Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Pottery Mound - New Mexico Kiva Mural

Pottery Mound kiva mural of a vision quest with woodpeckers. Pottery Mound is on the property of Isleta Pueblo. Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico - further north.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Quetzal Bird

Mesoamerican quetzal bird, one of them stands next to the Tree of life on the carving below - Stela 5 Izapa.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Izapa Stela 5

(Click to enlarge). "Izapa Stela 5 is one of a number of large, carved stelae found in the ancient Mesoamerican site of Izapa, in the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico along the present-day Guatemalan border. These stelae date from roughly 300 BCE to 50 or 100 BCE, although some argue for dates as late as 250 CE. Also known as the "Tree of Life" stone, it appears to illustrate a Mesoamerican creation myth. Documented by Smithsonian archaeologist Matthew W. Stirling in 1941, Stela 5 is composed of volcanic andesite and weighs around one-and-a-half tons. Stela 5 presents the most complex imagery of all the stelae at Izapa. Researcher Garth Norman, for example, has counted "at least 12" human figures, a dozen animals, over 25 botanical or inanimate objects, and 9 stylized deity masks. Like much of Izapan monumental sculpture, the subject matter of Stela 5 is considered mythological and religious in nature and is executed with a stylized opulence. Given the multiple overlapping scenes, it appears to be a narrative. Mesoamerican researchers identify the central image as a Mesoamerican world tree, connecting the sky above and the water or underworld below".

Monday, January 7, 2013

Netted Jaguar - Teotihuacan

Netted Jaguar mural from Teotihuacan. Note the fanged mask at the left side of the picture, it is very similar to masks found from Nepal to Indonesia.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Kofun, Japan

Ishi-No-Hoden - Kofun, Japan.

Puma Punku, Bolivia

Puma Punku ruins, Tiahuanaco, Bolivia
Tiahuanaku area. The quarry for these giant blocks was on the western shore of Titicaca, some ten miles away. There is no known technology in all the ancient world that could have transported stones of such massive weight and size. The Andean people of 500 AD, with their simple reed boats, could certainly not have moved them. Even today, with all the modern advances in engineering and mathematics, we could not fashion such a structure.
Puma Punku is an engineering marvel that still remains unsolved. Out of all the known megalithic structures throughout the world, Puma Punku is probably at the top in terms of precision and engineering. It is quite possibly one of the oldest and most mysterious ruins on the face of earth. The original structure is estimated to have been built around 14,000 BC, over 16,000 years ago. Somehow later on the structure was destroyed in some sort of major explosion or cataclysmic event. Most of the stones weigh between 200 and 450 tons with one of them weighing over 600 tons. With modern technology it would take at least a 300 horsepower diesel engine with a hydraulic lifter to pick up just a 7- ton granite slab. 10 full sized automobiles weigh about 15 tons. Now take into consideration that the nearest location for a possible quarry was over 10 miles away. The plateau that the ruins are located on is at an elevation of 13,000 feet and the terrain here is free of trees so they probably didn’t use log rollers. What’s even more confusing is how they were able to cut these stones. The stones were cut with extreme precision and designed to lock together like pieces of a puzzle. Sophisticated knowledge of geometry is most definitely exhibited in Puma Punku’s construction, as well as advanced masonry, stone cutting, and possibly even machining.
Recently discovered Long Skull skull found at Puma Punku. Many of these have been collected from the burial ground at Paracas near the ocean.
Was there machinery and a mining operation at Puma Punku?

Archaeology of Peru

Carved boulder in a side valley outside of Cuzco, Peru.
Naupa Huaca.