Hostname: page-component-74656f9884-2dmjx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-11-09T16:31:18.598Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

LITTLE HELPERS, COMPANIONS, AND ANCESTORS: MINIATURE FIGURES IN THE MAYA LOWLAND REGION DURING THE LATE PRECLASSIC AND CLASSIC PERIODS (AD 15–800)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2018

Lisa M. Johnson*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of California, 2251 College Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94720 (llomitola@berkeley.edu)
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This report discusses miniature anthropomorphic figures found in ritualized contexts across the Lowland Maya region, dating to AD 15–800. Crafted with minimal detail to indicate humanlike features, anthropomorphic miniatures have been found in offerings placed alongside the dead, within temples and ballcourts, and beneath stone monuments. Their form, often with arms over the chest, is similar to bundled bodies and may reference those that reside in other worlds. This paper considers, through their form, archaeological contexts, and ethnographic comparisons, these anthropomorphic miniatures as active agents in their roles as ritual helpers, small companions, and materialized ancestors.

En este informe se analizan las figuras antropomorfas en miniatura halladas en contextos ritualizados a lo largo de las tierras bajas Mayas y que datan entre 15 y 800 dC. Las miniaturas antropomorfas están elaboradas con detalles mínimos para indicar rasgos humanos y se han encontrado en ofrendas funerarias, al interior de templos y canchas de juego de pelota y debajo de monumentos de piedra. Su forma, a menudo con los brazos sobre el pecho, es similar a los fardos funerarios y puede hacer referencia a los que residen en otros mundos. A partir de su forma, contextos arqueológicos y comparaciones etnográficas, en este trabajo se consideran estas miniaturas antropomorfas como agentes activos, en su papel de ayudantes rituales, pequeños compañeros y antepasados materializados.

Information

Type
Report
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 by the Society for American Archaeology 
Figure 0

Figure 1. Anthropomorphic Miniatures, often called “Charlie Chaplins”: A) Uaxactun (after Ricketson and Ricketson 1937:plate 67); B) Tikal (after Moholy-Nagy and Coe 2008:Figure 162b3); C) Piedras Negras (after Coe 1959:Figure 5.1g); D) Copan (after Maudslay 1889:plate 27); E) Chichen Itza (after Coggins and Shane 1984:Figure 134) F) Cahal Pichik (after Thompson 1931:177); G) Hatzcap Ceel (after Thompson 1931:Figure 17); H) Caracol (Lomitola 2012:Figure 54 used with permission); I) Camp 6 (after Thompson 1931:plate XXXIX); J) Pacbitun (after Healy et al. 1995:5e); K) K'axob (after Harrison-Buck 2004:Figure 4.3); L) San Jose (after Thompson 1939:plate 29); M) Las Ruinas de Arenal (Taschek and Ball 1999:Figure 11a).

Figure 1

Figure 2. Copan stela H (illustration by Schele used with permission) and miniature figures from Tikal with incurved hands, not to scale (Moholy-Nagy and Coe 2008: Figures 80h1,2,3,4,5,7).

Figure 2

Figure 3a. From left to right: Anthropomorphic miniature from Tikal, with legs drawn up and arms across the chest, resembling a bundled body (after Moholy-Nagy 1985:Figure 10.8); Penate figure from Monte Alban with arms across the chest and legs up (after Caso 1965:Figure 31); Mixtec codex drawing of bundled body with eyes closed (after Nuttall 1975).

Figure 3

Figure 3b. From left to right: One version of the Cham glyph (T736v) translated as “to die” or “death” with eyes closed (after Montgomery 2002:55); a “Charlie Chaplin” figure from Tikal with eyes closed and incurved hands (after Moholy-Nagy 1985:Figure 10.8); a dead goddess from the Dresden Codex with eyes closed and death mark on her cheek (after the Dresden Codex:53).

Supplementary material: File

Johnson supplementary material

Johnson supplementary material 1

Download Johnson supplementary material(File)
File 30.4 KB
Supplementary material: Image

Johnson supplementary material

Figure S1

Download Johnson supplementary material(Image)
Image 5.5 MB
Supplementary material: Image

Johnson supplementary material

Figure S2

Download Johnson supplementary material(Image)
Image 299 KB