Caracol - Monuments

Monuments

Stela 1

• Potentially posthumous monument erected by Kan II to solidify his rule by referring to Lord Water (but interestingly not his predecessor Knot Ahau)
• Martin and Grube say that it was erected by Yajaw Te’ K’inich along with Altar 1 to mark the 9.8.0.0.0 K’atun ending (A.D. 593)
• Located behind structure A1 with cached vessels below it, and a small ‘transformational tomb’ behind it containing three cremated individuals
• Found standing and unfragmented by A. H. Anderson in 1938, later excavations by the University Museum in 1950 revealed its association with Altar 1

Stela 2

• Discovered during the 1951 season fragmented into seven pieces, located between the south end of Platform A1 and Structure A9. Only the top portion was found
• Depicts a badly eroded ruler from the waist up holding the ceremonial bar
• No date survives

Stela 3

• Found broken in two major fragments, one found in 1950 in Plaza A3, the lower potion found in 1953 at the west edge of Reservoir B. Interestingly, the lower potion did not seem to have been re-erected, nor was it associated with any other monuments or construction features
• Dedicated at 9.11.0.0.0 – A.D. 652 by Kan II at his accession (AD 618), it also references his 1st penis perforation at age 5 under the direction of his father, Yajaw Te’ K’inich II (Lord Water)
• May portray Batz’ Ek’, who may have served as Kan II’s regent/surrogate parent, or his mother. The text includes the “arrival” verb (at 9.7.10.16.8 and again at 9.9.9.10.5, although the presence of two arrivals is not thoroughly explained), indicating that whomever Batz’ Ek’ was, they were foreign to Caracol. Batz’ Ek’ is an enigmatic character, who on this stela bears the Snake emblem glyph yet may in fact be from Site Q.
• Shows Site Q emblem glyph in clauses showing its ‘secondary importance’

Stela 4

• Probably from A.D. 583 (9.7.10.0.0), depicts Yajaw Te’ K’inich (Lord Water)
• Found in 1950 by A. H. Anderson in Plaza A3, when excavation showed that this was not the monument’s original placement

Stela 5

• Marks the 9th K’atun ending in A.D. 613 - 9.9.0.0.0
• Elaborate Early classic style, showing Knot Ajaw holding the ceremonial bar, surrounded by open portals with emerging named ancestors
• The northern most in a line of stelae (including Stelae 6 and 7) discovered in front of Structure A13. None of these stelae had associated altars, yet a sub-altar cache was found in front of Stela 5 (although this may represent a later offering) which could indicate the previous presence of a Giant Ajaw Altar

Stela 6

• Discovered with Stelae 5 and 7 in front of Structure A13 in 1950, and tentatively dates to 9.8.10.0.0
• First stela erected by Knot Ajaw in A.D. 603 (9.8.10.0.0?)
• Originally had over 144 glyphs, and depicted twin portraits of Knot Ajaw and his father, Lord Water
• Makes note of Lord Chekaj K’inich who also carries the Caracol emblem glyph, and may be the younger brother of Lord Water (Yajaw Te’ K’inich)

Stela 7

• Dating to 9.10.0.0.0 1 Ajaw – A.D. 633
• Placed at the southern end of the line formed with Stelae 5 and 6 at Structure A13

Stela 8

• Located in the A-Group Plaza to the west of Altar 14
• Badly eroded, the only semi-legible text being a date which is presumably 9.19.0.0.0? – A.D. 810, and is very stylistically similar to Stelae 9 and 11

Stela 9

• Was unfortunately located under a logging road, and is heavily damaged and broken. Associated with Altar 4, both monuments were in the center of the A-Group Plaza along the east-west axis facing Platform A10
• Seems to have a different dating than Altar 4, leading Beetz and Satterthwaite to suggest that they were not an original pair
• Similar to Stelae 8 and 11 in the same Plaza, which depict a ruler with the ceremonial serpent bar, potentially dating between 9.18.0.0.0 to 10.0.0.0.0

