Getting Carried Away - A Petroglyphic Litter Scene from Cenote Ceh' Yax, Yucatan, Mexico

Summary

During reconnaissance in a dry cenote at the small site of Ceh’ Yax, Mexico, members of the Central Yucatan Archaeological Cave Project discovered an in-situ monument incised with a petroglyphic scene depicting a dignitary seated within a litter. Although litters are not commonly shown in Mesoamerican imagery, they do appear on lintels, wall graffiti, codex-style Maya vases, and as ceramic effigies. This paper will present an analysis of Mesoamerican litter iconography which will demonstrate that the artist who inscribed the monument at Ceh’ Yax followed widely utilized elite-style Classic period graphic conventions. More broadly, this conclusion indicates that despite the humble size of the settlement of Ceh' Yax, those who utilized the cenote were active participants in a far-reaching network of cultural exchange.

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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