y^ SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 97 



OTHER SITES 



In addition to the sites intensively worked, numerous other mounds 

 or refuse deposits were also examined. The majority of these are 

 shown on the map Tfig. 5). Mound groups are abundant on both sides 

 of the Ulua River but to date have yielded relatively little material. 

 Aside from superficial examination and the gathering of small sample 

 sherd collections, we did no work at such sites. In general, the mounds 

 on the present valley floor appear to- be relatively recent and yield 

 ceramics that are inferior to those of the earlier polychrome periods. 

 However, until adequate work has been accomplished at such sites, 

 the linkage between definitely historical sites, such as Naco, and the 

 deeply buried, earlier polychrome periods will be obscure. Our failure 

 to excavate mounds was due to lack of time, not of interest. Small 

 excavations were made at two polychrome sites, one below Naranjo 

 Chino and the other on farm 15 (see map, fig. 5). These yielded 

 splendid polychrome sherds apparently contemporaneous with the 

 lower levels at Santa Rita (farm 17). On farm 10 we excavated 

 a shallow polychrome deposit containing pottery identical with that 

 from the late polychrome horizon at the nearby Playa de los Muertos 

 site (see map, fig. 5). It is probable that earlier polychrome deposits 

 occur here also as indicated by the excellent, realistic Mayoid vase 

 (fig. 19) which is reported as having come from farm 10. We have 

 illustrated this specimen, which is in a private collection near Trujillo, 

 because it is a splendid example of the best Mayoid tradition in early 

 Ulua-Yojoa polychrome wares (compare pis. i and 8, a, h, also fig. 

 30). It is also unique in showing ceremonial drinking among the 

 Maya. 



North End of Lake Yojoa 



On February 22 and 23, 1936, Mrs. Strong, Dr. Wilson Popenoe, 

 and the senior author stopped over at Jaral and visited sites east and 

 west of that town where commercial excavations had been carried on 

 (see map, fig. 20). At Aguacate we obtained a considerable amount 

 of broken but restorable pottery that had been discarded by these 

 earlier diggers. On March 9, Mr. Paul, Mrs. Strong, and the senior 

 author returned to Jaral and remained there until April 6, carrying on 

 excavations at various polychrome sites in the hope of obtaining at 

 least a partial scientific record prior to their entire destruction by pot 

 hunters. Our work was interrupted by " Holy Week " during which 

 period neither work nor travel was practicable. Later, on May 26, 

 Mr. Paul returned for a week in order to carry on deeper excavations, 



