JuLy, 1898. Ruins oF XKICHMOOK, YUCATAN—THOMPSON. 223 
The roof-stones found here and there told the story of its original 
character, and excavation was continued until the bed-rock itself 
stopped the work. At the distance of a foot beneath the surface of 
the floor we found traces of an older floor. Buried a foot deep in the 
material of the floor was a rude grave and a shallow earthen dish 
inverted over a heap of human bones. Near by were fragments of 
clay figurines and potsherds. Beneath these objects was a third 
floor, and a few inches deeper still another. This is the first time I 
have found so many floors. A foot deeper we struck a filling of great 
stones that continued down to the bed-rock and yielded nothing of 
note. 
Fifteen inches beneath the floor of Chamber No. 2 we found a 
curious wall-like ridge of mortar, and resting upon it an earthen 
vessel. The ridge of mortar was built upon a level floor, under which 
were found various portions of a human skeleton. Beneath these 
vestiges of the ancient people was a third floor, and further excava- 
tions revealed a second ridge of mortar in the northwest corner of 
the room; this was 3 feet long by 1 foot wide and 1% feet high. Be- 
neath this ridge were found human bones which fell into dust at the 
touch, and many potsherds. This mound rested upon a fourth floor, 
and 2 feet beneath this was the undisturbed hardpan. One foot be- 
neath the floor of Chamber No. 3 we came upon a second floor, and 
1 foot beneath the surface of this, resting upon a leveled surface, were 
two burial places, coffin-shaped, lke those found in Chamber No. 5, 
Edifice No. 3. Grave 1 was 6 feet long, 1 foot 7 inches wide at the 
head, tapering gradually to 1 foot 3 inches wide at the foot and 1 foot 
3 inches deep. The bones in this grave were so broken and mixed 
(evidently by small rodents) that no idea could be obtained of the 
original position of the body. At about one-third of the length of 
the grave from the wider end was found a shallow earthen ves- 
sel overturned, and beneath it were the crumbling remains of a 
skull. 
Grave No. 2 was of the same general shape and size as No. 1, 
but held only much-decayed human bones and potsherds. Chamber 
No. 4 yielded only potsherds of no special interest. 
Excavations (EpiFicE No. 9).—This edifice (Fig. 26) also appeared 
at first to be a large, shapeless mound, but excavation revealed a 
structure of two chambers, and in Chamber No. 1, at a depth of g 
inches beneath the floor, one small earthen jar and the fragments of 
several other vessels were found. Excavation in Chamber No. 2, at 
a depth of 2 feet 8 inches beneath the floor and 2 feet from the west 
