Volume 10, Issue 2 The Gospel Pathway at Izapa June 15, 2016 By David B. Brown © 2016 Our recent Spring Expedition took and large altar, each of them made us to the site of Izapa located from a single piece of carved stone. just outside the city of and These features are clearly Olmec and just a few kilometers from ’s testify to the influence of the northern southernmost border with . culture in this region. Here we found an archaeological site Through the years we have identified with a long history and very unique certain ancient cities as locations for art styles. It appears that this site was Book of Mormon stories. Izapa has located on a merchant route that been identified as connected Teotihuacán with cit- the Lamanite city of ies in Guatemala and El Salva- Shimnilon that is dor. Being a site with such strong listed as one of the connections to the north, it dis- seven cities con- plays Olmec artisan influence by verted by the sons its use of very large stones. For of Mosiah. Ammon example, a large toad head, a is clearly responsi- large snake head, a large bowl ble for the conversion of King Lamoni and the peo- ple in the city of Ishmael. We have identified Ishmael as in Chalchuapa, . Aaron is said to have been held in prison in Middoni, which we have identified as the Guatemala Continues on Page 2 Mayan Burial Rituals by Terry Scott © 2016 We know very little about the Tomás (Chichicastenango) in Guate- early Maya’s burial practices. Much of mala, he “transcribed and translated our information about Mayan burial the manuscript () in paral- ceremonies and rituals comes from lel K'iche' and Spanish columns.”1 Post Classic accounts like the Popol Xibalba (Shee-bal-ba) or 'Place of Vuh and the books of Chilam Balam. Fright' is the name of the Mayan un- No written records exist regarding the derworld (afterlife) written about in early Mayan except what we find on the Popol Vuh. Many of the death or glyphs and images carved on temple burial rituals seem to be based on pre- walls. “As with other texts (e.g., the paring the dead for their journey to Chilam Balam), a great deal of Popol Vuh's significance lies in the scarcity Continues on Page 4 of early accounts dealing with Meso- Inside this issue: HILL CUMORAH EXPEDITION TEAM, INC american mythologies.”1 The Popol Vuh (book of the peo- The Gospel Pathway at Izapa Cont. 2 & 3

ple) was based on an oral history and Mayan Burial Rituals Cont. 4 & 7 mythology of the Maya. It was first 1 written down around 1554 to 1558. Adventures in 5 & 6 Sometime after 1701 when Father Ximénez came to Santo Tonina Update 8 Cumorah Messenger The Gospel Pathway at Izapa continued site of about 40 miles straight. But, once Aaron leaves, ual through a narrow passage that southeast of Izapa. Because of the how does the story continue to get empties into a plaza. cultural commonalities shared by told with any accuracy? We believe Once in the plaza, to the left is a Takalik Abaj and Izapa, we have that Aaron used this method of pic- stairwell that descends to the terres- surmised that Aaron is the key fig- tographic story telling by carving it trial plane from the higher plane, ure who was instrumental in con- in wood or stone so that the images verting these Pacific Coast cities would continue to tell the accurate and developing the very unique arti- story even if he was absent. sanship known as the Izapan Art Likewise, we believe that struc- Style. tures were built to illustrate the The Izapan Art Style is character- pathway of the gospel. Izapa Site F ized by several features. There is a contains one of the gospel pathway central pictographic mural that de- illustrations. Coming into the site fines the theme of the stela, which from the northwest, we find that the is then bracketed by a celestial band left side on the west edge of the at the top and an underworld band first structure has three steps up, but at the base. Almost all of the stelae the right side is in the form of a are pictographic—there appears to ramp. We believe that the ramp il- be no glyphic writing involved. lustrates an event when a portion of the inhabitants of the higher plane slide down, or as the Bible says, Adam fell. Especially since the

and beside this stairwell is a large stone bowl with a braided cord carved around the edge. Next to the bowl is a serpent head downward slide is in a westerly di- (Quetzalcoatl) whose mouth forms rection where the sun sets and the a spout. The symbolism seems to light fades—west is the direction imply that the waters of life from that symbolizes death and change. the higher realm will fill the bowl In order to avoid certain death as into which one will enter into a illustrated by the descent to the covenant as indicated by the west, we must find a way to reverse braided rope on the lip of the bowl. direction. Once on the terrestrial In spiritual terms, we will enter into Therefore, all of the images used plane it is necessary to perform a a baptismal covenant. After enter- and their relational positioning on 180 degree turn back toward the ing into this covenant we continue the pictograph are assumed to be light (east). This takes the individ- to travel east and find ourselves at symbolic. the north end of a ball court. We believe that this art style is On the north end of the ball court unique to Aaron. He came into a is a four-cornered alter with a head region with no formal writing (at carved on one end. We believe that least there is none discernable) and the new believer who has accepted he had to convey his story of the the challenge to change his life gospel. This would work fine as when he entered into the baptismal long as he was present to convey covenant is now being asked to sac- the story while consulting the writ- rifice the physical aspect of his life ten word from time to time to be Ball Court as alluded to by the four-cornered sure that he was keeping the story Continues on Page 3

