page_title: Holtun
section_title: Sculpture
hierarchical_section_title: Holtun / Site description / Sculpture
caption_attribution_description: English: Classic period Maya ruins of Holtún in the Petén department of Guatemala. English: Ruinas mayas de Holtún, ciudad del periodo clásico en el departamento de Petén, Guatemala.
context_page_description: Holtun, originally named La Máquina, is a Maya archaeological site located in the Petén Department of northern Guatemala on the road to Melchor de Mencos from Flores. The city had a long period of occupation that lasted from the Middle Preclassic through to the Late Classic periods. The site was officially recognized by the Guatemalan authorities in 1994 in response to reports from the local community of looting activity in the area. This looting had revealed large masks sculpted onto the side of one of the principal structures at the site. Holtun is the southernmost site in the Maya lowlands that is known to have such masks. The site is characterized by the presence of two particular architectural groups, consisting in a triadic acropolis and an E Group, which are markers of the sociocultural complexity of the Preclassic period in the Lowland Maya area. In addition, the nature of the karstic bedrock allowed for the creation of a great quantity of chultuns, which can be found in almost all of the architectural groups
context_section_description: The masks for which the site is best known were found on Structure A-2 and are known from three parts of the structure where they appear to have flanked the principle stairway. The first of these is 4 metres (13 ft) under the stone talud forming the last stage of construction. It was only partially uncovered during excavations and traces of red pigment were found on the plaster. The exposed portion of the mask measures 90 centimetres (35 in) high by 12 centimetres (4.7 in) thick and is inclined at 60°.
  The second area of masks was found 8 metres (26 ft) inside the main looters' tunnel. There are three masks fashioned from limestone blocks and covered with a 30-centimetre (12 in) thick coating of stucco. These masks are angled at 45°. The lowest is a zoomorphic mask with feline features that measures 87 by 86 centimetres (34 by 34 in). Immediately above it is another mask measuring 130 by 86 centimetres (51 by 34 in). It is an anthropomorphic mask in a good state of preservation with circular eyes, a prominent upper lip, a flattened nose and a downturned mouth. The third mask was destroyed by the looters' excavations and was estimated to have a height of 1.6 metres (5.2 ft) based on remaining stucco fragments.
  The final area of masks was found 16 metres (52 ft) into the looters' tunnel. The two masks in this area are the best preserved at the site. The lower mask measures 50 by 48 centimetres (20 by 19 in) and was fashioned from limestone blocks covered in a 60-centimetre (24 in) thick coating of stucco. It is a zoomorphic mask that still has traces of red, cream and black paint. The other mask is located immediately above it and is covered in a 42 centimetres (17 in) layer of stucco. It is an anthropomorphic mask with just a part of the right cheek exposed. It also has red, cream and black pigment traces, as well as orange spots in a band around the cheek that are similar to jaguar pelt. Both masks are angled at 45°.
caption: Stucco masks on Structure A-2
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