The Formative period (c. 1250 BCE to 250 CE) was a pivotal time in the evolution from symbolic or iconographic depictions to writing systems, among other central aspects. To better analyze and determine the sequence of stages in these changes, it is advantageous to have a substantial body of comparative material to examine. We used imaging and 3D technologies to document a large corpus of stone and ceramic sculpture from the site of Kaminaljuyú, Guatemala.   The purpose of the Kaminaljuyú 3D Sculpture Project is to provide a foundation for an expandable online digital collection database from Formative and Classic period sites, allowing for comparison and contrast viewing and research. 

A total of 141 Mesoamerican artifacts were scanned and documented during the project. Pieces selected came largely from the Francisco Marroquín University’s Popol Vuh Museum in Guatemala City; the Miraflores Museum in Guatemala City; the VIGUA Museum of Pre-Columbian Art and Modern Glass, a private collection of VICAL Central American Glass Company in Antigua; and the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Guatemala City.

Find our report on field data collection here.

Find our 3D models here.