As the Royal BC Museum prepares for another exhibition that will take visitors back in time, artifacts are slowly being unveiled.
On Thursday, the museum removed a rare artifact from its crate for the upcoming Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises exhibition.
The artifact B次元官网网址� La Corona Altar 5 B次元官网网址� is from the year 544 CE and was discovered in the jungle in the northern part of Guatemala, 700 kilometres away from cities.
Hieroglyphic text on the altar tells the story of a king, Chak Tok IchB次元官网网址檃ak, who led the fight against the Tikal Dynasty, allowing the Kaanul Dynasty to become the new leaders.
Later on, Chak Tok IckB次元官网网址檃ak goes on to become a very well-known, powerful leader.
According to the director of the National Museum of Guatemala, Daniel Eduardo Aquino Lara, the altar helps piece together and confirm significant research around the La Corona archaeological site.
READ MORE: Victoria museumB次元官网网址檚 Maya exhibition stars rare artifacts never seen outside of Guatemala
B次元官网网址淲e have something relevant to construct the nationB次元官网网址檚 history of Guatemala,B次元官网网址� Lara said. B次元官网网址淚t confirmed how complex Mayan society was in the past.B次元官网网址�
Lara said the hieroglyphics on the altar also show how different communities and aspects of Mayan society came together for a larger goal B次元官网网址� not unlike today, where smaller and larger powers form alliances.
B次元官网网址淚n the beginning of the 20th century many archaeologists thought the ancient Maya just prayed and celebrated ceremonies,B次元官网网址� Lara said. B次元官网网址淣ow we know they were a very complex society, they had a very stratified society as well and had a lot of changes during the time.B次元官网网址�
The altar depicts an image of Chak Tok IchB次元官网网址檃ak carrying a scepter with a double-headed snake and two deities who protect the local La Corona dynasty.
A team of archaeologists from Guatemala and the USA uncovered the altar when researching and investigating a pyramid structure that was buried under earth and trees in 2017 and 2018.
The altar was found two years ago inside the pyramid structure and has now travelled to Victoria for Canadians and tourists to see.
READ ALSO: One Victoria family contributed 20 per cent of Royal BC MuseumB次元官网网址檚 collection
B次元官网网址淚n this case, the monuments donB次元官网网址檛 change history but give us more elements to understand details about relationships, how the politics were and what was going on in the Late Classic period 13 to 15 centuries ago,B次元官网网址� Lara said. B次元官网网址淔or Guatemala, itB次元官网网址檚 an opportunity to share the relevant history and how centuries of research and preserving our cultural heritage can be shared with people.B次元官网网址�
Maya: The Great Jaguar Rises runs at the Royal BC Museum from May 17 to Dec. 31. It spotlights the mystery, legacy and resilience of one of the worldB次元官网网址檚 great civilizations, the Maya of Central America.
The exhibition boasts the worldB次元官网网址檚 largest and most impressive display of Maya objects including jade, ceramic, gold, stone and textile artifacts never before seen outside of Guatemala.
shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com
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