important.A stela dated to AD 780 records a ceremony performed by Aj Yaxjal B’aak and attended by his overlord from the Petexbatún, most likely to have been Tan Te' K'inich of Aguateca, and 28 other lords from...
and attended by his overlord from the Petexbatún, most likely to have been Tan Te' K'inich
Tan Te' K'inich
Tan Te' K'inich was a Maya king of the ancient city of Aguateca, in the Petén Department of modern Guatemala.-Biography:He was born on January 22, 748...
of Aguateca, and 28 other lords from both within the Dolores valley and further afield. Ixtutz experienced a decrease in activity during the Terminal Classic
Mesoamerican chronology
Mesoamerican chronology divides the history of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica into several periods: the Paleo-Indian , the Archaic , the Preclassic , the Classic , and the Postclassic...
period, after AD 825 all sites in the region ceased to erect further monuments although occupation continued. Ixtutz and other centres in the Dolores region were finally abandoned at the end of the Terminal Classic.
Modern history
The site was first discovered in 1852 by Colonel Modesto Mendez (then Governor of Petén) and Eusebio Lara before being lost for more than a century. American archaeologist Merle Greene RobertsonMerle Greene Robertson
Merle Greene Robertson was an American artist, art historian, archaeologist, lecturer and Mayanist researcher, renowned for her extensive work towards the investigation and preservation of the art, iconography and writing of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization of Central America.-Early...
visited the site in 1970–1971. She recorded its monuments and published a site map. Eric Von Euw and Ian Graham
Ian Graham
Ian Graham is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Collingwood in the VFL during the 1960s.His best season came in 1964 when he won the Copeland Trophy for Collingwood's Best and Fairest player...
visited Ixtutz in 1972, and published a new map and illustrations of stelae
Stele
A stele , also stela , is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerals or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living — inscribed, carved in relief , or painted onto the slab...
1–4 together with the fragments of Panel 1. In 1985 archaeologists of the Tikal
Tikal
Tikal is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala...
Project visited the site, carried out limited test excavations, and moved some monument pieces to Dolores. The Atlas Arqueológico de Guatemala has carried out limited excavations at the site since 1987, including the excavation of four structures located on the Main Plaza.
The ruins have suffered only limited damage from looters.
Site description
Ixtutz includes several plazas and temple pyramidsMesoamerican pyramids
Mesoamerican pyramids, pyramid-shaped structures, are an important part of ancient Mesoamerican architecture. These structures were usually step pyramids with temples on top – more akin to the ziggurats of Mesopotamia than to the pyramids of Ancient Egypt...
, a ballcourt and two acropolis complexes with vaulted
Corbel arch
A corbel arch is an arch-like construction method that uses the architectural technique of corbeling to span a space or void in a structure, such as an entranceway in a wall or as the span of a bridge...
palaces. Monuments at the site include 12 stelae
Maya stelae
Maya stelae are monuments that were fashioned by the Maya civilization of ancient Mesoamerica. They consist of tall sculpted stone shafts and are often associated with low circular stones referred to as altars, although their actual function is uncertain. Many stelae were sculpted in low relief,...
and 4 Altars.
The site contains 9 architectural
Maya architecture
A unique and spectacular style, Maya architecture spans several thousands of years. Often the most dramatic and easily recognizable as Maya are the stepped pyramids from the Terminal Pre-classic period and beyond. Being based on the general Mesoamerican architectural traditions these pyramids...
groups in the site; in the periphery there are 30 groups with 122 mapped structures. The groups in the site core include a ceremonial group and three groups that could be elite residencial complexes. The site lacks a Mesoamerican ballcourt. A large enclosure within the ceremonial group may have been dedicated to the cultivation of a high-value crop such as cacao although this has not been confirmed. Although the site was occupied during the Preclassic period, the majority of the architecture is believed to date to the Late Classic. The ceremonial city of the centre, in spite of the simplicity of its layout, possesses traits that distinguish it as an important regional site. Among these traits the most unusual is the presence of an E-Group
E-Group
E-Groups are unique architectural complexes found among a number of ancient Maya settlements. They are central components to the settlement organization of Maya sites and could have served as astronomical observatories. The alignment of these structural complexes corresponds to the sun's...
complex, the only such complex in the entire Dolores region. Ixtutz has stylistic similarities with Machaquila in southwest Petén.
A hieroglyphic text on a stela at the site mentions the Late Classic
Mesoamerican chronology
Mesoamerican chronology divides the history of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica into several periods: the Paleo-Indian , the Archaic , the Preclassic , the Classic , and the Postclassic...
city of Dos Pilas in the Petexbatún
Petexbatún
Petexbatún is a small lake formed by a river of the same name, which is a tributary of the La Pasion river. It is near Sayaxché, located in the southern area of the Guatemalan department of Petén....
region. At least one monument from the site depicts a war captive.
