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Location: Stela D was discovered by Weyerstall during the 1925-26 field season in the center of the plaza south of Structure 40. Stela D was moved to the site museum at its dedication in 1975.
Associations: None recorded.
Condition: Some flaking of upper and lower sides and particularly the upper front of the monument has occurred. The relief sculpture on the front has suffered some erosion and the glyphic text is badly broken, perhaps purposely.
Photographs: Present report, Plate 6; Weyerstall 1932: Figure 6; Stirling 1939:197-198, 1943: Plate 14; Kubler 1962: Plate 31; Schau 1983: Plates 147, 148.
Drawings: Present report, Figures 6, 7, 8; Stirling 1943: Figure 4; Covarrubias 1961: Figure 23; Smith 1963: Figure 141; Stirling 1965: Figure 13a; Bernal 1968, Figure 22; Schau 1983: Figure 149.
References: Weyerstall, 1932; Stirling 1939, 1943; Covarrubias 1961; Kubler 1962; Smith 1963; Coe 1965b; Stirling 1965; Bernal 1968; de la Fuente 1973; Schau 1983.
Carved Areas: Class 3, FRL. Four carved figures on front surface, serpent and scrolls pendant from scroll band on right and left sides.
Material: This monument was not tested by Williams. However, there is nothing about it to suggest that its material is any different than that of Monument 1.
Dimensions: Height 145 cm, Width 99 cm, Depth 67 cm.
Shape: Slabular with overhanging projections in front above and below scene.
Monument Type: Proscenium.
DESCRIPTION: The stone is carved on the top, sides and front. The back has been dressed and the bottom has been left unworked. The top and front of the stone present a single unified theme, while the sides present another theme. The top and front of Stela D is divided into three horizontal zones including 1, a basal design/lower jaw; 2, figures in static poses; 3, the upper portion of a grotesque face.
The lower zone is extended to suggest a lower jaw. On the forward edge of the extension is a sunken rectangular panel with incised bands to either side. Within the panel is a low relief rectangle with three sunken dots. Attached to the bottom of the rectangle is a tab with an incised midrib and two flanking, winged ?, scrolls.
The middle zone is flanked by raised borders with relief carving. The monument's right border is well preserved and shows a three part ornament. At the top is a raised zone divided by a vertical incised line near the outer edge. Below the raised zone are two glyphs. The outer glyph is shaped like a thick "J" and the inner glyph is a compact "S" scroll. The outer glyph shows remains of internal incising and may have represented a cupped hand.
Below the glyphs is a downpointing serpent head with its top to the left and its bottom to the right. The swollen snout is the lowest portion of the serpent head. To the right of the snout is a large scroll incisor with a toothband above. To the left of the toothband and delimiting the snout is a squarish winged scroll. Above the winged scroll the cheekplate curls to the right at its upper end. To the left of the cheekplate is a slit eye with an elongated "U" element forming the pupil. Below the eye and to the left of the snout is the nose knot. Above the nose knot and to the left of the eye is the forward edge of the supraorbital feature. The supraorbital feature continues above and to the right to form a large, tightly curled, scroll above the serpent's head. Attached to the upper edge of this scroll is an oblong cartouche with a T65 superfix. The right border is broader but bears a mirror image of this design.
The central panel of the middle zone has a sunken picture plain with three human figures in low relief standing on the lower border a glyphic caption and an avian "sky figure" in higher relief against the upper border. The left human figure, Figure A, kneels facing right, while the central and right human figures, Figures B and C respectively,stand facing left.
FIGURE A: Figure A kneels facing right with hips and legs in profile and shoulders in front view. The left leg outlines the right and the right leg does not touch the ground line. The right arm is bent so the right hand covers the center of the torso and the left arm is bent in front with the palm facing up.
