La Jornada: Reconstruction of mural painting in Calakmul reveals mythological scene

After three years of research and work in digital recording techniques, photogrammetry, digitized drawing and virtual architectural modeling, a detailed graphic reconstruction of a mural in Calakmul and the same architectural context was achieved. This work allowed us to identify the mythological character Juun Ajaw, who appears in a hunting scene in the water.

These investigations revolved around a mural painting located inside Structure II of Calakmul, in Campeche, considered until now the oldest pictorial vestige reported in said Mayan city.

The painting recreates a cave, a place of deep meaning in the Mayan worldview. Furthermore, this scene includes a sign that could correspond to a marker of the 260-day calendar cycle, which opens up new lines of interpretation.

This work is an example of the way the ancient Mayans linked mythical events with specific dates on the calendar. In the case of Calakmul, this association provides new evidence to learn how mythical narratives were situated in time and space from early times.

To publicize more details about this discovery, archaeologist Daniel Salazar Lama will give a press conference tomorrow at the Museum of Mayan Architecture, Baluarte de la Soledad, organized by the Ministry of Culture in coordination with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), where the results of the documentation of the mural painting will be presented.

Since 2011, archaeologist Daniel Salazar has dedicated himself to studying Mayan and Mesoamerican art and iconography; He is currently leading a project to record and analyze Calakmul Substructure II C, which began in 2020. His research has been published in international scientific journals and in books published in Mexico, France, Spain, Guatemala, Poland and the United States.