Tulum Stela 1 facts for kids

Tulum Stela 1 is a special stone monument from the ancient Maya people. It was found in Tulum, a historical city in Mexico. This stone is famous for its important carvings and writing. The British Museum bought it in 1924, and it is now on display there.

What is Tulum Stela 1?

This large stone stela shows a standing Maya lord. He is wearing fancy clothes and special items, called regalia. The carving is done in a way called "low relief," meaning it doesn't stick out much.

The Carvings and Writing

Around the image of the lord, there is a long message. This message is written in Mayan hieroglyphs, which are like ancient pictures and symbols used for writing. The lord's headdress looks like the god K'awiil. His skirt shows the Tonsured Maize God.

Age and Condition

When the stela was found, it was already quite damaged. Parts of its base were missing. Also, water has worn down the carvings over time. The long message on the stela includes a date. This date matches the year 564 AD, using the Maya way of keeping time.

Where Did Tulum Stela 1 Come From?

Stela 1 was discovered by two explorers, John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood. They found it while exploring the Yucatán area in the early 1800s. It was located near a building in Tulum called the 'Temple of the Initial Series'.

Why is it Important to Tulum?

This temple got its name because Stela 1 has the oldest date ever found in Tulum. Most of Tulum was built after 900 AD. But this stela is much older, from 564 AD. Because of this, some experts think it might have been moved. It could have come from another Maya city nearby, like Coba.

How it Reached the British Museum

Later, a British archaeologist named Thomas Gann owned the stela. He then sold it to the British Museum in 1924. Now, people from all over the world can see this amazing piece of Maya history.