A Maya universe in stone

This book describes four lintels discovered in 1950 in a ruined Maya city--in what is now in Guatemala--by adventurer Dana Lamb (1901--79). His account of the finding, much exaggerated, is romantic: basically, he was looting. The lintels ultimately ended up in private hands and remain there, difficult to find or study. Only two could be illustrated in this book. The lintels came from a site now known as El Túnel--or very near it: Lamb mystified his source. At the time, the city was part of a small kingdom ruled by Cheleew Chan K'inich, who figures in the sculpture. Houston writes on the first page that the lintels date "between circa AD 769 and 783." All were created by a sculptor who signed himself Mayuy (more than 119 named sculptors are known from Maya sites). They are exquisitely carved and rich with mythological references. Most of this book unpacks these, explaining gods and symbols and making comparisons with other carvings and paintings from the region. Writing on the lintels refers to Cheleew and his time. This book is beautifully illustrated in black-and-white and color, with a fine selection of other art from the period. Valuable to specialists and anyone interested in pre-Columbian art. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty. --Eugene N. Anderson, emeritus, University of California, Riverside