[Aztlan] Maya shell plaque

[Rubenstein, Meghan Lee]

Dear All,

I have been doing some research on a carved shell piece from the Maya 
area, but have found few objects like it. I am hoping that by exposing 
it to a larger group, there might be someone who can point me to some 
other sources, or offer a suggestion as to its purpose or meaning. I 
have linked the image below.

The piece is a thin, T-shaped plaque with two holes drilled through the 
top and out the back. The three figures carved on the piece were 
originally thought to be God L, the Jaguar God and the God of Pax. Are 
there any other scenes with these three figures together? I have been 
looking through the images in the Kerr Portfolio, and while many of the 
carved shell pieces are quite different, K8248 relates to this piece in 
an interesting way. The three figures seem to be arranged in a similar 
scene. If anyone knows more about this piece I would be interested as 
well.

I have a higher resolution image of the shell plaque for anyone who 
would like to see the details. Please feel free to contact me off-list.

Meghan
mlrubens at indiana.edu

Maya shell plaque
http://www.iub.edu/~iuam/online_modules/wielgus/middle_america/middle_america86.html

K8248
http://research.famsi.org/portfolio_hires.php?search=maya%20shell&date_added=&image=8248&display=8&rowstart=8