A Book of Mormon Report

PRE-COLUMBIAN STUDIES INSTITUTE • JANUARY I FEBRUARY 2005 • VOLUME 12 NUMBER l

By Sherrie Kline Smith and Shirley R. Heater

&litor's Note: The last issue of glyph notes 1 toric murals, including results from the 2004 included a "clip" and some tidbits about ~ excavation season which had not yet been the symposium. This is a fuller; : published or presented to the general public. but not complete, report. It's a little longer Guest speakers included than normal, but the importance of this with the University of New Hampshire who symposium prompts us to publish much of described how the murals were discovered the material that was presented. First is the and the joint efforts of the team working to report, followed by the authors' insights of preserve, conserve, and record the murals; ------. points important for believ­ , Yale University and a recent ers of The Book of Monnon. : recipient of the prestigious MacArthur ~ "genius" fellowship, compared the The Symposium ~ murals with those at San • Early in 200 l, archaeolo­ ~ Bartolo; , now with the • MAYAPAJ>I ~ University of Texas at Austin, talked about JAINA gist William Saturno discov­ SAYtl• ered a spectacular series of ~ the relation of the hieroglyphic text that YUCATAN •EOZNA early Maya murals in an l accompanies the murals and the origins and PENINSULA unexcavated pyramid at the l development of Maya writing; , San Bartolo ruins in north- l University of California-Riverside, delved .eecAN east . These • ceRAQ5. ancient murals, dating to N~~~Atcilc~~ • RIO~~ Sll;'1 Bartolo " around l 00 BC, include the "\ • ---- ... -- ~ • oe• These ancient murals, ~ • EL EL MIRAOOR • '> e''o earliest Maya hieroglyphs, • ' 'PER~ • I (, PALENO\,/E_ .J • ~ARANJO and portray the most elabo- dating to around I 00 BC, 1 YAXCH~~PI~:-~ • ,e EL z) rate depiction of the Maya's TONINA• • Al TAR OE :CARACO{ include the earliest Maya . BONAMPAK SACRIFICIOS ' J creation myth ever discov- • ' ,./ . Gullo/ ered. Painted in brilliant hieroglyphs and portray ' .. - _ _ _ _ DOS. PILAS UJ,'_ -~ANTUN HondUtas ., . _ (._ ,....._ ~ polychrome, these remark- the most elaborate depiction LAGARTERP~' ?.... ~ACQ . . . . __ ably preserved murals pro- ~ · GUATEMALA OUIRIGU~"' • ePLAYADE ,- .-- -, _,,,,,. LOS MUERTOS vide a unique corpus of of the Maya's creation myth ~u!.~~-N- ~~~;~; · _ . HIGOS iconographic and epigraphic ever discovered. • ABAJ 1 . •KAMINAuuvu) H 0 ~ 0 u R A 5 information about the Maya. TAKA~:K•. · , ,"'---..... vARUMELA The paintings have been E TBAUL ··1· ared r- comp to l pre-eminent archaeologist Michael Coe, ' Michaelangelo's paintings l Yale University emeritus, discussed the ) on the ceiling of the Sistine ~ dawn of ; and John Clark, Chapel. from Brigham Young University, spoke On October 30, 2004, at about the Olmec, or mother culture, and its Irvine, California, the New World relation to the Maya. Archaeology Council held a symposium The day-long program was not only infor­ that featured for the first time the entire San mative but also intellectually stimulating. Bartolo field research team, presenting their latest findings and interpretations of the his- Continued on page 2. PRE-COLUMBIAN STUDIES INSTITUTE • JANUARY I FEBRUARY 2005 2 ~))notes Exciting New Discoveries The room had five doorways: three on the glass window whose purpose was to teach From page I. front and one on each side at the rear of the Biblical stories. Those at Bonampak glorify Discovery room. The west wall has remains of five the personal history of the king and events In March 2001, William Satumo went to beams that stretched across the top of the in his life and were private, to be viewed verify reports of the existence of two room creating a flat ceiling, as opposed to only by family or those selected. inscribed stelae at San Bartolo in the Peten. the usual corbel arch found in What began as a three-hour trek turned into Maya constructions. One had to a harrowing three-day marathon. When the duck to enter, but when standing team reached the site, they found no stelae. upright after entering, one Suffering from frustration, fatigue, and lack looked directly at the murals. of food and water, Satumo sought refuge in To ascertain a date for the the shade and coolness of a looter's tunnel murals, they took five radiocar- in an unexcavated pyramid. Soon he began bon samples from three contexts: beaming his flashlight around. He was the mural, floor, and fill. The stunned by what he saw-part of a Maya result from the mural plaster mural in pristine condition. An excited yielded a date between 230-50 Satumo called in the experts. BC which they round out to 100 Following this discovery of the first well­ BC. The floor sample averaged preserved murals since those at Bonampak to 50 BC and the fill to