Stela 10

• Found in the A-Group Plaza, it displays a glyphic text on one face making it unusual in the Caracol corpus. Other similar monuments from Uaxactun (Stela 10) or Jimbal (Stela 2) date to Baktun 10
• Dedication date of 10.1.10.0.0 – A.D. 859

Stela 11

• Erected by K’inich Joy Kawiil in A.D. 800 (9.18.10.0.0) in the A-Group Plaza (Martin and Grube 2008)
• Suggests that Tum Yohl K’inich is K’inich Joy Kawiil’s father, or potentially a related high-ranking military leader
• Discovered in 1953 along the east-west axis of the plaza, near but not paired with Altar 19

Stela 12

• Found in the A-Group Plaza at the base of Platform A1a, just south of Stela 20. The building sequence indicated that Stela 12 preceded the construction of Platform A1a
• When discovered, A. H. Anderson noted that the stela was devoid of any carving, and entirely plain. While this may be an uncarved monument, it is also likely that erosion destroyed any carving that may have once been present

Stela 13

• Located in the front of Structure A4 on Platform A1, and situated near Stela 14, 15, and 16, and Altar 7. It is one of the few Early Classic monuments left in situ by early excavations.
• The iconography on the front closely resembles that of Stela 16, and the back contains enough legible glyphs that the date 9.4.0.0.0 can be assigned to the monument, placing it in the reign of Yajaw Te’ K’inich I. This date makes it the second oldest stela at the site, and confirms the existence of a royal dynasty at Caracol. The iconography is standard Early Classic, with the ruler holding the ceremonial bar while wearing a god mask.

Stela 14

• Erected by Yajaw Te’ K’inich II in A.D. 554 to commemorate the K’atun ending 9.6.0.0.0
• Found on Platform A1 near Stelae 13, 15, and 16, and in association with Altar 7
• It was originally thought to be uncarved when first discovered, yet it is actually finely incised and depicts a ruler seated holding the ceremonial bar over a 42 block glyphic text

Stela 15

• Dedicated in A.D. 573 – 9.7.0.0.0 7Ajaw
• Completes the grouping on Platform A1 which includes 13, 14, 16, and Altar 7. It is primarily glyphic, although there are small and eroded figures at the top of the monument
• Records the accession of K’an I in A.D. 531, and a ch’ak (axe) event against Caracol by the Snake polity and Tikal

Stela 16

• K’an I’s only K’atun ending in A.D. 534 (9.5.0.0.0), erected on Platform A1
• Gives a genealogy and includes his grandfather K’ahk’ Ujol K’inich I, a royal woman from Xultun, and both of his parents.
• Also mentioned is Lord Bahlam Nehn of Copan, although his appearance is unclear
• It is comparatively well preserved, and depicts the ruler with the ceremonial bar standing above three smaller seated figures which appear below the ground line
• In the monument grouping that includes Stelae 13, 14, 15, and Altar 7. Along with Stela 15, it seems to have been broken in antiquity and buried beneath Altar 7.

Stela 17

• Erected by K’an III, it is associated with Altar 10 to the southeast of B Group
• It depicts two seated lords facing each other and accompanied by glyphic texts, dating to A.D. 849 - 10.1.0.0.0. Originally it seems that there was also carving on the sides, with four large cartouches on each side presumably with one large glyph block in each, although these are now eroded and illegible

Stela 18

• Badly eroded, but shows a full figured vision serpent over the body of a bound captive
• Erected by K’inich Toobil Yopaat to mark the end of the 19th K’atun, 9.19.0.0.0 (A.D. 810)
• Found in the B-Group Plaza, to the west of Structure B28

Stela 19

• Erected by K’inich Toobil Yopaat in A.D. 820 – 9.19.10.0.0
• Associated with Altar 12 at the southern end of the B-Group Plaza in front of Structure B5, facing Caana.
• Once the tallest stela at Caracol, it is now broken into several eroded fragments. Only six glyph blocks partially remain on the front, which while eroded, clearly shows the outline of a ruler holding the ceremonial bar.
• Each side of the monument displayed two cartouches with four glyph blocks each, although those on the left side are broken and eroded. The legible text on the right side seems to be a continuation of the text on the left side, and begins with a glyph that resembles the Site Q emblem. The text also references the two Paddler Gods, who were ‘seen’ by K’inich Toobil Yopaat.

