Quote:
Originally Posted by fnaqzna
Wow... lots of detail. I've been to Altun Ha and Chacchoben and they seem to have suffered more from erosion.
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What a small world Uncle Phil and I were just at Chacchoben a couple weeks ago. I've never been to Altun ha, actually never heard of it. Had to look it up. Not sure the whole story but I believe part of the reason Ek Balam's detail survived is after being first found in the late 1800's it was mostly forgotten until 1996. I know the detail of Uxmal survives fairly intact in places yet in other places detailed stone carvings were removed and either sold or used to decorate the large haciendas that surround Merida.
Here's a shot of Uxmal taken inside the Nun's Quadrangle-
The detail work in the frieze is mostly still there. There is a large twin serpent that runs the length both top and bottom. But you can see (maybe not in this photo, I'll look for a better shot) that there are carving missing. There was a king sitting on a throne in the center, it's gone. Warriors and ball players were also there at one time. I've tours a few haciendas and it's not uncommon to find such pieces around the pool or in the garden.