Figure A's face is in right profile with an almond shape eye, a wide flat nose, thick lips and a rounded, beardless chin. The face is tightly framed by a zoomorphic headdress with a large squared earflare with central hole. Above and to the left of Figure A's face is the toothband of the zoomorph, above and to the left of this is its cheekplate. Set into the upper edge of the cheekplate is an oblong eye with a round pupil. To the right of the eye is the snout. Unfortunately, no details of the snout or its dentition can be identified. Above the eye is a supraorbital plate with a "U" element attached to the bottom. Above the supraorbital plate is the cranium above which is a cartouche below the scar where a broken panache, which was probably incised like the panache of Figure B, curved to the left. Attached to the rear of the headdress is an up-ended grotesque head. The head has a long snout with large incisors and a nose knot. The lower jaw is considerably shorter than the upper jaw and is bearded or wears a collar. At the back of the head is a knotted ear ornament with a scroll superfix and an indeterminate subfix. The eye is lozenge shaped with a scrolled supraorbital element which projects back above the ear ornament superfix. A large forelock surmounts supraorbital element and terminates in a scroll over the snout.
Figure A wears a cape behind his torso and a cloth around his neck. The ends if the cloth are pulled through a tubular bead, or knotted, on the chest. At the waist is a wide belt with a raised medial band. This belt secures a kilt which is gathered in front. Banded wristlets and anklets complete Figure A's costume.
FIGURE B: Figure B stands in an Early Classic Maya pose with one foot behind the other, hips in profile, shoulders in front view and head in left profile. The left arm hangs at the side, while the right arm (though effaced has left a scar showing its former position) is extended toward the face of Figure A.
Figure B's face is in left profile with a teardrop shaped eye, a wide flat nose and thick lips. The chin is not clear, though there is no flake scar to suggest that a beard was present. A small round nose bead ornaments the tip of the nose. The jawline is outlined by a chin strap which secures the headdress. To the right of the chin strap is a small squarish earflare with a scroll on top. The lower portion of the headdress is poorly preserved, though the remnants suggest a headband secured an emblem to the figure's forehead. Above this eroded area is a sloping line , representing the crown of a cap? To the right of the "cap" is a band terminating in an incised scroll at the upper end. Above these features is a circular bead with scrolls to each side. Above this is a squared medallion resembling the Maya "completion" sign. Above the medallion is an incised panache. To the right of the headdress is a large mass of incised feathers.
Figure B wears a cape behind the torso and broad suspenders which, with a wide belt, secure a knee length skirt. An apron covers the right side of both the skirt and the belt. A cloth is knotted over the belt and skirt with one loop to the left and the ends to the right. Banded wristlets and anklets complete Figure B's costume.
FIGURE C: Figure C stands in an Early Classic Maya pose with one foot behind the other, hips in profile, shoulders in front view and face in left profile. The left arm hangs at the side, while the right arm is bent in front of the figure.
Figure C's face shows an almond eye, an aquiline nose, thick lips and a beard. A kerchief covers the forehead to the eyebrows. The nose is ornamented by three oblong cartouches with double scrolls, all connected by a curved band. The jawline is outlined by a chin strap securing the headdress. To the right of the chin strap is a large squared earflare with a winged scroll on top. Above this is a wide headband with a raised medial band. Above the headband is a large oblong with a tabbed scroll to the left and what looks like a bound skein of thread to the right. Above the oblong is a small grotesque head with a lozenge shaped eye, a nose knot and a kerchief tied over its head. On top of the grotesque's head are an undulating element with a cartouche and paired scrolls and another unidentified element. To the right of the headdress is a mass of feathers.
Figure C wears a large cape behind his torso and a thick necklace with a pendant squared medallion resembling the Maya "completion" sign. Figure C also wears a wide belt with a raised medial band, securing a kilt which is gathered in front. Banded wristlets, armlets, and anklets complete the costume. Figure C holds a spear in his right hand and carries a spear thrower or tasseled bag in his left hand.
FIGURE D: Figure D is an avian "sky figure" carved in high relief and, with the possible exception of the tail, presented entirely in right profile. Figure D has a very compact outline, unlike the more extended low relief figures below.
Figure D's face is in right profile with the snout, cheekplate and lower jaw all forming a single unit. To the right of the snout is a nose knot. Below the jaw is a broad collar with two double beaded pendants. Above the collar is a squared cartouche, forming the ear ornament. To the right of the face is a thick supraorbital plate with an oblong cartouche and undulating element at the extreme right.
