[Aztlan] Calakmul murals

[Mike Reed]

Elaine, your question concerning where to find more
information - and especially more photos - of the
Calakmul murals is one I have been pondering for some
time as well.  Despite having done some half-hearted
internet searches, I have come up with little mention
of these outstanding murals, which must be one of the
largest (if not the largest) collection of large and
well-preserved Classic period Maya murals as yet
known.

Thanks to Randa Marherke for providing the link from
"La Boletin Informativo : La Pintura Mural
Prehispanica en Mexico."  Though brief in its
discussion of the murals, the article on page 24, of
the bulletin, authored by Ramon Carrasco and Andree
Bojalil contains a couple of fine examples of the
murals, and a nice graphic representation of the
location of the murals in the northern section of the
center of the city, referred to nowadays by many
scholars as la Acropolis Chic Nab.  

On many maps of Calakmul's center, the group
containing the murals is a large rectangular complex
containing a number of very long structures with
north/south alignments.  I have seen it referred to as
"El Mercado" on some maps, but it does not even appear
on many others despite its close proximity to the
Plaza Central.  On my last visit to Calakmul, in June,
2005 the area where the murals were discovered was
roped off and it was obvious that much excavating was
being done at the time.  Interestingly, I could get no
information out of anyone working at Calakmul as to
whether any significant discoveries had been made in
that area.  I was simply told that they were
excavating parts of "El Mercado."  

My introduction to the murals took place at "The Maya
Murals Symposium," at U.C. Irvine, in October, 2005
(that same year), when Simon Martin made a
presentation on recently uncovered murals and modeled
facades at Calakmul.  As he was being introduced by
the symposium moderator, it was announced that he had
been granted permission for the first time to present
a large number of photos of some newly discovered
murals within the group known as El Mercado at
Calakmul.  This was a special event indeed for those
present.

Martin's presentation was a discussion of many of the
well-preserved life-sized polychrome murals showing a
variety of scenes showing people performing the kinds
of tasks that are rarely the subject of Maya mural
art.  These were clearly not "court scenes," but
presentations of what Martin referred to as activities
that were carried out in markets, or perhaps
festivals, in which people are shown preparing and/or
consuming products, as if the murals were advertising
the products offered at each location, rather than the
showing a ceremonial scene of lords being presented
offerings or tribute, or performing religious
ceremonies, which one might expect.  

These murals appeared to represent a very unique and
beautiful representation of Maya as sellers and
consumers, much like what one can see today in
traditional markets throughout the Americas.  Some of
the interersting qualities of these murals besides the
nature of the subject matter were the realistic
portrailes of people going about their business, and
the detailed information shown with regard to each
product or situation presented.  As if to make sure
that future researchers understand what was going on,
the ancient artists thoughtfully wrote explanatory
glyphs next to many of the pictures, like "Preparer of
atole."  They represent a very unique gift to us from
the ancient residents of Calakmul.

Here is a brief list of individual scenes, I wrote in
my notebook from the presentation:

Preparation/consumption of atole
Preparation/consumption of tamales
Tobacco prepared as an ointment (mai)
sellers of needles
sellers of textiles (a cape is shown in on mural)
Maya "pochteca" carrying trade items using tump lines
Large jars filled with (?)

The most prominant figure, showing up in several
scenes, and referred to by Randa as, "that wonderful
gal with the sheer dress," was identified by Simon
Martin as, "Lady Nine Stone," who he speculated as
representing, perhaps a goddess, a priestess, or an
important "lady" of Calakmul, who may have even been
the "head of the market."  The "head of the market"
makes most sense to me.

The audience was in a state of awe during and after
Martin's presentation of the Calakmul murals.  As one
can see from the photos on the previous link, the art
is unique and outstanding.  However, I have since
found little reference to those murals, which one
would think deserve the kind of attention that other
murals have gotten in the press in recent years.  

I too would appreciate seeing again more photos of the
murals if anyone has a link to them.  

Thanks for bringing up the question Elaine, and for
the link, Randa.

Mike Reed







__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
http://mail.yahoo.com