The effects of time and the environment have destroyed most ancient Maya wooden sculptures, but those that do survive suggest a rich tradition of carving in the medium. In contrast to the low relief known from extant Maya sculpture in stone, this minimally clothed figure with elaborate ear ornament assemblages is carved fully in the round. The air of imposing power conveyed by his distinguished bearing has inspired interpretations of the figure as a ruler, priest, and noble. The face is unusual for a Maya elite personage as it lacks a sloping forehead profile and includes a prominent mustache with upturned ends. Such incongruities and the lack of comparative works ensure that this unusual sculpture elicits more questions than it answers. It defies effortless placement into the corpus of Maya art. Radiocarbon dating has placed the sculpture in the sixth century A.D.

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