some­ in 1946, important steps have been taken to time before AD 20. The I 00 BC preserve them, such as conservation, clean­ date is a couple hundred years Dmwing: Glenn Scon ing, recording, and stabilizing. Looters left earlier than first suspected and This portion of the north end of the west wall mural mirrors one of the walls hanging in mid-air, so one published in the December 2003 the scene on the south end-one of accession. At present, of the first tasks was to reconstruct a sup­ National Geographic. it is unclear if the figures represent real kings or divinities. porting base. The hieroglyphs before the throne would probably clear The mural room, buried 50 feet beneath Murals this up, but they differ just enough from later glyphs that decipherment has not yet happened. David Stuart, the subsequent buildings, adjoins an 80-foot Heather Hurst, who worked leading epigraphic scholar, believes the Maya had many tall pyramid that incorporates six earlier extensively in conservation and manuscripts prior to the birth of Christ. building phases that date back to around preservation of the Bonampak 600 BC. The building in which the mural murals, is the main artist for the San was found was completed in the last phase Bartolo project. Using her extensive knowl­ Writing of construction. They named the pyramid edge of the Bonampak murals, she com­ The hieroglyphic texts in the San Bartolo Las Pinturas because of the murals. pared and contrasted them with those at murals, a series of glyphs executed in an The north wall of the mural building San Bartolo. Nine hundred years separate early "swirl" style, are captions for people measures approximately 14 feet long and the execution of the murals. Bonampak or scenes and, at present, not understood the west, 31 feet. The east wall had been dates to approximately AD 800. except for, the glyph commonly translated totally destroyed by the Maya in later build­ In discussing the architectural setting, as ahau (lord). David Stuart related that the ing projects. Fortunately fragments have Hurst pointed out that both buildings had glyphs differ too much from later inscrip­ been found that have allowed the team to been built to "house" the murals and were tions .. begin reconstructing parts of the east wall. well planned beforehand. The walls, pre­ Experts are not sure exactly when writing The mural most likely ran along all four pared for the paint with layers of stucco, first appeared in the Lowlands, but during sides of the room for a total of approxi­ exhibit highly advanced limestone prepara­ the first century BC writing experienced a mately 90 feet. tion created by skilled craftsmen. rapid advance. And, when that happened, or San Bartolo employs conservative colors "when writing took off in the Lowlands, it glyph nous is published bimonthly by Pre-Columbian including black, red, yellow, peach, pink, stops in the Highlands." Srudies Institute (PSI), a nonprofit research and education and some blue. The artists used red and Most of the earliest writing examples in organization, and is distributed free 10 members of PSI. white for skin tones, which Hurst believes the Lowlands are found on small, portable Membership & Annual Subscription to newsletter is $25. implies deities. At Bonampak no two fig­ objects. The small scale of the early glyphs Send to: Pre-Columbian Studies lnstirute. ures have the same skin tone/color. The leads Stuart to believe that writing originat­ P.O. Boll 477, Independence. MO 64051 . murals here are resplendent with Maya ed not on structures but from a manuscript F.ditorial Committee: Pat Beebe. Editor; Joy Muir; blue, a color, Hurst said, that is most diffi­ tradition. He suggested that folded books Clyde Noren; Jennifer Raffety; 1im Raffety; Glenn Scott cult to reproduce. She concludes this is a must have been an ancient practice, but Board Ofllc:ers: Donald Beebe, President; Glenn Seo«. display of conspicuous consumption similar unfortunately no examples survive from the Vice President; Margaret Noren, Secrerary; Clyde Noren. to coating cathedrals in gold leaf. Preclassic period. Archaeologists have Treasurer The content of both murals contrast found pieces of codices at Uaxactun, and a Articles and the opinions ellpressed herein do not neces­ markedly. Where the San Bartolo murals number of scenes on pottery shows codices sarily represent the view of the Editorial Committee. are mythical or ideological, dealing with and people writing and reading and manip­ Unsigned articles are attributable to the editor. All materi­ religious beliefs, Bonampak's are political. ulating "books." als submitted may be edited for clarity and space. The San Bartolo murals were meant for the The theme of warfare is not as evident as © 2005 Pre-Columbian Studies Institute public. They resemble a