Mexico City, June 1. The discovery of the first three-dimensional representation of the deity of corn, in the archaeological site of Palenque, Chiapas, a piece more than 1,300 years old, was announced this Tuesday by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
Archaeologist Arnoldo González Cruz, who led the work that uncovered the stucco head, told La Jornada that the importance of this news lies in the fact that it is a unique object, since in the Mayan area the figure of the corn god has generally appeared only represented in mural paintings, in scenes painted on ceramic vases and plates, or also sgraffito on these types of objects.
During the 2021 season of the project "Architectural Conservation and Decorative Finishes of El Palacio," an interdisciplinary team co-led by González Cruz and restorer Haydeé Orea Magaña was responsible for the architectural conservation of the site. This project was funded by the INAH in conjunction with the United States Embassy through its State Department Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.
The specialist recalls that while working on some of the local structures that presented conservation issues, "we were fortunate to come across this sculpture, this stucco head," located within a receptacle formed by three walls.
