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S.A. Khokhriakova (Moscow) – Face Motif in Mayan Rock Art

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Abstract

Rock art is an important source of information about the ancient Maya ritual life. One of the key motifs found in Mayan rock art is the image of face, very simple to perform schematic faces that are carved on the soft rocks of speleothems. The article examines the territory of distribution and the time frame of the existence of this motif. There are a special “complex” shape faces, for the creation of which natural forms of dripstone cave formations were used to create volumetric fi gures. Ethnographic materials are used to understand the purposes of creating such rock art objects in the caves and their role in Mayan ritual practices. Taking into account the important role of caves in general in the culture of the ancient Maya, their place in the sacred landscape, as well as information about the use of speleothems in Mesoamerica as idols, it becomes clear that the choice of dripstone for applying faces is not accidental.

Keywords

Mesoamerican rock art, ancient Mayan ritual practices, ancient Mayan religion.

Sandra A. Khokhryakova

Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow, Russia

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