medieval stained Continued on page 3. PRE-COLUMBIAN STUDIES INSTITUTE • JANUARY I FEBRUARY 2005 ~I) notes 3 Exciting New Discoveries earth; and a fisherman, the waters. From page 2. The murals exhibit seven different exam­ in the earlier inscriptions, which mainly ples of the Maize God who plays a central refer to kings and their accomplishments or, role in . Taube believes the Clarification more likely, the dedication of a building or whole theme of the murals relates the birth, and Corrections monument. Generally speaking, Classic death, and resurrection of the Maize God. inscriptions (AD 250-800) boast about wars "Christ is Maize; Maize is Christ." He pro­ See 'The Covenant Codex", glyph and captives, kings and ancestors. jected the Christian cross used by the Maya notes, Sept/Oct 2004, Volume 11 today on the overhead screen and suggested Number4. Creation Mythology a correlation of the Maize God's resurrec- All references to re-translations in Karl Taube's talk centered on the creation lion to the present-day Maya belief in the the article are attributed to the story portrayed in the murals and his inter- resurrection of Christ. This observation author, Neil Steede. Contact Neil brought a collective gasp through the Early Sites Research The excavation of these murals and other from the audience who had Society, PO Box 4175, never considered such a cor­ Independence, MO 64050 with any Preclassic (500 BC to AD 250) Maya sites relation before! questions concerning these re-trans­ represents the cutting edge of knowledge Michael Coe stated that the lations. two most important gods of Please note the correct spelling of about the ancient Maya. the (500 BC Linda Schele 's name. to AD 250) were the pretation of some of the iconography. The Principal Bird Deity, or the main The final two subheadings on murals, painted around I 00 BC, parallel deity, and the Maize God. page 7 of. the 'The Covenant the well-known story of creation .found in Codex" "which are printed as the Popol Yuh, one of the surviving written· Significance for Believers in The Book of Vertical text IV followed by Maya documents from the 16th century. Mormon Horizontal text V should read, The experts found this extremely surprising We believe some startlin.g statements and Horizontal text V followed by and enlightening. They had not imagined .conclusions given at the symposium con­ Vertical text V. that the creation "myth" sprung from such tribute to the continually growing evidence early roots. of support for the truth of The Book of Taube believes the murals illustrate Maya Mormon as a true historical account of God beliefs. "It's like their Bible." The flower­ and his dealings with peoples in the New Help us KEEP UP ing, black mountain represents a place of World. These are our insights on what was with News! resurrection or a paradisiacal place. This presented. If mountain forms a cave that's exhaling a you read anything that might be of plumed serpent - or breath/wind. This is Writing interest to us at Pre-Columbian Studies Institute, and for possible the basic form of Queztalcoatl and predates Stuart commented that when writing publication in glyph notes, here's Quetzalcoatl examples at Teotihuacan in appeared in the L.Qwlands, it stopped in the how you can help us: northern . Highlands. This observation is truly Some symbols signify opposites: astounding because it matches so closely life/death/; morning/night. The bottle gourd what the record relates. When Mosiah and • Clip out the article or make a holds water; the tamales represent food. his group left the Land of Nephi photocopy of it. The central figure hands food and water to (Highlands) and went down to the Land of the person kneeling behind, symbolic of Zarahemla (Lowlands) and met with the • Note the source: name of the newspaper (with city), magazine, life-giving water and food. Mulekites, they brought records with them journal or other publication. One of the exciting things at the sympo­ and their knowledge of writing (Omni I :26- sium was the exhibition of drawings of the 33). Approximately 150 years later, the • Also, include the date and page west wall displayed for the first time. record informs us that when some of the number. Photographing these new drawings by sym­ Nephites returned to the Highlands (or posium attendees was prohibited. Taube Land of Nephi) they taught the Lamanites Mail to: Shirley R. Heater thinks the west wall was a copy from a their language and to write since they had PO Box 6, Oak Grove, MO 64075 manuscript. At opposite ends of the west not maintained that skill. "And thus the lan­ wall are scenes of accession: a king sitting guage of Nephi began to be taught among • For Internet Sources: on a scaffold or throne. It is unclear at this all the people of the Lamanites ... they