Jury, 1898. Ruins or XKICHMOOK, YUCATAN—THOMPSON. 219 
EDIFICE No. 3. 
Southeast of Edifice No. 2 is Edifice No. 3, a low structure of five 
rooms. It occupies a terrace 6 feet high, and is approached both on 
the north and south by flights of stairs extending the entire length of 
the structure. This building, with its series of steps faced with 
upright stones as they appeared after excavation was complete, is 
well shown in Pl. XVI. 
Excavations. —Having by exterior excavation exposed to view the 
terrace and walls yet standing, we commenced on Chamber No. 1. 
In clearing out the fallen material that filled the chamber nothing of 
interest was found except a curious black stone head. Chamber No. 2 
yielded nothing of exceptional interest. A few interesting potsherds 
were found. 
Chamber No. 3 had in the floor material bones and teeth, but if 
they were placed in a grave it was so like the ordinary cavities in the 
large stones forming the foundation of the floor that we did not recog- 
nize it. These excavations in the foundation material were always 
continued until undisturbed material was encountered. 
Chamber No. 4 contained in the debris upon the floor three 
kas (stones for grinding). These stones were of the usual form 
and shape of those used by the ancients; they are cylindrical in 
shape, and from 6 to 8 inches long, and about 2 inches in diameter. 
(See Pl. XXV.) They are quite different from those in use at the 
present day. It may be stated here that many of the hollowed 
stone troughs (haltunes), supposed to have been water receptacles, 
may well have been some kind of mortar or matatl. I have found 
that the cavities hollowed out in the haltunes generally correspond 
to the cavities that would be produced by the abrasion of one 
of these small stone rollers. It is also very noticeable that these 
utensils generally have their sides much worn and polished, as if by 
constant rubbing. These were probably used for other purposes 
besides the grinding of corn. Much pigment, principally oxide 
of iron, to produce which much grinding and trituration must have 
been necessary, was used about the great structures. 
In the interior of Yucatan there still exists a small Indian 
pueblo, where the natives of the region go to purchase red earth 
for coloring and decorating pottery. As soon as circumstances per- 
mit I shall visit and study this region, and report more fully upon 
the subject. 
