#guatemala culture

[dmempowermentshop]

(vía "Lake Atitlan Art, Panajachel, Central America Landscape, Travel lovers, Bohemian art, Vintage travel, Gift for him, Gift for her" Sticker for Sale by LitzoyGlobeArt)

Get yours today! 

[languagexs]

Exploring the Rich Culture of the Jakaltek People and Jakaltek Language

Jakaltek: Unveiling the Mysteries of a Mayan Language

[folkfashion]

Chuj Maya woman, Guatemala, by Carlos López Ayerdi

[blueiscoool]

Jade Mosaic Mask Discovered in Maya King's Royal Tomb

Revealing rare treasures and royal lineage.

A Tulane University archaeologist has recently discovered an ancient Maya tomb dating back 1,700 years at the site of Chochkitam in Guatemala near the borders of Mexico and Belize.

The tomb’s remarkable funeral offerings, such as a mosaic jade mask, rare mollusk shells, and writings carved in human femur bones, provide valuable insights into Maya civilization. The discovery includes depictions of a previously unknown king believed to be holding a jade mask similar to the one found in the tomb.

Hieroglyphs on the artifact are thought to connect the ruler to the Maya states of Tikal and Teotihuacan, providing historical and genealogical information.

This discovery is like winning the lottery in terms of information. It opens a window into an obscure time we have little texts about. The newly discovered tomb from the Maya classic period, dating from 250-900 AD, is a significant find given the limited remnants from this era, primarily affected by looting.

The tomb, located just 2 meters away from where looters had previously stopped, is remarkably well-preserved, with minimal damage aside from the natural decay and the collapse of the stone ceiling. This fortunate preservation provides archaeologists with a rare opportunity to explore the rich history and offerings within the tomb.

Estrada-Belli, a research assistant professor in the Tulane University School of Liberal Arts, said, “That was the first amazing thing about it. It was fortunate.”

Lidar technology played a crucial role in the tomb’s discovery by enabling archaeologists to detect looters’ tunnels and map the jungle floor precisely. This advanced technology, akin to ‘taking x-rays of the jungle floor,’ revolutionizes archaeological exploration, allowing researchers to navigate more efficiently through dense vegetation.

The tomb’s contents, including over 16 rare spondylus shells, provide valuable insights into ancient Maya practices, emphasizing their significance in royal contexts as symbols of wealth and elements used in religious and sacrificial ceremonies.

The relics from the tomb, dating back to 350 CE, establish a historical link between Tikal and the central Mexican site of Teotihuacan. This connection sheds light on the cultural exchanges and influences between Maya rulers and the wider Mesoamerican region during the Maya classic period.

The tomb’s contents, including a mosaic jade mask and hieroglyphs carved on human femur bones, offer insights into religious practices and royal lineage, enriching our understanding of ancient Maya civilization. The discovery at Chochkitam, after a century since Fran Blom’s initial exploration, underscores the significance of continued archaeological efforts.

Estrada-Belli said the next stage in his work at the site will be to conduct DNA testing on the bones and maybe uncover additional essential contents buried within the abandoned pyramid.

By Amit Malewar.

[lutnistas]

Tikal Mayan Ruins ( Guatemala )

[latin-american-diversity]

“Lake Atitlan. Panajachel. 1992. Maya dancers in tiger costumes.” - Thomas Hoepker

[justalovelyblackgf]

happy hispanic heritage month to all those who identify and celebrate the beautiful cultures of spanish speaking countries and communities!!

🇵🇷🇨🇷🇨🇴🇳🇮🇭🇳🇲🇽🇻🇪🇨🇱🇨🇺🇦🇷🇧🇴🇩🇴🇪🇨🇵🇪🇸🇻🇬🇹 🇵🇦🇵🇾🇪🇸🇺🇾 🇬🇶 (if i missed any flags, i’m sorry!)

shoutout to colombia because barriletes are so good!! 😭🇨🇴 it’s a sweet taffy like candy that tastes like bubblegum and they’re addictive. i 10/10 recommend it 🫶🏾🫶🏾

[diariodoxel]

A veces, solo a veces, quisiera tener las respuestas de la vida, saber para qué fui creado, cuál es la razón aparente.

