The plaster head of the Mayan corn god
A new discovery in 2022 linked to the legend of Hun Hunahpu who was sacrificed and reborn into earth is the stucco head of the corn god. Hidden for over a thousand years it showcases the exquisite artistry and craftsmanship of the ancient Maya and underscores their deep connection to corn Similar to the Palenque ruins the corn god was central to life death and the underworld The three-legged pedestal within a sealed pit surrounded by animal bones and pottery fragments reveals the head as part of a ritual offering placed on the pedestal representing corn and the agricultural cycle
Found buried in a sacred ritual site near a well the 1,300-year-old artifact is remarkably well-preserved by archaeologists at the Palenque archaeological site in the southern state of Chiapas The forested ruins of the Palenque fortress led to the first excavations in 1787 The beginnings of Mayan civilization are traced back to the explorations of Spanish explorers in the 18th century Mexican archaeologists discovered the secret tomb of the mighty Pacal within the Temple of Inscriptions.
The first official Spanish expedition led by Antonio del RÃo began excavations. Architect Ricardo Almendariz created preliminary sketches of the structure and a hidden staircase beneath the floor Excavations of the Temple of Hieroglyphs suggest that the head of the Mayan corn god bears a facial resemblance to the most magnificent bas-reliefs in Mayan temples. The sculpture the legendary Mayan head INAH is confirmed to symbolize the sprouting of corn along with the first rays of the sun Measuring 45 centimeters in length and 16 centimeters in width it has been a prominent feature of Mayan research from the 1960s to the present day.