forward the pagenink where the time if the figures represent real kings or taught them that they should keep their information is found to: divinities. record, and that they might write one to [email protected] Between the two accession scenes are another'' (Mosiah 11 :51 ). five trees. The first three represent the three The second observation Stuart made is .basic elements of creation: heaven, earth, also of great importance and another water­ Thanks! and underworld or waters. A bird symbol­ shed conclusion. He said writing originated izes the heavens or sky; a deer hunter for Continued on page 4. PRE-COLUMBIAN STUDIES INSlllUIE • JANUARY I FEBRUARY 2005 4 ~))notes Exciting New Discoveries found in the Frompage3. Bible and The Your contributions make it possible for members of PSI from a manuscript tradition. He believes Book of that, although no real examples have sur­ Monnon. "For in to attend conferences like this one that present new material vived or been found, the early Maya had six days the Lord to expand our knowledge of what is happening many written books prior to the Classic era. made heaven and Numerous examples from The Book of earth, the sea ... " in the archaeological world and how new discoveries Monnon confinn this "manuscript tradi­ (Exodus 20: 11 ; and understanding bring supportive evidences that in turn brings tion." King Benjamin (approximately 200 Mosiah I: 118). a witness to the truth of The Book of Mormon. BC) caused his proclamation to be written See also Genesis so those unable to hear him would have a l :3 and 5. Much Thank you for your support! copy to read to know what he said (Mosiah of the meaning l :36-38). When Alma went to preach to the of the murals, people in Ammonihah, he witnessed the though, remains to be analyzed. the Q&A session, the Vice President of burning of their scriptures (Alma l 0:46 ). It Guatemala David Stein awarded "la Orden seems safe to say that many of these people The Timeframe del Quetzal" (the order of the Quetzal), had their own copies. When Alma preached The discovery of these marvelously exe­ their highest honor, to Michael Coe in to the Zoramites, the poor people, he told cuted murals dating to l 00 BC, along with observation of his more than sixty years' them, "Ye ought to search the scriptures .... work being done at the site of , contribution in archaeology. Our PSI group Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, fits the timeframe of a major portion (about attending the symposium was thrilled to be the prophet of old, has said concerning 60 percent) of The Book ofMonnon present at such a prestigious ceremony! prayer or worship?" (Alma 16: 176-177). (approximately 270 BC to AD 36.). After the award, Stein, and other mem­ This implies that even the poor could read Fonnerly, much of the archaeological inves­ bers of the audience who were part of a and had copies of the scriptures. tigations have been at sites that date after large contingent from Guatemala, spoke of "Now behold, all those engravings which the close of The Book of Monnon, AD the rebirth of interest by the present-day were in the possession of Helaman, were 420, and although these discoveries have Maya in their original culture and expressed written and sent forth among the children provided collaborative evidences of aspects gratitude for the role archaeologists and of men throughout all the land ... (empha­ found in The Book of Mormon, work in the epigraphers have played in restoring to sis added; Alma 30: 16-17)." Perhaps, Preclassic time period should be even more them a knowledge of their ancestors. though, one of the best references is found illuminating. Because they lack a continuous written his­ in Helaman. 'There are many books and San Bartolo, a small site, sits close to its tory, much of this knowledge has been lost. many records of every kind, and they have contemporary, gigantic El Mirador. Saturno Many of the six million Maya descendants been kept chiefly by the Nephites" (empha­ said the discoveries at San Bartolo provide living today yearn to know of their heritage sis added; Helaman 2: 14). clues to what has yet to be found at El and their ancestors. What happened to all these books? Most, Mirador, like great works of art, more Hearing of these yearnings and desires if not all, perished. This is why .the prophet inscriptions, and references to kings. El filled our hearts with joy! Unbeknownst to Jacob relates that, although it is difficult to Mirador is not the anomaly once thought. them, they are moving toward fulfillment of write on metal plates, they do it so the record will remain. Jacob writes, The discovery of these marvelously executed murals Whatsoever things we write upon anything save it be upon plates, must dating to JOO BC, along with the work being done at the site perish and vanish away (emphasis of El Mirador, fits the timeframe of a major portion added; Jacob 3:1-2). This was written after 545 BC and implies of The Book of Mormon .... the "early manuscript tradition" Stuart introduced. The implications from this symposium for the promises found in The Book of The importance of these two conclusions future discoveries at El Mirador are promis­ Mormon extended specifically to them. by a leading expert in the field of epigraphy ing. 