La Mojarra Stela 1 is a Mesoamerican carved monument (stela) dating from 156 CE[1] (2nd century CE). It was discovered in 1986, pulled from the Acula River near La Mojarra, Veracruz, Mexico, not far from the Tres Zapotes archaeological site. The 4+1⁄2-foot-wide (1.4 m) by 6+1⁄2-foot-high (2.0 m), four-tonlimestone slab contains about 535 glyphs of the Isthmian script. One of Mesoamerica's earliest known written records, this Epi-Olmec culture monument not only recorded this ruler's achievements, but placed them within a cosmological framework of calendars and astronomical events.[2]
La Mojarra Stela 1
Left side image of La Mojarra Stela 1, showing a person identified as "Harvester Mountain Lord".
The right side of the stone features a full-length portrait of a man in an elaborate headdress and costume, although the bottom half of the carving is very badly weathered. Above the figure, 12 short columns of glyphs have been etched into the stone, matched by eight longer columns to the figure's right. Among these glyphs are two Mesoamerican Long Count calendar dates which correspond to May 143 CE and July 156 CE. The monument is an early example of the type of stela which later became common commemorating rulers of Maya sites in the Classic era.
The figure engraved onto Stela 1 is complex and not easily interpreted. Pool describes the figure as follows:[3]
His elaborate headdress forms the head of a hook-billed bird supernatural. A "Jester God" head with buccal mask sprouts from the bird-deity's nose, and a stylized shark with serrated fin is attached to the top of the headdress, its bifurcated tail hanging down behind. Four smaller sharks swim up the main shark's rope-like notochord. Smaller bird deity masks appear below the main one and on the pectoral ornament that lies on the ruler's breast over his feather cape. Glyphs symbolizing his exalted office adorn his arms and legs.
Prof. Philip Arnold has tentatively identified the stylized sharks as the Olmec Fish/Shark Monster, a symbol of rulership.[4]
The Tuxtla Statuette, a small 6-inch-high greenstone sculpture (150 mm), also portrays a human dressed as a bird. It comes from the same culture and period as Stela 1, and both feature Isthmian script glyphs. These two artifacts were found roughly 70 km (43 mi) apart and their Long Count dates are separated by only 6 years. They may even refer to the same person.[7]
Discovery and decipherment
For some years after discovery, the monument was in storage in the Museo de Antropología in Xalapa. In November 1995, as the monument was being prepared for display, a previously neglected series of glyphs was noticed on one side in eroded but still partially recognizable condition.
In 1993, and again in 1997, after discovery of the new column of glyphs, John Justeson and Terrence Kaufman put forward a proposed decipherment of the glyphs. This decipherment names the figure depicted as "Harvester Mountain Lord", and describes his ascension to kingship, a solar eclipse, appearances of Venus, warfare, and an attempted usurpation, human sacrifice (perhaps Harvester Mountain Lord's brother-in-law[8]) and Harvester Mountain Lord's own bloodletting.[9]
This decipherment has been disputed by Michael D. Coe and Stephen D. Houston, among others. Resolution of this debate will likely need to await further archaeological discoveries.
Arnold, III, Philip J. (2005) "The Shark-Monster in Olmec Iconography", in Mesoamerican Voices, 2005, v. 2.
Diehl, Richard (2001) "Mojarra, La (Veracruz, Mexico)", in Evans, Susan, ed., Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America, Taylor & Francis, London.
Guernsey, Julia (2006) Ritual and Power in Stone: The Performance of Rulership in Mesoamerican Izapan Style Art, University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, ISBN978-0-292-71323-9.
Justeson, John S.; Terrence Kaufman (July 1997). "A Newly Discovered Column in the Hieroglyphic Text on La Mojarra Stela 1: a Test of the Epi-Olmec Decipherment". Science. 277 (5323): 207. doi:10.1126/science.277.5323.207. Retrieved 2006-10-25.
Justeson, John S., and Terrence Kaufman (2001) Epi-Olmec Hieroglyphic Writing and Texts.
Kaufman, Terrence (2000) "" on University of Pittsburgh Department of Anthropology website (accessed January 2008).
Koontz, Rex; Annabeth Headrick; Kathryn Reese-Taylor (2001) Landscape and Power in Ancient Mesoamerica, Westview Press.
Pool, Christopher (2007) Olmec Archaeology and Early Mesoamerica, Cambridge University Press, ISBN978-0-521-78882-3.
Schuster, Angela M. H. (1997) "" in Archaeology, online (accessed January 2008).
