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La Muerta is a Maya archaeological site in the northern Petén region of Guatemala, located between the sites of El Mirador and El Tintal. [1] 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. [2] La Muerta was inhabited during the Early to Late Classic Period. [3] The site has been extensively looted. [4]
Although the precise origin of the name is unknown, the site takes its name from when it was used as a gum-gatherers' camp, [5] the name meaning "the dead (woman or thing)" in Spanish.
La Muerta was investigated by archaeologist Richard D. Hansen in the 1980s. [6] Some of the roof combs of the structures remain in good condition. [7] The site is divided into North and South Groups, located approximately 400 metres (1,300 ft) apart. [8] Eleven residential areas have been identified within these two groups. [9]
Structure A1 is a temple with a north-facing stairway. [10] The building measures 11.5 metres (38 ft) by 8.6 metres (28 ft) and is 9.4 metres (31 ft) high, [11] with walls built of limestone. [12] The structure has been severely damaged by looters. [13] During archaeological investigations of the building, a damaged but finely crafted stucco face was excavated. [14]
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. [15] Archaeologists have completely excavated the interior of the structure. [16] The structure has six vaulted rooms of different sizes with fine stucco floors. [17] The walls had been partially faced with stucco which showed traces of red paint. [18] The building had stairways on the north and south sides, [19] these were flanked by poorly preserved sculpted masks that had traces of red and blue paint. [20] Investigations of Structure A2 have revealed abundant ceramics dating to both the Early and Late Classic. [21]
Structure 2 at La Muerta is one of the most unusual Maya buildings in the northern Petén region, with a two-level subterranean labyrinth. [22]
Monument 1 is a sculptured stela that was found in the North Group. [23] It was in a very poor state of preservation, being badly eroded and broken into more than 900 fragments of various sizes. [24] It is likely that the monument was deliberately destroyed in antiquity. [25] The stela bears the image of a head in profile, wearing a mask. [26] The face is above the representation of a large monster head with upper teeth. [27] A column of at least six hieroglyphs is also present. [28] The main figure is thought to be that of a deity. [29]
Stela 2 is an isolated monument located about 100 metres (330 ft) north of the path leading to El Mirador. [30] 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. [31] 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. [32]
This article is part of a series on the |
Maya civilization |
---|
History |
Spanish conquest of the Maya |
|
La Muerta is a Maya archaeological site in the northern Petén region of Guatemala, located between the sites of El Mirador and El Tintal. [1] 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. [2] La Muerta was inhabited during the Early to Late Classic Period. [3] The site has been extensively looted. [4]
Although the precise origin of the name is unknown, the site takes its name from when it was used as a gum-gatherers' camp, [5] the name meaning "the dead (woman or thing)" in Spanish.
La Muerta was investigated by archaeologist Richard D. Hansen in the 1980s. [6] Some of the roof combs of the structures remain in good condition. [7] The site is divided into North and South Groups, located approximately 400 metres (1,300 ft) apart. [8] Eleven residential areas have been identified within these two groups. [9]
Structure A1 is a temple with a north-facing stairway. [10] The building measures 11.5 metres (38 ft) by 8.6 metres (28 ft) and is 9.4 metres (31 ft) high, [11] with walls built of limestone. [12] The structure has been severely damaged by looters. [13] During archaeological investigations of the building, a damaged but finely crafted stucco face was excavated. [14]
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. [15] Archaeologists have completely excavated the interior of the structure. [16] The structure has six vaulted rooms of different sizes with fine stucco floors. [17] The walls had been partially faced with stucco which showed traces of red paint. [18] The building had stairways on the north and south sides, [19] these were flanked by poorly preserved sculpted masks that had traces of red and blue paint. [20] Investigations of Structure A2 have revealed abundant ceramics dating to both the Early and Late Classic. [21]
Structure 2 at La Muerta is one of the most unusual Maya buildings in the northern Petén region, with a two-level subterranean labyrinth. [22]
Monument 1 is a sculptured stela that was found in the North Group. [23] It was in a very poor state of preservation, being badly eroded and broken into more than 900 fragments of various sizes. [24] It is likely that the monument was deliberately destroyed in antiquity. [25] The stela bears the image of a head in profile, wearing a mask. [26] The face is above the representation of a large monster head with upper teeth. [27] A column of at least six hieroglyphs is also present. [28] The main figure is thought to be that of a deity. [29]
Stela 2 is an isolated monument located about 100 metres (330 ft) north of the path leading to El Mirador. [30] 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. [31] 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. [32]