La Muerta Mirador Basin
La Muerta–Mirador · Carmelita La Muerta
Late Preclassic Mirador fluorescence 400 BCE–150 CE·Maya (Mirador Basin)·🇬🇹 Petén, Carmelita, Guatemala
About
About La Muerta Mirador Basin
Mirador Basin satellite 10 km SE of El Mirador on 12 km raised sacbe to Nakbe. Structure 1 retains 6 m stucco sculpture of jaguar paw and Structure 2 has cranial caches. Causeway 20 m wide with parapets links directly to Mirador Tigre complex. LiDAR shows residential bajo field systems.
Why it mattersIllustrates Mirador Basin causeway-linked urban system and sculptural program (jaguar paw) preceding Tikal stela tradition.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether jaguar paw denotes La Muerta lineage emblem glyph
- 02How sacbe remained above seasonal bajo inundation
Theories
- 01Sacbe control point taxing Nakbe-Mirador exchange
- 02Ritual gateway with stucco effigy marking Mirador elite procession
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.400 BCE–200 CE (Late Preclassic Mirador)
- Period
- Late Preclassic Mirador fluorescence 400 BCE–150 CE
- Culture
- Maya (Mirador Basin)
- Builders
- Maya
- Purpose
- Satellite city on Mirador-Nakbe sacbe with stucco jaguar-paw monument and causeway, controlling basin passage
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.400 BCE–200 CE (Late Preclassic Mirador)
Initial construction
150 CE
Major occupation / refurbishment
On the ground
Structures & features
17.7030° N · 89.9310° W · 280 m · 2 mapped features
Structure 1 jaguar-paw pyramid
pyramid14 m pyramid with 6 m stucco jaguar paw sculpture
17.7040° N · 89.9300° WMirador sacbe segment
causeway20 m wide raised causeway to El Mirador Tigre complex 10 km NW
17.7020° N · 89.9320° W