Archaeological Investigations at Holmul, Petén, Guatemala
Preliminary Results of the Third Season, 2002

Summary of excavations in Stelae 4, 5, 6, 8

Kristen Klein excavated under the Stela 8 fragment and under Stela 4 to locate their original contexts. Fragment 8 is located on the far east of the La Sufricaya area, in front of the east face of Group 1.  It is the middle fragment of a complete stela (Stela 1) with fragments St. 1, and St. 3 (Figure 38, shown below). The complete monument was illustrated and described by Nikolai Grube (Figure 39) as being a portrait of a ruler similar in style to early central Petén monuments such as Yaxhá Stelae 2 and 4, La Milpa Stela 15, La Toronja Stela 1, El Encanto Stela 1, Uolantun Stela 1, Xultún Stelae 12 and 20, El Zapote Stelae 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Hauberg Stela and other pre-Baktun 9 monuments (Grube 2003).

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Fragment 8 depicts the midsection of a carved human portrait with waist area, thighs, arms and part of the ornaments well preserved. A 2×4 m unit was excavated on and around it. The underside was found to have no carving. The fragment rested directly on the humus. Below the surface only lumps of plaster and cobbles were excavated before hitting bedrock. This suggested that the stone fragment 8 was laid out on the surface recently and also that there may have been only one floor, now eroded, above bedrock in this area below the surface (Figure 40). The artifact recovered from the unit suggests a Terminal Classic date for the last occupation in this location.

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The excavation of Stela 6 was resumed by Andrea Gehlhausen. Several new fragments were found scattered around the main fragment bearing inscription (seven columns, see Grube 2003). Especially noteworthy was the finding of a fragment of low relief with two carved glyphs with a uinal sign with coefficient 9, and a kin sign with coefficient 9.  These were re-fitted to the sculpture and appeared to complete the Long count date of 8.17.?.9.9 (Figure 41, shown above). Below the stela fragment remains of an eroded floor were found above bedrock. The eroded inscription may also bear the name glyph of Siaj K’ak and mention of a local lord according to Nikolai Grube epigraphic analysis (Figure 42; Grube 2003). Terminal Classic ceramics were recovered and no original stela setting was identified in this location, which suggested post-abandonment re-setting of the stela.

The excavation of Stela 4 was placed immediately to the south of the monument due to the presence of a tree enveloping the stone. An eroded plaster floor was found about 50 cm below the surface with associated Tepeu 2 ceramics. Below this and a 20 cm-thick construction fill was an earlier plaster floor at 71 cm depth, with no associated diagnostics. Bedrock was found immediately underneath. In conclusion, this excavation demonstrated that a new floor was laid out on top of this ritual platform in connection with the placement of two carved monuments (Stela 4 and Altar 1, Late Classic). An earlier floor was immediately above bedrock and may date to the Early Classic period.

The excavation in connection with La Sufricaya Monument 9, took place in residential Group WT4, located 600 m north of the La Sufricaya Group 1 ritual area. The unit was placed around the stone, in front (west face) of the eastern structure in the rectangular patio group. Upon removal of humus it became clear that two separate stone monuments were buried in this locale. Monument 9, is a 1 m-high sculpture in the round of a bound captive in a seated position with hands wrapped around the retracted legs and holding an axe or knife. The head of the figure is missing. Monument 10 on the other hand is a flat stela-like slab without carving, about 1.2 m in length.

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Both monuments appear to have been laid onto the last floor of the patio (Figure 43, shown above, and Figure 44). No definite identification of a stela butt was made for either monument, however. A cache of human cranial bone and pottery was found in the narrow space between the stone monuments. All material associated with the cache and fill above and below it date to the Terminal Classic period.

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