Group A
Plaza A is the largest plaza in Ixtutz, with a total area of 2925 square metres (31,484.4 sq ft). The plaza includes 11 structures, including the only E-group complex in the region. The structures around the plaza have been dated to the Late Classic.Structure 1 is on the north side of Plaza A. The structure has two levels and a south-facing stairway where the treads are much wider than the height of the risers. The summit of the upper level of the structure was flat, possessing no superstructure.
Structure 2 is the West Pyramid of the E-Group. It is very poorly preserved with various part of the building having collapsed and with no surviving trace of any access stairway. It supported a bench on the summit. The remains of Stela 5 were found in front of this building.
Structure 3 is at the southern extreme of the west side of Plaza A and is in a poor state of preservation. It was built from large blocks that measured up to 0.8 metres (2.6 ft) high by 0.6 metres (2 ft) thick. The steps start wider than their height, with the treads 0.92 metres (3 ft) wide until the sixth step, after which they decrease to a width 0.6 metres (2 ft). A raised bench is set into the upper platform.
Structures 4, 5 and 6 together form the South Platform, enclosing the south side of Plaza A. They were built with thin, flat stones without much mortar between. The platform's access stairway climbs the central section (Structure 5).
Structure 4 is a small structure set upon the lowest section of the platform on the west side. The platform is only 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) high on this side.
Structure 5 is 4 metres (13.1 ft) high and comprises the centre section of the south platform. The facade of the structure supports the platforms access stairway while the rear descends in two terraces. Two benches are upon the upper part of the structure.
Structure 6 is very similar to Structure 4 and forms the east section of the South Platform.
The East Platform of the E-Group supports Structures 9, 10 and 11. The platform is 65 metres (213.3 ft) long and 2 metres (6.6 ft) high.
Structure 9 is upon the southern part of the East Platform. It is 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) high.
Structure 10 is the central structure of the E-Group East Platform. The structure had no superstructure but supported a 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) high platform. The stub of Stela 7 was found in front of this platform.
Structure 11 stands upon the northern part of the East Platform. It is 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) high.
Group B
This group is located to the northeast of Group A. It is a secondary ceremonial centre dating to the Late Classic and possesses 5 structures laid out around a 650 square metres (6,996.5 sq ft) patio.Structure 12 is a basal platform on the west side of the patio. It supports two platforms.
Structure 15 is a platform with a wide access stairway located on the east side of the patio.
Group C
Group C is situated on a 45 metres (147.6 ft) high limestone hill to the west of Group A. The group consists of 7 low platforms laid out around a 670 square metres (7,211.8 sq ft) plaza, leaving the patio open on the east side.Group J
Group J is located northeast of Group A, to the north of Group B. There are 3 structures arranged around a 450 square metres (4,843.8 sq ft) patio. The largest structure is on the north side while the south side was left open. Investigations revealed three layers of occupation, with the final layer dating to the Late Classic and the earlier levels to the Preclassic.Monuments
The plaza in Group A contained a number of sculpted monuments that were likely to have been erected by king Aj Yaxjal B’aak in the 8th century AD.Panel 1 was originally set into Structure 1 on the north side of Plaza A.
Panel 2 is fragmented, the pieces have been moved to Dolores and are now in the Museo Regional del Sureste de Petén
Museo Regional del Sureste de Petén
The Museo Regional del Sureste de Petén is an archaeological museum in the town of Dolores in the Petén Department of Guatemala. The museum is located from Flores, the departmental capital, among the Maya Mountains in an area rich in archaeological sites...
(Southeastern Petén Regional Museum). It was originally set into Structure 1 with Panel 1.
Stelae 1 through to 4 were all erected at the east end of the main plaza and were served by a single altar. All five monuments were likely to have been erected by Aj Yaxjal B’aak.
Stelae 1, 2 and 3 all remain in situ at Ixtutz, protected by palm-leaf canopies.
Stela 4 was originally located at the base of the platform that supported Structures 9, 10 and 11 in Group A. The monument carved from limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and is sculpted on one face only and contains a hieroglyphic text without any accompanying portrait. The text is largely well-preserved due to the monument having fallen face down in ancient times. This text records that the stela was dedicated on 28 November in AD 780.
Stela 5 was a limestone monument erected in front of Structure 2 (the West Pyramid). The stela was badly fragmented and may have been plain.
Stela 7 was placed on the summit of Structure 10, in front of its summit platform. Only the base of the stela remains in place.