Radiography at Copán

Research Goals and Results

Introduction

Recovered from within the Copán Acropolis complex, three sets of remains are of significance to students of the Classic Maya. This includes those from the Hunal, the Margarita, and the Motmot tombs. Given the frail nature of some bones and the significance of the individuals whom the remains represent, they require complete documentation –including x-rays– as part of a general archive. This was the first goal of the Copán radiography project. Secondly, each set of remains presents evidence of pathology that can profit from radiographic analysis. Finally, the survey also seeks to identify any evidence of pathology not visible externally.

THE HUNAL TOMB:

Located within the lowest level of the Copán Acropolis, the Hunal tomb has been attributed to the founder of Classic Maya Dynasty at Copán, Knich Yax K’uk Mo’. The tomb contained skeletal remains of an adult male who died at an advanced age, having survived a remarkable range of blunt force trauma (Buikstra et al. 2003). These include a "parry" or "nightstick" fracture to the right forearm. Such fractures may result from either a fall or a direct blow to the forearm when the arm is pronated and raised to shield the face. In this case, the facture had not been reduced and the radius had healed with significant shortening. The broken ulna did not heal, thus forming a non-union. The right 5^th metacarpal also presents evidence of a healed fracture and minor deformity, another possible defensive wound.

The inferior third of the sternum is thinned to the left of a distorted sternal foramen, the apparent result of blunt force trauma to this region. The blow causing this fracture apparently depressed the caudal portion of the body while, in compensation, causing the superior portion to project anteriorly. In association with this restructuring of the thorax, the articulations between the manubrium and the clavicles were displaced laterally, forming new articular facets.

A further, most unusual example of blunt force trauma involved the left shoulder of the Yax K’uk Mo’ remains. As the result of either a blow or a fall, the superior third of the glenoid fossa and the coracoid process of the scapula had separated from the remainder of the bone. As with the right forearm, this fracture never healed. Arthritic change at the shoulder was profound.

Given the extreme nature of the blunt force trauma, it is not unreasonable to propose that the range of motion for one or both arms may have been limited. Therefore, one goal of the radiography project specific to the Yax K’uk Mo’ remains is to identify any evidence of disuse atrophy or other forms of abnormal activity constraints.

THE MARGARITA TOMB:

Subsequent to the interment of Yax K’uk Mo’, a female was entombed within an even more elaborate funerary structure located slightly above the Hunal tomb. Although she is not identified by inscriptions, it has been proposed that she was a member of the local Copán elite who married Yax K’uk Mo’ and became the mother of Ruler 2. This tomb contained "a stunning array of jade, shell, pottery, and other offerings" on the surface of the burial platform and another 2000 objects beneath it (Sharer et al. 1999; Bell et al. 2000). The staircase to the Margarita tomb was modified through subsequent rebuilding of the Acropolis so that it remained accessible. It is obvious that the remains from the Hunal and Margarita tombs represent historical figures of paramount significance during the period the Copán dynasty was founded.

The Margarita tomb remains are extremely fragile and archival records made in timely fashion are important to provide a data source that may not be available in the long term. She presents external evidence of age-related skeletal degeneration, although internal pathological changes are possible.

THE MOTMOT TOMB:

Located under Copán’s famous hieroglyphic staircase, the Motmot tomb was built to commemorate a major calendric event near the end of Yax K’uk Mo’s reign. The circular marker that closed this tomb provides representations of both Ruler 1 and Ruler 2. The initial deposit within the tomb included a primary interment and at least one "trophy skull." Two more skulls, one associated with cervical vertebrae showing cutmarks, were added to the tomb more recently, prior to its final closing (Fash and Fash 1996, 2000; Sharer 1997; Sharer et al. 1999).

The primary interment within the Motmot tomb is a remarkably well-preserved female who died during young adulthood. Her remains are notable for their gracility, including narrow bones and poorly developed areas of muscle attachment. As did Yax K’uk Mo’, she had suffered a "parry" or "nightstick" fracture to her right forearm. Goals of x-ray analysis specific to this individual include (1) an evaluation of her parry fracture; (2) identification of evidence for bone thinning either associated with reduced activity levels or pathology; and (3) evaluation of minor asymmetry of the proximal humeri as possible evidence for a fracture of the right humerus at the surgical neck.

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