Stela B at Copan

Location:  Copan, Honduras

Description:  Many archaeologists do not believe that elephants existed in America until Europeans brought them.  The Book of Mormon conflicts with this theory in that it states, “… they also had horses, and asses, and there were elephants ….” – Ether 4:21.  In support of the Book of Mormon, an elephant head is carved in both the top left and right corners of Stela B at Copan.  The head of the elephant and the elephant’s trunk are depicted with human figures, or riders, shown next to the elephant heads.

Stela B is now badly eroded near the top.  Fortunately, Alfred Maudslay took photos and created a drawing of the top of stela B prior to this erosion.  These photographs and drawings can be found in volume 1 of Maudslay’s publication Biologia Centrali-Americana. Archaeology (1889 – 1902).  Digital copies can be viewed at Mesoweb’s website.  Reference plates 33 through 39.