To the left of the face is the swollen torso, with an incised wing above, and the tightly flexed leg to the left. To the left of the leg an incised band separates the tail from the torso. The base of the tail is a trident, with spikes between the "teeth" of the trident. The tail terminates in a curling mass of incised feathers.
CAPTION: A hieroglyphic caption appears between the headdresses of Figures A and B. The caption consists of a single effaced glyph which may have been a portrait profile atop a squared cartouche.
UPPER ZONE: The upper zone of Stela D forms the upper part of a face with buccal mask. At the center is the bracket shaped upper lip of the buccal mask. The corners of the mouth extend beyond the sides of the upper lip and are ornamented by cartouches with double winged scrolls. Within each corner of the mouth is a plain rounded molar. In the center of the mouth is a large incisor ornamented by a large sunken "U" element. Flanking the upper lip are squarish winged scrolls with incised bands on the stems. The cheeks are rounded and rise nearly to the level of the top of the upper lip. Above the buccal mask is a broad flat nose with indications of drilled holes for nostrils. To either side of the nose are oblong eyes, outlined by a fillet and without remaining internal features. There is no nasion, but in its place and extending onto a crest at the top of the monument, is a rectangular cartouche containing a scroll and bearing superfix T124. Flanking this cartouche are tab and bead elements. Ear ornaments flank the cheeks on either side. Each ear ornament is composed of a squarish cartouche with a superfix and pendant bands below.
SIDES: Both sides of Stela D are carved in low relief. The right side is well preserved and shows a two part ornament. The lower part consists of a downpointing serpent head with the top to the left the bottom to the right and two large scrolls below. The vestigial lower jaw, cheekplate and snout form one continuous feature. The lower jaw curls to the right above, the snout curves to the right below and the cheekplate, connecting the snout and lower jaw, is straight. This whole feature is outlined by an incised fillet and bound just below the center by two incised bands.
To the right of the cheekplate, and inside the curves of the lower jaw and snout, is a toothband which terminates in a scroll above and a winged scroll below. Crossing the center of the toothband is a curving fang with an incised line. To the right of the fang is a double tabbed cartouche set over a slightly raised area with a straight right edge. To the right of the end of the snout is a cartouche with a tab flanked by winged scrolls.
To the left of the snout is a nose knot with a round nose bead. Above the nose knot is a slit eye with a "flame eyebrow" to the left and a round pupil. Above the serpent head is a winged scroll with two incised bands binding the stem.
Below the serpent's snout, and emerging from the nose knot, is a tightly curled scroll incised with three lines. Emerging from the point where the upper scroll curls back on itself, is a second tightly curled scroll with three incised lines.
The upper part is set off from the lower part by two plane bands and a zone of tightly curled square scrolls. This zone continues onto the upper part of the left border, on the front of the monument, terminating in a winged scroll to the right of the serpent head with two scrolls.
There may have been more relief carving above the double raised band but only unidentifiable traces remain. The remainder of the upper part is gently rounded to blend in with the sculpted face on the front upper zone. The left side is not as well preserved, but is essentially a mirror image of the right side.
Remarks: Concerning this monument Coe asserts "The front of the monument shows three figures, above which a sky deity is descending. The facial features and stylistic treatment of the figures are Izapan, not Olmec. Two of the figures have plumed headdresses and one carries a spear and spearthrower, all features unknown in Olmec art. A purely Izapan "long-lipped god" is depicted on the north side of Stela D." (Coe 1965b:773). Coe, as in his description of Stela A, again confuses content with style! While he speaks of "stylistic" he only cites elements of subject matter. His reference to "Izapan" facial features is also enigmatic, given the typical Olmec features depicted on the figures. Evidently, Coe again bases his discussion of iconographic features on Cassady's incompetent drawing of the monument.
The difference in costume between Figure B and Figures A and C suggests the possibility that Figure B is female. The resemblance of Figure B's skirt to the skirt of La Venta Stela 1's figure, which has been previously identified as female because of its broad hips and gently swelling breasts, furthers the suggestion that the figure is female.
