Quarry
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| 9J-5 Reconstructed Image |
A volcanic tuff was employed as the predominant material in the construction
of the ancient city. Its main source is Cerro Elefante, known in Copan as "La
Cantera" or the quarry, located in the northern foothills directly north of the
Principal Group. The quarry hill shows visible signs of extraction activity
across much of the length of its southern exposure, especially at the western
extreme.
The tuff was cut out in massive blocks (using harder stone) and then
simply rolled downslope for use in building construction.
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| Copan Ruinas from Quarry |
Piles of these blocks
(or blanks) can still be seen today in the Comedero region of the foothills.
Because it was the main quarry for the city, Cerro Elefante may rightly be
called the mother of ancient Copan and probably carried socio-religious and
cosmological meanings related to this idea.
The tuff is found in a variety of
colors, such as pink, green, and yellow; it is relatively soft when initially
quarried and then hardens over time. Its initial softness, as well as the general
malleability of the stone, made the production of complex, high relief sculpture
one of the signature characteristics of Copan's Classic period.
