Research on Temple 16: An Ongoing Imagery Reconstruction of Temple 16, Copán, Honduras

Pending Tasks

Scrolls, beak, and cheek markings are some of the motifs that refer to a witz image. Future reassembling of sculpture pieces will have to complement this witz and determine its position as well as its number on the façades. With the stone incense burner with tun markings found by Maudslay (1889-1902:25) and the iconographic composition of the upper stair block of the pyramid (Taube 1998), we cannot rule out the possibility that Temple 16 was considered as a sacred mountain as well.

Several blocks recovered from the south side appear to have once been part of a framing niche for some image. These pieces need to be reconstructed and more research must be conducted to determine what kind of figure was once housed in the niche. In addition, these pieces, as well as other motifs such as ahau heads, a god K head, and butterfly wings, need to be reassessed in terms of association and integration into the rest of the imagery of the temple façade.

Furthermore, there are some fragments that repeat the interwoven motif, but in a very shallow relief, close to graffiti style. Only another research season will allow us to reconstruct its form. A fair number of sculptural fragments lack recording, either by drawing or photo.

There will be a need to access the archaeological material to determine the building’s original height and number of original levels, to better place the different stone sculptural mosaics that formerly decorated the façades.

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