Si lo imagino, lo que me han dicho o lo que creo conocer, ¿es la verdad o solo una sombra que persiste?

A veces, solo a veces, quisiera saber cuál es el sentido, si mi camino es el correcto o si debo retornar.

A veces, solo a veces, quisiera tener el tiempo, sentarme en un prado lejano, hablar con el viento y esperar… una respuesta.

-Andy Doxel

Pueden seguir mis poemas en Instagram: instagram.com/doxeldiario

[sebastianjp]

[urboymutual]

tbh sometimes tumblr users’ analysis of characters of color’s sexuality and gender can be so colorblind. like i understand tumblr is like 90% white but like it’s not horrible to acknowledge how race and ethnicity can impact sexuality and gender. as a brown trans guy coming to terms with my gender was complicated because i was already perceived as masculine with my dark body hair and “masculine” facial features (ones that existed outside of the eurocentric beauty standard basically) and that definitely had an impact on how i perceived my own gender. i just feel like people need to be at least. slightly aware of character’s race and ethnicity when it comes to analysis and hcs. like are u constantly headcanoning black dark skinned female characters as transwomen? like u should take a second to unpack those biases but also realize how these characters’ race affects their gender. it also goes for sexuality too.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

1,500-year-old ceramic Maya figurine with a removable helmet from El Perú-Waka, Peten, Guatemala.

[olintepeque]

[folkfashion]

Sakapultek Maya women, Guatemala, by Carlos López Ayerdi

[spoonful116]

The first day of Hispanic Heritage Month is here! I'm taking a look at Guatemala, Colombia, and Peru!

[lutnistas]

Tikal Mayan Ruins ( Guatemala )

[blueiscoool]

U.S. Citizens Arrested in Guatemala for Smuggling Ancient Mayan Artifacts

A raid of the couple's home uncovered archaeological objects, and significant works in jade and basalt.

An American ex-pat couple in Guatemala is facing charges of smuggling historic artifacts—which could mean five to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Stephanie Allison Jolluck first fell under suspicion on November 10, when she was stopped at Guatemala City airport, the Associated Press reported. Her luggage was quite heavy, triggering an inspection. Inside, officials found two large Maya stone carvings, dating to 600 and 900 C.E. Jolluck claimed to have purchased them at a market in Antigua, where she lives.

It now appears that those sculptures were just the tip of the iceberg. Three days later, police stopped Jolluck in her car, and found 166 more historic artifacts. (A judge had already released her from custody.)

Jolluck was with another American, Giorgio Salvador Rossilli, and both claimed the artworks were worthless reproductions. (Rossilli also claimed that he had restored some of the artifacts found in their car for their owner, and had been returning them when he was arrested.)

“They argued that, because they are foreigners, they cannot tell one piece from another,” prosecutor Jorge Alberto de León told the AP. “They told the judge that because they were pieces of stone they had seen sold at the markets, they never imagined that they were ancient archeological pieces.”

Guatemala’s Culture Ministry begged to differ, finding 90 percent of the objects to be Pre-Hispanic originals. The country believes the couple is operating a network for the illicit trafficking of Maya artifacts and other cultural heritage.

Nonetheless, Judge Sherly Figueroa released Jolluck and Rossilli on $6,400 bail on Monday, prohibiting them from leaving the country and requiring a biweekly check-in with prosecutors.

Then came the raid of their home, conducted by the Office of the Prosecutor for Crimes against the Cultural Heritage of the Nation. The search turned up an astonishing 1,222 archaeological artifacts, 722 significant works in materials such as jade and basalt, as well as 500 smaller pieces.

Other objects seized by the police include computers, books, and a vibrantly colored stuffed bird that may be a quetzal. The General Directorate of Cultural and Natural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture and Sports has taken custody of the artifacts for analysis, according to the nation’s Ministerio Público.

Jolluck, age 49, is a photographer and designer, while the AP described 62-year-old Rossilli as “a connoisseur of Mayan [sic] folk art.” She wrote on her website that she “has always been fascinated by Indigenous cultures. As a lover of ethnographic art, antiques, and handicrafts, I enjoy shopping markets around the world.”

By Sarah Cascone.