La Muerta
Encyclopedia
La Muerta is a Maya
archaeological site in the northern Petén
region of Guatemala
, located between the sites of El Mirador
and El Tintal
. It is located on a promontory 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) south of the El Tigre complex of El Mirador, and it is considered a satellite of that city. La Muerta was inhabited during the Early to Late Classic Period
. The site has been extensively looted.
Although the precise origin of the name is unknown, the site takes its name from when it was used as a gum
-gatherers' camp, the name meaning "the dead (woman or thing)" in Spanish
.
La Muerta was investigated by archaeologist Richard D. Hansen
in the 1980s. Some of the roof comb
s of the structures remain in good condition. The site is divided into North and South Groups, located approximately 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) apart. Eleven residential areas have been identified within these two groups.
. The structure has been severely damaged by looters. During archaeological investigations of the building, a damaged but finely crafted stucco
face was excavated.
Structure A2 is a pyramid
immediately to the west of Structure A1 and has been badly damaged by a combination of natural erosion and looting. Archaeologists have completely excavated the interior of the structure. The structure has six vaulted
rooms of different sizes with fine stucco floors. The walls had been partially faced with stucco which showed traces of red paint. The building had stairways on the north and south sides, these were flanked by poorly preserved sculpted masks that had traces of red and blue paint. Investigations of Structure A2 have revealed abundant ceramics dating to both the Early and Late Classic.
Structure 2 at La Muerta is one of the most unusual Maya buildings
in the northern Petén region, with a two-level subterranean labyrinth.
that was found in the North Group. It was in a very poor state of preservation, being badly eroded and broken into more than 900 fragments of various sizes. It is likely that the monument was deliberately destroyed in antiquity. The stela bears the image of a head in profile, wearing a mask. The face is above the representation of a large monster head with upper teeth. A column of at least six hieroglyphs is also present. The main figure is thought to be that of a deity
.
Stela 2 is an isolated monument located about 100 metres (328.1 ft) north of the path leading to El Mirador. It is a limestone stela measuring 2.9 metres (9.5 ft) tall, and is divided into upper and lower portions by a worn depression. The stela has several carved circular cavities measuring roughly 6 centimetres (2.4 in) across and 3 centimetres (1.2 in) deep but is otherwise plain, it may originally have been covered in painted stucco.
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 site in the northern 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...
region of 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...
, located between the sites of El Mirador
El Mirador
El Mirador is a large pre-Columbian Mayan settlement, located in the north of the modern department of El Petén, Guatemala.-Discovery:El Mirador was first discovered in 1926, and was photographed from the air in 1930, but the remote site deep in the jungle had little more attention paid to it until...
and El Tintal
El Tintal
El Tintal is a Maya archaeological site in the northern Petén region of Guatemala, about northeast of the modern-day settlement of Carmelita, with settlement dating to the Preclassic and Classic periods. It is close to the better known sites of El Mirador , to which it was linked by causeway,...
. It is located on a promontory 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) south of the El Tigre complex of El Mirador, and it is considered a satellite of that city. La Muerta was inhabited during the Early to Late Classic Period
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...
. The site has been extensively looted.
Although the precise origin of the name is unknown, the site takes its name from when it was used as a gum
Chicle
Manilkara chicle is a tropical evergreen tree native to Mexico and Central America. The tree ranges from Veracruz in Mexico south to Atlántico in Colombia...
-gatherers' camp, the name meaning "the dead (woman or thing)" in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.
La Muerta was investigated by archaeologist Richard D. Hansen
Richard D. Hansen
Dr. Richard D. Hansen, Ph.D, is a prominent American archaeologist and currently Senior Scientist at the Institute for Mesoamerican Research in the Department of Anthropology at Idaho State University. Dr. Hansen is a specialist on the ancient Maya and also a director of the Mirador Basin...
in the 1980s. Some of the roof comb
Roof comb
Roof comb is the structure that tops a pyramid in monumental Mesoamerican architecture. Examination of the decorations and iconography of Maya civilization roof-combs indicates that each icon had specific sacred meanings.-External links:...
s of the structures remain in good condition. The site is divided into North and South Groups, located approximately 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) apart. Eleven residential areas have been identified within these two groups.
Structures
Structure A1 is a temple with a north-facing stairway. The building measures 11.5 metres (37.7 ft) by 8.6 metres (28.2 ft) and is 9.4 metres (30.8 ft) high, with walls built of limestoneLimestone
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....
. The structure has been severely damaged by looters. During archaeological investigations of the building, a damaged but finely crafted stucco
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
face was excavated.
Structure A2 is a pyramid
Mesoamerican 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...
immediately to the west of Structure A1 and has been badly damaged by a combination of natural erosion and looting. Archaeologists have completely excavated the interior of the structure. The structure has six 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...
rooms of different sizes with fine stucco floors. The walls had been partially faced with stucco which showed traces of red paint. The building had stairways on the north and south sides, these were flanked by poorly preserved sculpted masks that had traces of red and blue paint. Investigations of Structure A2 have revealed abundant ceramics dating to both the Early and Late Classic.
Structure 2 at La Muerta is one of the most unusual Maya buildings
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...
in the northern Petén region, with a two-level subterranean labyrinth.
Monuments
Monument 1 is a sculptured stelaStele
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...
that was found in the North Group. It was in a very poor state of preservation, being badly eroded and broken into more than 900 fragments of various sizes. It is likely that the monument was deliberately destroyed in antiquity. The stela bears the image of a head in profile, wearing a mask. The face is above the representation of a large monster head with upper teeth. A column of at least six hieroglyphs is also present. The main figure is thought to be that of a deity
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
.
Stela 2 is an isolated monument located about 100 metres (328.1 ft) north of the path leading to El Mirador. It is a limestone stela measuring 2.9 metres (9.5 ft) tall, and is divided into upper and lower portions by a worn depression. The stela has several carved circular cavities measuring roughly 6 centimetres (2.4 in) across and 3 centimetres (1.2 in) deep but is otherwise plain, it may originally have been covered in painted stucco.