Stela 20

• Only the upper portion is known, and it gives a date of what is likely an accession, but neither the date nor the ruler’s name are included in the surviving text
• Located on the front of Platform A1a, and is also nearly associated with Stela 12 which both broke and fell into the plaza below
• On the lower portion of the stela, the outlines of four cartouches can still be seen, although their glyphs are illegible. On the upper portion of the Stela are two facing seated individuals with two eroded glyphic text in between. In the upper left corner appear the jaws of what Beetz and Satterthwaite describe as a serpent

Stela 21

• The top left portion of the stela is broken off, and the lowest row of glyph blocks have broken off and eroded
• Depicts an unknown Caracol lord (Ruler VII), shown with a kneeling captive identified as a k’uhul ajaw (holy lord) of Ixkun, although his name glyph is also illegible
• Dates to A.D. 702 – 9.13.10.0.0
• Found buried beneath the floor of A Group Plaza by A. H. Anderson, its original location is unknown, although it is speculated that it may have fallen from Platform A1

Stela 22

• Found at the summit of Structure A2 in association with Altar 17. It once had a hieroglyphic text which covered the entire face of the monument; this text is now badly eroded. Two small figures were carved on the top corners of the monument, sitting crossed legged facing each other.
• Surviving text relates events from the reign of K’an II. Importantly, this stela relates the arrival date of Batz’ Ek’ to Caracol at 9.9.9.10.5. This date is also associated with an event with a ruler of Site Q, leading Grube to suggest that this indicates that Batz’ Ek’ was a woman from Site Q who helped establish an alliance between the two centers. This alliance eventually led to the combined defeat of Naranjo, which is mentioned later in the legible text.
• The last date appearing on the Stela is at 9.10.0.0.0, at which time the monument was presumably dedicated atop Structure A2

Stela 23

• Only a partial stela, found intentionally broken and placed beneath Altar 17 at the summit of Structure A2.
• No iconography exists, and only a small amount of text survives. Shows a date that falls between A.D. 361 and A.D. 420 and references yajaw te’ which may be referencing a recurring royal name: Yajaw Te’ K’inich

Stela 24

• Found in front of the eastern building of the elite residential group associated with the Puchituk Terminus plaza
• Finger bowl caches and broken jadeite artifacts were associated with its erection
• Only a small portion of the original carving exists; no glyphic text. It depicts a ruler below the waist, and a jaguarian figure emerging from a serpentine mouth. A second figure appears on the left, but only a hand is still visible.

Altar 1

• A Giant Ajaw altar placed by Yajaw Te’ K’inich to mark the 9.8.0.0.0 5 Ajaw K’atun ending (A.D. 593) along with Stela 1
• Excavations by the University Museum in 1950 revealed its association with Stela 1

Altar 2

• A Giant Ajaw altar located in Plaza A3 at the east edge of Platform A1, which Beetz and Satterthwaite suggest was a secondary placement because of its uncertain relationship to the plaza floor
• 9.17.0.0.0 13 Ajaw?, although its lack of associated monuments and eroded state make this date tentative

Altar 3

• A Giant Ajaw altar dating to 9.5.0.0.0 11 Ajaw or 9.18.0.0.0 11 Ajaw
• Found in front of Structure A1, resting on three limestone legs which were embedded in the plaza floor and associated with the northern, western, and southeastern axis’s
• Altar 14 is also dated 11 Ajaw, although Beetz and Satterthwaite assign this monument to an earlier date of 9.5.0.0.0, Mathews dates Altar 3 to the earlier date

Altar 4

• Dated to 9.3.0.0.0 2 Ajaw, this Giant Ajaw altar is associated with Stela 9 in front of Platform A10 in the A-Group Plaza.

