ARCHEOLOGY . 339 



such a late Maya site as Tuluum is difficult to explain. Geographi- 

 cally, architecturally, stylistically, and historically considered, Tuluum 

 is a thousand years later than the Initial Series date of this stela. 

 Indeed, barring this one date, there is nothing at Tuluuni to connect it 

 with the Old Empire; on the contrary, its location, architecture, and 

 mural decorations strongly indicate that it is to be referred to the close 

 of the New Empire, probably some time after 1200 A. D. The ques- 

 tion is an important one, and further investigation will be necessary 

 before this apparent anachronism can be satisfactorily explained and the 

 discrepancy between the chronological and other criteria cleared away. 



Dr. Gann secured tracings of a number of the mural paintings and 

 made the necessary color notes for their accurate reproduction. In 

 the time available, however, it was impossible to make more than a 

 beginning upon this important work. The subjects portrayed are 

 exclusively of a reUgious nature — representations of the principal 

 deities of the Maya pantheon in various acts of sacrifice. God B of 

 the Schellhas classification, probably the chief Maya divinity, occurs 

 repeatedly. The delineation of the figures so closely resembles that 

 in the Codex Tro-Cortesiano as to strongly suggest that this manuscript 

 originated not far from Tuluum. 



A map of the religious and civic center of the city, i. e., the area 

 within the walls,^ was prepared by Mr. Lothrop, as well as elevations 

 and ground-plans of all the more important structures. The archeo- 

 logical panorama already mentioned was based upon these data and 

 conveys an excellent idea of the city as it once appeared. 



The foregoing material, together with the photographic record 

 secured by Mr. Carpenter, now makes possible for the first time the 

 preparation of an adequate preliminary report of this Uttle-known site 

 and paves the way for its more intensive investigation. 



The last trip — to northern Peten — was the most profitable of the 

 season, resulting in the discovery of a large new city and the oldest 

 monument yet reported from the Maya field. This site, to which the 

 name Uaxactun was given, ^ is of major importance. Although less 

 extensive than the largest Maya cities, Tikal, Copan, Chichen Itza, 

 and Uxmal, it may be classed with such noteworthy sites as Quirigua, 

 Naranjo, and Nakum, and was easily a center of large population. 



Time and facihties were lacking for the thorough exploration of 

 the region, so proximate was the rainy season and so dense the tropical 

 forests, but three large architectural complexes were located in an 

 area not over half a mile square. Each contained numerous courts, 

 surrounded by the remains of extensive buildings, both of the dwelling 



^The city is inclosed on three sides by a high wall, the bluff along the sea protecting the fourth 

 side. This wall incloses an area of some 22 acres. It varies from 8 to 13 feet in thickness at the 

 base, and from 10 to 15 feet in height. The north and south sides are pierced by two gateways 

 and the west side by one. 



^Uaxactun is the Maya word for "8 stone." Uaxac = 8, tun = stone or year. The discovery 

 of a Cycle 8 Initial Series stela here suggested the name given to the city. 



