RUINS OF TENAMPUA, HONDURAS — POPENOE 



569 



it was excavated, sufficient fragments were recovered to show that the 

 design is different on the two sides. 



OTHER ARTIFACTS 



Scattered throughout the ruins are many fragments of plain stone 

 metates of the type used today in Central America (pi. 3, fig. 2). No 

 unbroken ones were seen; but if such had been left by the ancients, 

 they would almost certainly have been carried away by modern in- 

 habitants of the region to use in their homes. Some of these metates 

 had thick, short feet; others none. All were made of a coarse red 

 sandstone which does not occur naturally at Tenampua. 



Figure 4. — Curiously carved stone metate encountered in one of the mounds of the 



Southeastern Group. 



We also found fragments of another form of milling stone made 

 of a finer grade of sandstone. This was flat, oval in shape, about 25 

 centimeters in greatest diameter, and 10 centimeters thick. From the 

 marks left upon it, we could ascertain that it had been used on edge, 

 vertically, the two sides having been held in the hands. 



Red sandstone balls, more or less uniform in size and weighing 

 from 1^ to 2 kilograms, were found in various places. These sug- 

 gest stones which have been rounded and smoothed by the action of 

 running water, most probably in a river bed. They do not seem to 

 occur naturally in this region but may have been carried here for 

 throwing or slinging at the enemy. Their shape and size are such as 

 to make them fit conveniently into a man's hand. 