Altar 5

• A Giant Ajaw altar found west of Altar 6 and in front of Structure A3
• B and S suggest that it dates to 9.6.0.0.0 9 Ajaw, although it is too highly eroded to be certain. They also suggest that this altar may have originally been paired with Stela 14 which tentatively marks the same K’atun ending

Altar 6

• This Giant Ajaw altar was found along the north-south axis of Plaza A, and dated based largely on iconography to 9.7.0.0.0. It was also seated on three limestone legs resting on a plaster floor, similar to Altar 3
• Altar 16 also has the 7 Ajaw date, but is dated 260 tuns later because of its size, associated stela, and iconographic traits

Altar 7

• Well preserved Giant Ajaw altar found on Platform A1 beneath the broken portion of Stela 14, near Stelae 13, 15, and 16. Dates to 9.4.0.0.0 13 Ajaw
• A disturbed sub-altar cache may indicate the removal of an earlier altar originally associated with Stela 14; the later placement of a cache containing Late Classic materials was found undisturbed immediately below this altar

Altars 8 and 9

• Plain and uncarved monuments which some have suggested are not monuments at all
• Located in Plaza A3, yet are not associated with any structures or carved monuments

Altar 10

• Found under the fallen portion of Stela 17 to the southeast of B Group, and presumably dating to the same period as the stela (10.1.0.0.0?)
• It is badly eroded, but the outlines of three figures with the same style headdresses can be seen, along with a few legible glyph blocks

Altar 11

• Highly eroded Giant Ajaw altar, it is almost unrecognizable except for the scalloped quatrefoil surround and potentially a dot and bar coefficient
• It was situated at the northern edge of Structure B2, potentially placed along the centerline of the structure, although it was not associated with any caches or stelae
• Located on top of several square limestone blocks which appeared to be secondary altar supports, which contrasts the rounded leg supports for Altars 3 and 6, further suggests that this was a secondary placement
• Beetz and Satterthwaite suggest the 9.9.0.0.0 3 Ajaw dedicatory date for this monument based on their reconstruction of the dates for Stelae 5 and 6 which would both require a coefficient 3 Ajaw on Giant Ajaw altars if erected on the K’atun ending

Altar 12

• Dedicated by K’inich Toobil Yopaat in A.D. 820 (9.19.10.0.0) and associated with Stela 19 at the southern end of the B-Group Plaza facing Caana
• Depicts Toobil Yopaat of Caracol and Lord Papamalil of Ucanal (who was by this time an ally of Caracol) each seated on anthropomorphic head thrones facing each other, potentially engaged in a palanquin event at Ucanal. The text mentions a scattering event undertaken by the Ucanal lord which was overseen by Toobil Yopaat.
• It goes on to describe a ch’ak event against k’ul mutul (probably Tikal) during which a captive was taken by a Caracol ruler who bears the bakab title.

Altar 13

• Found in front of Caana at the southern end of the B-Group Plaza with Stela 19 and Altar 12
• Dating to 9.19.10.0.0 (A.D. 820), Beetz and Satterthwaite hypothesize that this altar may have been associated with Stela 18, although this matter cannot be relied upon until further excavation reveals the base of the stela in situ
• It depicts an event taking place within a quatrefoil with water and earth symbols at the four corners. There are three figures within the cartouche, the first figure seems to be presenting a bound captive to a Lord

Altar 14

• A Giant Ajaw altar potentially dating to 9.5.0.0.0 11 Ajaw, this altar was found along the north-south axis of A-Group Plaza near Stela 8. It was located above a well preserved fragment of Altar 15, and while there was no formal cache, this fragment might be constituted as such
• The occurrence of an 11 Ajaw date also appears on Altar 3, but Altar 14 appears to be earlier, and may have originally been paired with Stela 16

Altar 15

• A fragment found in the A-Group Plaza along the north-south axis below Altar 14
• Potentially dated to 9.9.0.0.0 3 Ajaw, it was probably originally paired with a stela (possibly Stela 5)

Altar 16

• Isolated at the southern base of Structure B19 (from which it presumably fell in antiquity), it was not associated with a stela, and is the smallest of all the Giant Ajaw altars.
• Dated to 10.0.0.0.0 7 Ajaw

Altar 17

• This Giant Ajaw altar dating to 9.11.0.0.0 was found resting on edge near the top of Structure A2, erected on K’atun before Altar 17. Only the upper portion of the stela exists, although it once had 12 small cartouches around the rim. It is also the last Giant Ajaw altar known from Caracol.
• Stylistically similar to Altar 2 with small glyph cartouches around the central Ajaw, this pair is distinct from the other know altars. Beetz and Satterthwaite argue that like Altar 2, Altar 17 was not originally paired with a stela.

