Recent Investigations on the Unique Maya Wall Paintings from Chajul (Guatemala)

Resumen

This article presents the results of interdisciplinary research encompassing conservation, archaeological excavations, ethnographic, ethnomusicological and historical studies on the Colonial murals documented in the Ixil Maya residences of Chajul (Guatemala). The Chajul murals are unique for several reasons. First, they were documented in what are now private family homes, whereas most examples of Colonial art in Latin America are found in churches and convents. Moreover, the later paintings focus on Christian religious themes, while the murals from Chajul are associated with socio-religious activities of local brotherhoods known as cofradías. These sodalities were established in Chajul after the Spanish conquest and their members were Indigenous people. As we demonstrate in this article, the wall paintings from Chajul depict local dances-dramas, some of which are pre-Hispanic in origin, while others were introduced by the Spanish. The murals of Chajul represent an interesting fusion of pre-Hispanic, Indigenous tradition and European influences. In this contribution, we present the results of our recent study focused on the conservation works of two Chajul houses with murals, as well as archaeological excavations conducted close to the houses. This research contributes to our understanding of the Highland Maya during pre-Hispanic, Colonial, and early modern times. Additionally, it enriches our knowledge of local, Indigenous artistic traditions and the artistic canons of Colonial Mesoamerica, as well as the persistence of a cultural identity blending pre-Columbian and European heritage in this region of Latin America.