La Sufricaya (Holmul)
La Sufricaya · Holmul Group II La Sufricaya
Early-Late Classic 600–650 CE, Holmul dynasty Teotihuacan influence·Maya (Holmul)·🇬🇹 Petén, Melchor de Mencos Municipality, Guatemala
About
About La Sufricaya (Holmul)
Vaulted mural building 1 km west of Holmul Group I containing 7 m-long polychrome mural c.600 CE depicting 8 royal figures with Teotihuacan-linked toponyms and Holmul-Tikal dynastic conflict. Discovered 2013 by Estrada-Belli BU excavation. Mural preserves Maya blue and ochre. Palace on platform with sweatbath, ballcourt fragment.
Why it mattersContains earliest intact Maya royal mural narrative revealing Early Classic Teotihuacan-Homul-Tikal geopolitics.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01How Maya blue survived 1400 years under humus without fading
- 02Why mural was buried rapidly c.650 CE (ritual termination?)
Theories
- 01Holmul dynastic propaganda after Tikal defeat at Teotihuacan entrada 378 CE
- 02Termination ritual sealing mural after city abandonment
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.600–650 CE (Early Classic–Late Classic Holmul)
- Period
- Early-Late Classic 600–650 CE, Holmul dynasty Teotihuacan influence
- Culture
- Maya (Holmul)
- Builders
- Maya
- Purpose
- Mural palace with earliest known Maya royal portrait mural (Holmul-Tikal war narrative) and Teotihuacan-style temple
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.600–650 CE (Early Classic–Late Classic Holmul)
Initial construction
650 CE, Holmul dynasty Teotihuacan influence
Major occupation / refurbishment
On the ground
Structures & features
17.3230° N · 89.2980° W · 235 m · 2 mapped features
La Sufricaya mural wall
mural7 m polychrome royal mural with 8 figures c.600 CE
17.3240° N · 89.2970° WMural palace platform
palace30 m palace platform with vaulted chambers and sweatbath
17.3220° N · 89.2990° W
Gallery