The exact function of monumental stone slabs such as this one is unknown because only a few have been found in situ. One example was discovered upright in a cemetery, and scholars believe that such intricately carved stone monuments could have been used as grave markers for important individuals. In the manner of modern-day headstones, the base would have been buried in the ground. This stela is topped with three kneeling human figures wearing jaguar masks. The back of the slab is decorated with eighteen crouching jaguars. The jaguar may have been a totem animal or clan symbol of the deceased.


La función exacta de bloques monumentales de piedra como éste es desconocida, ya que solo unos pocos han sido encontrados in situ. Un ejemplo fue descubierto verticalmente en un cementerio, y académicos creen que monumentos de piedra intrincadamente tallados pueden haberse usado como marcadores de tumbas para individuos importantes. A la manera de lápidas modernas, la base habría estado enterrada. Esta estela está coronada por tres figuras humanas arrodilladas llevando mascaras de jaguar. El reverso de la piedra está decorado con dieciocho jaguares agazapados. El jaguar puede haber sido un animal totémico o un símbolo del clan del difunto.

Brown, wooden suspension hook made from four upward curving 'branches', the ends of which are carved into four horse heads. The necks of the horse’s heads are decorated with chiseled parallel grooves. From the mouth of each of the four horse heads there are carved knobs suspended. There is also another set of knobs attached lower down on the horses' necks. The bottom end of these four horse head branches are inserted into the lower end of a central carved vertical pole, into a carved square box shape and are arranged so that they are diametrically opposite each other. At the end of the box there is a projection onto which is attached a wooden knob. The middle section of the hook is comprised of four twisted columns that meet at a mid-point in a carved knot design. The top of the hook is a carved wooden disc where seven carved wooden knobs are attached. The knobs are the same as those found in the horses’ mouth and on the horses’ neck. An iron ring is attached to the disc that is used to suspend the hook.

Fire starting kit consisting of four components. Part a: Two caps on the either end of a small rope which attach to either end of a bamboo stalk (part b). These caps come from a single silk worm cocoon that has been cut in half. There is a flat, rectangular piece of iron that is used with a flint (part d) attached to the length of rope. The iron is curved into a hook-shape on one corner in order to allow the iron to hang off the piece of rope. Part b: Length of bamboo stalk, hollow at one end to allow for the storage of parts c-d, inside there is a bundle off-white un-spun silk fibre. The closed end of the bamboo stalk is burnt and blackened. This end is the carbonated end used to light a dried silk tuft to ignite a fire. Part c: A tobacco leaf rolled up and bent at one end. Part d: Piece of stone used as a flint. It is mostly black with streaks of brown and there is a brown line that runs down the centre of the stone. The edges are mostly jagged, but there is one smooth edge.

Gift of Alastair B. Martin

Gift of Alastair B. Martin

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alastair B. Martin, the Guennol Collection

Gift of Alastair B. Martin

Gift of Alastair B. Martin

A. Augustus Healy Fund

Museum Collection Fund