Page 2 CUMORAH MESSENGER The Gospel Pathway at Izapa continued mounted in the south wall. This laws will judge our earthly walk by illustrates a ball player who has de- providing consistent direction. feated a bird that represents death. Once we have received judgment, Again, this seems to be representa- tive of Quetzalcoatl overcoming

altar. Our physical existence is il- lustrated by the number four; four directions, four corners of the earth, four fundamental elements (earth, water, fire and air), four founda- tional atomic elements (hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon), and we are then invited to the higher so on. Therefore, if we are to win realms again, as illustrated by the the spiritual battle that takes place three tiered structure on the south on the ball court, we must focus on side of the plaza. the spiritual rewards and be willing I admit that there is nothing in to sacrifice the physical. death and exiting the spiritual battle writing stating that these are the On the east wall at the halfway ground (ball court) as the victor. intended meanings of the structures point of the ball court is a stela that Continuing the right turns, the and objects found at Izapa. This is illustrates a person in a boat who is south end of the ball court empties purely an esoteric interpretation of back into the central plaza next to a what is found. However, the posi- square structure that is slightly tioning is so artfully done that one humped, but the corners are set to gospel concept applied to one struc- cardinal directions of north, south, ture tends to lend itself to an under- east and west. We believe that this standing of another. And as we take a clockwise route through the site it appears to illustrate the interaction of heaven to earth, of physical ver- sus spiritual, of eternal life versus temporary death. holding a symbol of life (Egyptian One additional comment on the ankh) in each hand and there are positioning of the structures at fish underneath the boat. This picto- Izapa. If you do an internet search graph implies someone that offers on Izapa, you will discover count- life to all players on the court. less papers that connect astronomi- The Christian imagery abounds cal positioning with the placements with a bearded god bearing crosses, of structures, stelae and monu- fish (spiritual humanity), an ark, a represents the place of judgment. ments. Why would Aaron do that? rainbow, and the number 8 repre- The four corners refer to the physi- What is he trying to convey? He is sented in the waves; 8 is the number cal realm, the slightly humped cob- telling us that the placement of of resurrection in Mayan mythol- blestone feature refers to the Mayan things on Earth are ordered by Ce- ogy. Being placed at the midpoint concept that we live on the back of lestial Law. He is connecting this of the arena where opposing teams the turtle, and the cardinal direc- earthly realm with the heavenly battle, this diety certainly displays tions are symbolic of celestial laws realm and is using astronomical Christ-like characteristics by offer- that never change because on the order to direct its placement. He is ing safe passage for all players. equinox, the positioning of east and telling us that this gospel pathway Moving to the south end of the west will always be the same. at Izapa is a reflection of, and estab- ball court we find a large stela Therefore, the unchanging celestial lished by, Celestial Law.

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2 Page 3 Mayan Burial Rituals continued

Cinnabar has a bright red color and has been used as a pigment for thousands of years in 1) or a woven mat, and then placed many parts of the world. The Chinese used it in their grave with items of special to color their lacquer. It was used by the Ol- significance to them. Colors had mec before the Maya here in America. It is Xibalba.2 special meaning to the Maya. Black also an important ore for mercury. The Books of Chilam Balam was a symbol of death, but they are a collection of books originally used the color red when burying the center color of the light spec- written by Chilam Balam and then them because red symbolized the trum which we often see displayed added to over the years. ‘Chilam’ sunrise, dawn and rebirth or resur- in the rainbow, with yellow, orange meaning priest and ‘Balam’ mean- rection. (figures 1 & 2) They used and red on the low side of the light ing jaguar or Jaguar Priest. These ground cinnabar to create the color spectrum and blue, indigo and vio- books were kept in a series of small red. (figure 3) They also used the let on the high side. towns in northern Yucatan and Be- color Green. It was the center of the lize. There are nine surviving North, South, East and West direc- books, but more existed. They date tional points. It is also the color of as late as the 17th or 18th century, the ‘Great ’; the center but some of the language and con- of their universe.4,5,6 It is interesting tent date back to the Spanish con- to note that the color green is also quest. (1527-1546 AD). In some places hieroglyphic scripts are used, pointing to an even earlier time, possibly when Chilam Balam began them. Several texts even contain prophecies about the coming of the Spanish.3 The Maya often used Jade The Maya prepared their dead (figure 4) to represent green. “At in special ways. They wrapped Piedras Negras there have been them in cloth, often dyed red (figure instances of elite burials containing clay beads and necklaces which had once been painted green to look like jadeite.”7 “The bodies of the dead were surrounded by religious ob- jects from the person’s life and their mouth stuffed with maize and a jade stone.”9 Maize was a symbol of rebirth and food for their journey to the afterlife. Jade, highly valued by the Maya, was thought to be used as currency to enter the after- life.4 Where the Maya buried their Continues on Page 7

