[Aztlan] Bonampak burials

[Ed Barnhart]

Hi Jorge and all,

If I understand the glyphic texts in the murals (now all but illegible) they
explain that the war depicted is Bonampak and Yaxchilan vs. Sak Tz'i.  The
last room of murals has obvious places in the painting that were never
finished, especially the name tags of noblemen.  What stopped the work?  I
have always wondered whether Sak Tz'I didn't come back for round two.  Based
on a Sak Tzi stela in Europe (though the city of Sak Tz'I has yet to be
found), they outlived their rivals at Bonampak for decades.  However, that's
just my theory.  That's one of the librating things about archaeological
interpretation, eh?  We just make our best guess until further evidence
presents itself :)

Dr. Edwin Barnhart
Director, Maya Exploration Center
Austin, TX
-----Original Message-----
From: aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org [mailto:aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org]
On Behalf Of Jorge Pérez de Lara
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 12:48 PM
To: Aztlan
Subject: Re: [Aztlan] Bonampak burials

In reading the news I (like Ed) had trouble with the interpretation of  
the remains found as belonging to a sacrificed captive. Captives were  
commonly humiliated, often tortured. When they were buried, they were  
sometimes put into their graves hand-tied or in contorted positions.   
This does not fit very well with the offerings found that were  
accompanying the body, which appear to be quite sumptuous (what with  
all that jade, ceramics and alabaster). The absence of a skull may  
well be the result of what Ed has suggested. It doesn't suggest to me  
that this was a sacrificial victim (for the dedication of the building  
or otherwise). It is, indeed, very tempting to think this may be Chan  
Muwaan himself. After all, it is his building!

I would like to ask Ed why he thinks that Bonampak came to its end  
(which all evidence points to have been sudden) at the specific hands  
of Sak Tsi'i.

Jorge

P.S.: By the way, Ed. I was thinking exactly the same about the use of  
ground-penetrating radar for the purpose of conserving either the  
paintings or the buildings. Modern archaeology, alas, is very much  
focused these days on finding tombs.

On Jan 13, 2010, at 9:27 AM, Ed Barnhart wrote:

> I hypothesize that considering the hieroglyphics and name markers in  
> the
> third mural room are unfinished, that Chan Muan's rule came to an  
> unexpected
> end at the hands of Sak Tzi.  The evidence of the tomb leans towards a
> royal, not an executed captive.  It may well be Chan Muan himself  
> (dates and
> age match), and that something happened to his skull either during a
> ancestor worship ritual or something involving their enemy, Sak  
> Tzi.  What
> an exciting find!
>
> BTW, I hardly see how restoring the murals required ground penetrating
> radar... :)
>
> Dr. Edwin Barnhart
> Director, Maya Exploration Center
> 7301 Ranch Road 620 N
> Suite 155 #284
> Austin, Texas 78726
> (512) 350-3321
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