Altar 18

• Discovered on the south slope of Structure B6, it is a severely weathered Giant Ajaw altar
• While Beetz and Satterthwaite suggest a 10.1.0.0.0 5 Ajaw date, this date is tentative because of the level of erosion

Altar 19

• A Giant Ajaw Altar found near Stela 11 in the A-Group Plaza and possibly dating to 9.3.10.0.0
• Because the known Giant Ajaw altars are paired with carved stelae, Beetz and Satterthwaite suggest that it may have been paired with Stela 7 at the base of Structure A13, which would create an east-west alignment

Altar 21

• One of the Giant Ajaw altars commissioned by K’an II in A.D. 633 to commemorate the 9.10.0.0.0 K’atun ending
• References Kan II’s birth date, but the majority of the text deals with Yajaw Te’ K’inich II
• It tells that Yajaw Te’ K’inich II’s accession takes place under the auspices of the Tikal lord Wak chan K’awiil
• Also references the ch’ak event by Tikal against Caracol in A.D. 556, and the later defeat of Tikal in a star-war event by Yajaw Te’ K’inich II at 9.6.8.4.2 – A.D. 562 and interactions with the Snake polity
• Placed in the A-Group Ballcourt as the center marker

Altar 22

• Discovered in the Plaza of the Two Stelae, a residential area connected with the B Plaza by a causeway. Found in front of two uncarved stelae, it dates to 9.19.0.0.0 (A.D. 810).
• Erected by K’inich Joy K’awiil, its iconography repeats that of the earlier Altar 23 – two bound captives sit on Cauac-thrones. This altar deviates from Altar 23 because of its ballgame iconography and titles.

Altar 23

• Dedicated by K’inich Joy K’awiil in A.D. 800 (9.18.10.0.0) in the B Plaza west of Structure B28, placed at the same time Stela 11 was erected in the A Plaza.
• Depicts two bound lords from Ucanal and Bital, whose capture is credited to Tum Yohl K’inich, a 3 K’atun Ajaw with the Bacab title and Caracol emblem glyph. This figure is the predecessor of K’inich Joy K’awiil, and may also be his father.

Altar 24

• Found in the El Chaquistero group in 1991 on the second highest structure in the group.
• A Giant Ajaw altar dedicated by Yajaw Te’ K’inich II on 9.7.0.0.0. It is one of the first monument erected at Caracol after the successful star-war against Tikal.

Ballcourt Markers 1 and 2

• Both badly eroded, but are obviously a stylistic set. Both show two figures facing away from each other, one a god head and the other an animal. BCM 1 shows a rabbit head facing away from an image of the Sun God.
• BCM 2 depicts a jaguar head facing away from what is likely an image of God N emerging from his shell.
• BCM 1 was found 8m southeast of Ballcourt A, and BCM 2 was found in the center of Ballcourt B.

Ballcourt Marker 3

• Discovered northwest of the B Group Ballcourt.
• Erected by K’inich Joy K’awiil, and associates him with the date 9.18.8.3.9 (A.D. 798) which is the first date after the epigraphic hiatus.
• It refers back in time to the dynastic founding which took place in A.D. 331 (8.14.13.10.4)

Ballcourt Marker 4

• Located at the southern end of the B Ballcourt
• Has the same glyphic arrangement as BCM 3, yet dates one year later at 9.18.9.5.9 (A.D. 799). The text describes the accession of K’inich Joy K’awiil, as well as the ‘presentation’ of a monument