Page 4 CUMORAH MESSENGER Adventures In Issue 19 Archaeology 2016

Mayan Burial Practices The Maya treated their dead family members in very special ways. They believed in an afterlife, so they wrapped their loved ones in red cloth and spread red powdered cinnabar around their their grave to help their rebirth in the new life. They also left special items in their graves like figurines of pottery or jade and green necklaces and ear rings. Green symbolized the center of the universe where they went after death. They even left plates and bowls of food, much like the Egyptians did. Many Archaeologists believe this was for their jour- ney to the afterlife. Many cultures prepare food to honor their ancestors. Many Asian cul- tures like China, Korea, Vietnam, India and the Philippines and even Gaelic cul- tures like Ireland and Scotland prepare food to honor their dead relatives. In most of Central and South American countries they still celebrate the Day of the Dead to honor past relatives. Kings and other important people had whole buildings built for their tombs; others buried their dead in the ground. Some built small stone chambers in the ground while the commoners just dug a hole under their home or in their courtyard and buried them there. Archaeologists believe they wanted to keep their relatives close to remember and honor them. Later in the Mayan culture, they began to cremate their dead. They made very fancy jars to place the ashes in. Figure 1 shows a jade burial jar. Figure 2 shows a necklace found buried in a dirt grave as well as some red powder. Figure 3 shows some of the special items found with the dead. Figure 4 shows a fancy tomb built for Pakal, the same one who’s mask I am wearing. Figure 4 Figure 2

Figure 1

Figure 3

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2 Page 5 F T M U X N V Y E N R N T D G WORD SEARCH M I P P Q A R F E Y X Z J B R Find and circle the L X G D P E I C Q H I A B I E Maya Ball Game P L P U T L K R A L G O U N E words from the story: E I X T R L A B E R V B R O N U Z O E A I M K A D I P I I J Afterlife Ancestors J P T C D O N V A M W R E T A Buried Cremation B F E O T Y E E M P C O D A D Deceased Figurines A S F Z W S L D S Q M C P M E Food Graves J S Y Q W R Z F Z X B T D E R Green jade Honor G U T J R J A R C J D R P R R Necklaces Pakal W U W J Z I R P P L O Q W C G Pottery Powder D E S A E C E D P R O N O H G R E B I R T H K J E F L S D C Rebirth Red A N C E S T O R S Q D J T S U Tomb Wrapped

Come visit our web site for back issues of the Newsletter at www.hceti.org or www.hillcumorahexpeditionteam.com OTHER SITES OF INTEREST http://www.teach-nology.com/teachers/lesson_plans/science/archaeology/ http://research.history.org/Archaeological_Research/KidsPage.cfm http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/08/maya-rise-fall/map-interactive http://www.digonsite.com/drdig/mesoamerica/15.html http://www.smm.org/sln/ma/index.html

