San Bartolo Mural Project

FAIN: RZ-50086-03

William A. Saturno
Boston University (Boston, MA 02215-1300)

The excavation, documentation, preservation, and interpretation of Maya murals painted between 100 B.C. and 250 A.D. in present day Guatemala in order to shed light on the origins of ancient Maya religion and society. (36 months)

In March of 2001, Maya murals dating to approximately AD 100 were discovered at the remote archaeological site of San Bartolo, Guatemala. These paintings, containing scenes of a mythological narrative, represent the earliest intact example of Maya wall art yet discovered. This collaborative project brings together experts from the fields of archaeology, iconography, epigraphy, art, and conservation to uncover, interpret, preserve and disseminate these important early paintings. Just as the 1946 discovery of the murals at Bonampak, Chiapas, was a watershed in our study of Classic Maya society, the newly found San Barolo murals offer a unique window into the origins of ancient Maya religion and society.

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