March 05, 2023
mojarra, stela, mesoamerican, carved, monument, stela, dating, from, century, discovered, 1986, pulled, from, acula, river, near, mojarra, veracruz, mexico, from, tres, zapotes, archaeological, site, foot, wide, foot, high, four, limestone, slab, contains, abo. La Mojarra Stela 1 is a Mesoamerican carved monument stela dating from 156 CE 1 2nd century CE It was discovered in 1986 pulled from the Acula River near La Mojarra Veracruz Mexico not far from the Tres Zapotes archaeological site The 4 1 2 foot wide 1 4 m by 6 1 2 foot high 2 0 m four ton limestone slab contains about 535 glyphs of the Isthmian script One of Mesoamerica s earliest known written records this Epi Olmec culture monument not only recorded this ruler s achievements but placed them within a cosmological framework of calendars and astronomical events 2 La Mojarra Stela 1Left side image of La Mojarra Stela 1 showing a person identified as Harvester Mountain Lord MaterialLimestoneCreated2nd centuryDiscovered1986 in the Acula River near La Mojarra Veracruz MexicoPresent locationMuseo de Antropologia Xalapa VeracruzThe right side of the stone features a full length portrait of a man in an elaborate headdress and costume although the bottom half of the carving is very badly weathered Above the figure 12 short columns of glyphs have been etched into the stone matched by eight longer columns to the figure s right Among these glyphs are two Mesoamerican Long Count calendar dates which correspond to May 143 CE and July 156 CE The monument is an early example of the type of stela which later became common commemorating rulers of Maya sites in the Classic era Contents 1 Description and interpretation 2 Discovery and decipherment 3 Notes 4 See also 5 ReferencesDescription and interpretation EditThe figure engraved onto Stela 1 is complex and not easily interpreted Pool describes the figure as follows 3 His elaborate headdress forms the head of a hook billed bird supernatural A Jester God head with buccal mask sprouts from the bird deity s nose and a stylized shark with serrated fin is attached to the top of the headdress its bifurcated tail hanging down behind Four smaller sharks swim up the main shark s rope like notochord Smaller bird deity masks appear below the main one and on the pectoral ornament that lies on the ruler s breast over his feather cape Glyphs symbolizing his exalted office adorn his arms and legs Prof Philip Arnold has tentatively identified the stylized sharks as the Olmec Fish Shark Monster a symbol of rulership 4 According to Mary Ellen Miller the figure wears the headdress of the Principal Bird Deity 5 Bird deities were often featured on stelae of this period and can be seen on Izapa Stela 4 as well on monuments at Kaminaljuyu Takalik Abaj and Zaculeu 6 The Tuxtla Statuette a small 6 inch high greenstone sculpture 150 mm also portrays a human dressed as a bird It comes from the same culture and period as Stela 1 and both feature Isthmian script glyphs These two artifacts were found roughly 70 km 43 mi apart and their Long Count dates are separated by only 6 years They may even refer to the same person 7 Discovery and decipherment EditFor some years after discovery the monument was in storage in the Museo de Antropologia in Xalapa In November 1995 as the monument was being prepared for display a previously neglected series of glyphs was noticed on one side in eroded but still partially recognizable condition In 1993 and again in 1997 after discovery of the new column of glyphs John Justeson and Terrence Kaufman put forward a proposed decipherment of the glyphs This decipherment names the figure depicted as Harvester Mountain Lord and describes his ascension to kingship a solar eclipse appearances of Venus warfare and an attempted usurpation human sacrifice perhaps Harvester Mountain Lord s brother in law 8 and Harvester Mountain Lord s own bloodletting 9 This decipherment has been disputed by Michael D Coe and Stephen D Houston among others Resolution of this debate will likely need to await further archaeological discoveries Detail of the central character of the sculpture Detail of the inscriptions top view Detail of the inscriptions bottom view Notes Edit According to the Long Count date carved on it See for example Guernesy p 13 14 Pool p 261 Arnold p 22 Miller p 44 Koontz et al p 91 Pool p 262 Justeson and Kaufman 2001 p 2 66 which refers to a dripping sacrifice See also Schuster Kaufman 2000 and Justeson and Kaufman 2001 See also EditDetail showing one of the two Long Count dates References EditArnold III Philip J 2005 The Shark Monster in Olmec Iconography in Mesoamerican Voices 2005 v 2 Diehl Richard 2001 Mojarra La Veracruz Mexico in Evans Susan ed Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America Taylor amp Francis London Guernsey Julia 2006 Ritual and Power in Stone The Performance of Rulership in Mesoamerican Izapan Style Art University of Texas Press Austin Texas ISBN 978 0 292 71323 9 Justeson John S Terrence Kaufman July 1997 A Newly Discovered Column in the Hieroglyphic Text on La Mojarra Stela 1 a Test of the Epi Olmec Decipherment Science 277 5323 207 doi 10 1126 science 277 5323 207 Retrieved 2006 10 25 Justeson John S and Terrence Kaufman 2001 Epi Olmec Hieroglyphic Writing and Texts Kaufman Terrence 2000 Early Mesoamerican Writing Systems on University of Pittsburgh Department of Anthropology website accessed January 2008 Koontz Rex Annabeth Headrick Kathryn Reese Taylor 2001 Landscape and Power in Ancient Mesoamerica Westview Press Miller Mary Ellen 2001 The Art of Mesoamerica 3rd ed London Thames amp Hudson ISBN 0 500 20345 8 Pool Christopher 2007 Olmec Archaeology and Early Mesoamerica Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 78882 3 Schuster Angela M H 1997 Epi Olmec Decipherment in Archaeology online accessed January 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title La Mojarra Stela 1 amp oldid 1114048267, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
