Hand-stone,

550–850 CE

Scholars have recently argued that, in addition to the ballgame, a variety of activities occurred in ball courts, including ritual combat. This stone, which includes a handle, may have served as a boxing glove. The sculpture presents two toothy faces in relief, as if they are beasts striking and biting an opponent. One face includes broad rings surrounding the eyes, a feature associated with rain deities in several Mesoamerican cultures. Indeed, it is believed that ritual boxing was symbolically related to rain and agriculture, as it is in some Indigenous communities today in Mexico. However, the few known ancient examples of this object type do not exhibit the sort of chipping and scarring one might expect from pugilistic bouts. Moreover, excavated remains from the region do not include evidence of broken ribs or other trauma expected from the use of these heavy stone implements. Thus, the exact function of these stones remains uncertain.