Archaeologists from Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) have discovered a stone marker of the ancient Mayan Ball Court in Chichén Itzá. The circular sculptural element presents a complete glyphic band surrounding two characters dressed as players.
The disc is 32.5 centimeters in diameter, up to 9.5 centimeters thick and 40 kilograms in weight. It was found during excavations inside the architectural complex known as Casa Colorada (named after the remains of red paint inside) or Chichanchob, located between the Ossuary and the Observatory.
“In this Mayan site it is very rare to find hieroglyphic writing, let alone a complete text. This has not happened for more than 11 years,” says archaeologist Francisco Pérez Ruiz. The scoreboard was used in some important event at the Casa Colorada Ball Court, a much smaller court than the Great Ball Court at Chichén Itzá.
The researchers point out that the piece must correspond to the Terminal Classic or Early Postclassic period, that is, between the late 800s and early 900s after Christ. The sculpture was found in an inverted position, 58 centimeters from the surface, which suggests that it was part of the eastern wall and that it remained in that final position once the wall collapsed.
The disc, as explained by archaeologists in a statement, is composed of rock of sedimentary origin. The glyphic band present on the front face is approximately six centimeters wide and surrounds an iconographic interior register 20 centimeters in diameter.
The iconographic study has identified two characters dressed as players, standing in front of a ball. “The character on the left wears a feathered headdress and a sash that features a flower-shaped element, probably a water lily. At the height of the face a scroll can be distinguished, which can be interpreted as breath or voice”, explains the archaeologist Santiago Sobrino.
"The opponent wears a headdress known as a 'snake turban', whose representation is observed on multiple occasions in Chichén Itzá. The individual wears ballcourt protectors. The epigraphic band is made up of 18 cartouches with a short count date of 12 Eb 10 Cumku, which tentatively points to the year 894 AD,” he concludes.
