Patten donated the casts she made to the Guatemalan government as well as her time and expertise . When the 1976 Guatemala earthquake occurred , many of the ancient monuments housed in museums were broken . Joan was called in and asked if she could help restore the monuments . She gladly accepted the offer and was able to make molds of the stelae broken parts . These pieces were then fitted together into a new mold that was later fashioned to make an unbroken replica . Through the years , the Guatemala Museum of History and Anthropology received seventy of Patten 's reproductions and the Popol Vuh Museum received approximately fifteen sculptures . Today , many of these casts are on display along a garden pathway within Francisco Marroquín University adjoining the Popol Vuh Museum
1976 Guatemala earthquake
1976 Guatemala earthquake
Joan W. Patten