Stucco Relief from Structure XIX, Palenque

Background

In July 1998, during the excavation works of the "Group of the Cross Project", liberation works were undertaken in Structure XIX (see photo 1). In an exploration probe made at the center of the building a central pilaster was found, and deeper in the excavation, mixed with the rubble, fragments of polychrome modeled stucco fragments (see photo 2) were found, together with flat fragments which were a part of a flat surface with a red color (see photo 3).

Click on image to enlarge

Click on image to enlarge

The rescue of these stucco fragments was carried out jointly by archaeologists and restorers (see photo 4, above), with the recovery of each stucco fragment using levels (see photo 5, shown above), removing the larger stones, and recording and marking the limits of each fragment. Once the fragments were liberated and documented, they were individually kept in humidifying chambers to prevent collapse and carbonation as a consequence of quick drying, and to avoid an elevated outdoors effect that could turn them into dust, or cause fissures, cracks and fractures both in the fine plaster and the relief remains, preventing as well the detachment of the paint layer.

Click on image to enlarge

As the excavation work progressed, the remains of a molded stucco relief were uncovered, attached to the jamb of the central pilaster (see photo 6). Once the pilaster was completely liberated, we were able to fully appreciate the magnitude of this relief and its state of preservation (see photo 7, below). Finally, upon the full liberation of the pilaster it was inferred that the approximate portion of the stucco relief in situ amounted to 40%, while the rest of it was mixed with the rubble (see photo 8, shown below).

Click on image to enlarge

Click on image to enlarge

Once the piece was recorded, it was decided to release the stucco panel and to take it to the lab for its preservation and restoration. The project’s preservation team was determined to recover the largest possible portion of the image by attempting to reassemble the fragments found within the rubble with the portion still in place, fixed to the wall.

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