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The Hieroglyphic Stairway and its Ancestors: Investigations of Copan Structure 10L-26

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2010

William L. Fash ,
Richard V. Williamson ,
Carlos Rudy Larios  and
Joel Palka
William L. Fash
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA
Richard V. Williamson
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA
Carlos Rudy Larios
Affiliation:
Copan Mosaics Project, Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Joel Palka
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
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Abstract

The investigation of Structure 10L-26 has revealed a series of sequent monumental constructions underlying the elaborate final phase temple/pyramid made famous by the Maya area's largest hieroglyphic stairway. The meticulous recording and analysis of the archaeological, architectural, hieroglyphic, and iconographic materials from this sequence of sculpture-adorned buildings provides the opportunity for a diachronic view of the nature of the historical record and political symbolism. Investigations conducted to date provide hieroglyphic and archaeological evidence in support of the sequence of rulers documented in the official histories of the last four rulers of Copan, and evidence of a dramatic shift in the use of this space, and of political symbolism in general, by the fifteenth king, Smoke Shell. While the lack of evidence for “re-writing of history” will be encouraging to many, the evidence also shows the need for a careful assessment of official histories by archaeological excavations. Just as important, the Copan Acropolis research demonstrates the usefulness of incorporating ideas and data derived from the careful scrutiny of the public monuments in ongoing archaeological investigations and model building.

Resumen

La investigatión de la Estructura 10L-26 ha revelado uea serie de construcciones sobrepuestas debajo de la forma final del templo-pirámide hecho famoso por la Escalinata de los Jeroglíficos más grande del área maya. El registro meticuloso y el análisis de los materiales arqueológicos, arquitectónicos, epigráficos, e icoeográficos de estos edificios adornados de escultura dan la oportunidad de hacer una evaluacón diacrónica de las inscripcioees históricas y el simbolismo político en este lugar. Las investigaciones efectuadas hasta la fecha hae aportado evidencias arqueológicas y epigráficas en apoyo de la secuencia de gobernantes inscrita en los monumentos de los últimos cuatro reyes de Copan, y evidencia de un cambio dramático en el uso de este espacio y del simbolísmo político en general, por el décimoquinto gobernante, Humo Caracol. Aunque la falta de evidencias para el “revisionismo histórico” de parte de los últimos gobernantes será agradable a muchos, la evidencia también demuestra la necesidad de una evaluación cuidadosa de la historia oficial por medio de las investigaciones arqueológicas. De igual importancia, las investigaciones en la Acrópolis de Copan demuestran la utilidad de incorporar ideas y datos del estudio de los monumentos públicos en las investigaciones arqueológicos y la formulación de los modelos y explicaciones del pasado.

Type
Special Section: The Archaeology of Ancient Copan
Information
Ancient Mesoamerica , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , Spring 1992 , pp. 105 - 115
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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