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N10-9 JAGUAR
TEMPLE
This is the southernmost
major temple of the site centre and stands 19m high;
excavation of this structure and adjacent plaza by David
Pendergast during the 1970’s yielded clear evidence of the
continuity of life at Lamanai at a time of social and
political collapse at other Maya centers. The Jaguar temple
was in continuous use from the Early Classic, around AD 450,
to the Post Classic.
Three major architectural
phases were established : The Jaguar Masks belong to the first
phase, the Early Classic, [ see first page]. During the Late
Classic period, from AD 600-700 , the temple was modified at
the front by the addition of new stairs and stairside outsets,
and the masks were covered over; further modifications were
made in the Post Classic, AD 1100-1200.
Excavation of the structure took place
from 1976-78; the Jaguar masks were uncovered and recorded but not
restored. In fig. 1 one can see a few traces of original stucco remaining
on the surface of the east side mask. By 2002 stucco remained in only a
couple of places but these patches still retain traces of the original red
earth pigment with which the whole mask must have originally been painted.
However the basic structure of the stone work has remained largely intact.
CONSTRUCTION OF
MASKS
Both east and west side
Masks were constructed using the same techniques;
sculpturally, they are not exactly the same, but are designed
using similar powerful stylized geometric shapes; space is an
important element in the design, the eyes, nostrils and mouths
formed by leaving large square spaces between the blocks of
limestone, thus making dramatic use of shadow to help define
and accentuate the forms. The rectangular blocks were built on
to the front of the lowest terrace to form the basic structure
of the masks; both have square ear flares at the sides, and
the masks were constructed using the typical features of
jaguar imagery - namely eyes set wide apart, projecting large
nose with nostrils, open mouth with teeth, and curling fangs
at either side. The centrally placed square shape below the
mouth could possibly represent the tongue, as jaguars were
frequently portrayed with a protruding tongue.
The framework of limestone
blocks was covered in the traditional manner with a fine lime
mortar stucco, which on the evidence of the few remaining
patches, rounded off the angular corners of the spaces between
the rectangular blocks, thus giving the masks a more
sculptural appearance.
Full report runs to 14 pages of text and
41 photographs plus 2 illustrations.
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