'This mural wasn't a practice run, it Samuel the Lamanite prophesied that "even cannot be underestimated. was a masterpiece." Yet it appeared in a rel­ if they should dwindle in unbelief, the Lord atively small Maya town with only a few shall prolong their days until the time shall Iconography thousand people. "If San Bartolo had come which hath been spoken by our Taube's suggestion that the mural depicts murals this early," says Saturno, "every­ fathers ... concerning the restoration of our the birth, death, and resurrection of the body had them." The excavation of these ~ brethren the Lamanites again, to the know!­ Maize God and its similarities to the murals and other Preclassic (500 BC to AD : edge of the truth" (Hel 5: l 0 l ). Christian belief of Christ was nothing short 250) Maya sites represents the cutting edge A purpose of The Book of Mormon, of amazing. Another element of his inter­ of knowledge about the ancient Maya. This found not only on the Title Page but pretations of the symbolism that mirrors is exciting. throughout the writings of the book's Christian beliefs was the creation of the prophets, is to restore the Lamanites to a three major domains: heaven, earth, and The Maya and Their Future knowledge of their forefathers and to tell waters, thus reflecting the same account Following the presentations and before Continued on page 5. PRE-COLUMBIAN STUDIES INSTITUTE • JANUARY I FEBRUARY 2005 ~))notes 5 Exciting New Discoveries Frompage4. them that they believed in Christ. Jacob eloquently expressed, We can write a few words upon plates, which will give our children, and also our beloved brethren, a small degree of knowledge ... concerning their fathers. Now in this thing we do rejoice; and Memories from we labor diligently to engraven these words upon plates, hoping that our he next issue of glyph notes will focus on Guatemala and beloved brethren, and our children, will and will be filled with testimonies, pictures, and excit­ receive them with thankful hearts, and ing new discoveries. look upon them, that they may learn with joy, and not with sorrow, neither T In 2005, PSI tours conducted two separate tour groups to Guatemala and with contempt concerning their first Honduras-Graceland College students and staff in January and the Annual parents: For, for this intent have we Archaeology Tour in February. written these things, that they may Below are snapshots from the Graceland College tour group. Look for know that we knew of Christ. and we much, much more in our upcoming issue. had a hope of his glory, many hundred years before his coming, and not only we, ourselves, had a hope of })is glory, Lehi Smith, Joel Davis, and Mark Bradish, Graceland stu­ but also all the holy prophetS which dents, interact with children were before us (Jacob 3:2-4). on the steps of the cathedral The longings of the descendants of The at Chichicastenango. The Book of Mormon peoples to know of their market town of colorful past reminds us that we are in..the latter Chichicastenango is famous days, poised on the threshold of seeing for its textiles. The colonial these promises and prophecies fulfilled. If church was built in 1540 and they are excited at this juncture about is where the , learning their history through archaeology, known as the Maya bible, we can only imagine their great joy· when l I was hidden for 200 years. they embrace the knowledge that their fathers and their first parents knew of Christ and were visited by Him, and that II Graceland tour group they are the latter-day remnant of the house with local guide, Hugo of Israel. This is the most exciting thing of Leon {front), on the all. What a glorious day that will be! steps of the National Museum in Guatemala Conclusion City. Truly the Lord is moving "with power I' and great glory" to show us the ancient record is true. We anticipate more mar­ velous witnesses to come forth in the near future.

The official San Bartolo web page: An adventure to required http://www.sanbartolo.org/ a 5-hour round trip boat ride on the Petexbatun River. Few tourists visit this site. National Geographic: The beauty of the river with its wildlife PROTEGIDO POR DECllETOS 42S Y ZW and lush jungle setting creates lasting www.nationalgeographic.com/ --II.fl LEY PARA IA PllOTECCIO, DEL memories. PATIU\ID"O CUL1VIAI. 0£ IA~.