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Location: Monument 7 was discovered by Weyerstall during the winter of 1925-26 "lying on its side between Mounds B and C [Structures 30 and 31] of Group 2. It was partly up the west slope of Mound B but near the base, a position which indicated that formerly it may have been placed on top of this small mound" (Stirling 1943:22). Examination of maps of the site shows that it is impossible for this monument to have been found both between Structures 30 and 31 and on the west side (opposite Structure 31) of Structure 30. However, it is likely that Stirling was confused by directional coordinates and that the monument was probably found between the two mounds. Monument 7 was moved to the site museum at its dedication in 1975.
Associations: None recorded.
Condition: The face is badly chipped at the center.
Photographs: Present report, Plate 15; Weyerstall 1932: Figure 5; Stirling 1943: Plate 8b,c, 1965: Figure 22b; de la Fuente 1973: Plate 232.
Drawings: Present report, Figure 18; de la Fuente 1973:298.
References: Weyerstall 1932; Stirling 1943; Stirling 1965; de la Fuente 1973.
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 116 cm, Width 92 cm, Depth 209 cm.
Carved Areas: Sculpture in the round.
Photographs: Weyerstall 1932: Figure 5, Stirling 1943a: Plate 8b, Stirling 1965: Figure 22b, de la Fuente 1973: Plate 232.
Drawings: Present report, Figure; de la Fuente 1973:298.
Description: Monument 7 is a horizontal tenon sculpture in the form of a prostrate human figure with the arms doubled at its sides and the head bent well back. The head is large globular volume which rests on top of the thick end of the tapering obelisk-like mass of the horizontal body-tenon. The arms are represented in rounded relief with double banded-knotted armlets and wristlets. Each of the figure's hands is posed in the serpent grasping gesture with the thumb and the mass of the four fingers well defined though the individual fingers are not. The upper edges of the front end of the tenon are cut away, forming a small step which may be intended to suggest a cape.
The mouth is covered with buccal mask, while the upper face and cranium of the head have exfoliated. The buccal mask has a bracket shaped upper lip and bow shaped lower lip. The corners of the mouth are drilled and extend beyond the sides of the upper lip. Within the mouth two great curving fangs emerge from the upper gum and terminate outside the mouth on either side of the chin. The cheeks are well rounded and flow smoothly up to eye level. Above the buccal mask are remnants of a broad flat nose with indications of drilled nostrils. To either side of the nose are almond shaped eyes with sharp angles at both the inner and outer corners. The nasion and supraorbital feature are both missing. The remnants of the cranium suggest it was high and round with a very high hairline.
Raised elements on the sides of the head bear the ear ornaments. The central ornament is a large scroll with an unidentifiable superfix and a spiral-grooved conical subfix.
Behind the ear ornaments paired bands fall down to the level of the shoulders and some incised hair remains at the back of the thick neck.
Remarks: Structure 31 was trenched (Weiant 1943:8-11). Unfortunately, no effort was made to discern possible relationships between the sculpture and the structure.