Page 6 CUMORAH MESSENGER Mayan Burial Rituals continued

Pakal’s Tomb inside the Temple of the Inscriptions

4 their home such https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_d eath_rituals as the family alter 5 or courtyard12, https://mesoamericablog.wordpress.c later cremation om/2013/03/20/mayan-mortuary- became more rituals/ 6http://www.authenticmaya.com/maya common, placing _religion.htm the ashes in 7http://anthrojournal.com/issue/octobe elaborate urns. r-2011/article/examining-class-and- (figure 8) status-of-the-ancient-maya-through- The Maya appear burial-analysis to be a very re- 8http://www.soychicano.com/forums/s spectful of their howthread.php?t=56201 deceased. They 9http://www.pitlanemagazine.com/cult believed that ures/burial-customs-in-central- dead varied for each class of citizen death was not the end, but they america.html 10 and changed over time. The nobility would rise again in the afterlife. Ardren, Traci, Social Identities in or elite were buried in elaborately Cherished family members were the Classic Maya Northern Low- constructed tombs or temples7, laid to rest, thoughtfully and with lands:Gender, Age, Memory and much like the discovery of Pakal’s much care. It is believed they were Place, University of Texas Press, Auston. p.98 tomb at . (figure 5) Burial buried close to home to honor their 11Gillespie, Susan D., Body and Soul urns (figure 6) were used for impor- memory. We are not sure if they among the Maya: Keeping the Spirits tant non-elite people, sometimes talked to their ancestors or asked in Place, University of Florida, placed in caves or cave-like cham- their advice but The Day of the Gainesville bers. Caves were considered en- Dead has been celebrated in Mex- 12Zach, Stephanie R. & Hume, Doug- trances into the underworld or after ico to honor their ancestors maybe las William, Changing Mortuary life. Children and women that died as far back as 3000 years.13 Rites: An Ethnohistory of 19th Cen- in child birth were also buried in tury and Comteporary Religeion in urns too, but usually in the ground Footnotes: Northern , Contemporary Jour- next to other family members.10 1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ nal of Anthropology and Sociology, Commoners buried their dead Popol_Vuh CJAS 4(2), 149-161, (2014) p15 2http://www.ancient.eu/Xibalba/ 13https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of family members in dirt graves 3 (figure 2) under the floors of their https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilam _the_Dead homes11 or in a special area close to _Balam

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2 Page 7 The Hill Cumorah Expedition Team, Inc is a Missouri not-for-profit corpo- We’re on the web at ration dedicated to the study, research and dissemination of information as www.hceti.org it pertains to the Book of Mormon. Our primary focus is to research and assemble archaeological and other related information to help establish the historical feasibility of the Book of Mormon. HILL CUMORAH EXPEDITION TEAM, INC Searching for Truth

c/o David B. Brown 311 N Lee Street Buckner, Mo 64016 Phone: 816-651-6974 E-mail: [email protected] Contributors and Editors Contributors and Editors David Brown David Brown Terry Scott Neil Steede Children’s Page by Terry and Chris Scott Randall Lawrence Photos by: Children’s Page by Terry and Chris Scott David Brown Photographs provided by: Joanie Glandon Pat Beebe and David Brown. Terry Scott

Tonina Update By David B Brown 2016 ©

We have previously identified the the words of Alma and Amulek; and believed that this is Bird Jaguar IV of archaeological site of Tonina located in bones that displayed marks from hacking , but there has not been any the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico as such as blades and axes similar to what evidence of this—until now. During the Book of Mormon site of Ammoni- we might expect when the Lamanites our recent visit to Tonina, Neil Steede hah. The history that archaeologists destroyed the inhabitants of the city. discovered there has been a recent have developed at this site seems to fit Fourth, the city was reinforced with a translation to some of the glyphs that the unique stories of Ammonihah. high-wall and mote, and the land sur- state, “Jaguar Bird is the son of a ruler First, there were two entrances to the rounding the plains of the south entrance from .” We believe that city, one on the east and the other on were clear-cut of timber and leveled. things are finally getting straightened the south—a Book of Mormon descrip- This is the very description we are given out. You see, Alma II was the son of a tion of the city of Ammonihah. concerning how Captain Moroni forti- High Priest from Zarahemla, and the Second, there are two individuals fied the city of Ammonihah to thwart the Book of Mormon states that he traveled illustrated as bound captives being held Lamanite attack. to Ammonihah after visit- without food and water; this is the de- Fifth, the images ing the City of Melek. scription we have of Alma and Amulek mounted on the sunken Now, I will make this when they are taken captive by city ball court are of kneeling same statement using officials. captives with their hands archaeological terms. You Third, there are three types of bone bound behind their back. see, Bird Jaguar IV was burials found here; skeletal bones that This seems to be a compi- the son of a ruler from were crushed such as the lawyers and lation of the Alma captiv- Yaxchilan (Bird Jaguar city officials who were caught in the ity and the believers who III) and the Book of Mor- prison collapse when Alma and were burned alive; both of mon states that he trav- Amulek were miraculously released them being held captive eled to Tonina after visit- from the prison; bones that displayed because of their belief in ing the city of Bonampak. charring from fire such as the women the gospel. Yes, enough said. Things are coming and children of the believers who were And finally, the name of one of the around—science and religion are com- burned alive because of their belief in captives is Jaguar Bird. We have long ing into agreement.