A Reappraisal of Postclassic Maya Effigy Censers in the Cave Context: Evidence from the Central Coastal Region of Quintana Roo, Mexico

Summary

Like the subterranean construction and use of ancient Maya shrines and altars, the presence of incense burners in caves provides unequivocal evidence of ritual practice. Effigy censers, particularly those of the Chen Mul Modeled ceramic type, were locally produced and widely used across the northern lowlands and have been reported in contexts within architectural precincts at a number of Postclassic Maya centers. The use of such censers in ceremonies involving deity veneration was most likely, given the range of Maya gods represented in effigy form. Ongoing research in caves of the central coastal region of Quintana Roo has revealed the common association of Chen Mul Modeled effigy censers, particularly in the form of Chaak, with Postclassic shrines and altars in caves. These censers appear to have been part of a ritual assemblage associated with Chaak and were likely integral to the performance of rain rites in caves throughout the region.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• New Developments in Mesoamerican Subterranean Archaeology

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