GANN] MAYA INDIANS Oi YUCATAN AND BRITISH HONDURAS 65 



in thickness, and \vas built of blocks of limestone, each weighing 

 from 50 to 200 pounds, roughly fitted together, without clay or 

 mortar to fill in the creYices. Scattered all through this layer were 

 great numbers of fragments of pottery censers decorated externally 

 with human figures; nearly 150 pounds of these were taken from it, 

 representing probably 20 incense burners. The whole of the pottery 

 when first found was exceedingly brittle, but hardened in a few hours 

 on being exposed to the air and sun. At the bottom of this layer, and 

 resting on the ground, were found a number of pieces of black porous 

 material with a peculiar odor. The bottom of a large round pot, 10 

 inches in diameter, was also found full of the same substance, which 

 is probably a mixture of copal gum with various aromatic substances, 

 which had been used as incense and partially charred at the bottom 

 of the incense burner. Fragments of the bottoms of round pots were 

 found scattered about on the ground level, many of them having bits 

 of this charred incense still adhering to them. 



The mound appears to have been constructed in the following 

 manner: First, a number of pieces of burning incense and round jars 

 containing the same substance were strewn thickly over an area ap- 

 proximately 40 yards in circumference; next a foundation or plat- 

 form 2 J feet in height was formed by placing together a number of 

 large rough blocks of limestone, among which w^ere scattered the 

 fragments of about 20 incense burners, decorated outside with human 

 figures in high relief. Over this was plastered a layer of mortar 18 

 inches to 2 feet in thickness in which was embedded the alligator 

 seen in figure 18. Fires were lighted on top of this mortar till its 

 upper layers were discolored, and into the fire while still burning 

 were thrown fragments of two clay images, two small oval vases, and 

 a number of beads. Over the ashes and charcoal left by the fires 

 earth and blocks of limestone were heaped to a height of 18 inches, 

 and in this layer was buried the stone turtle already referred to; 

 finally on top of the earth layer was placed a conch-shell trumpet. 



Mound No. 3 



Mound No. 3 (No. 26 on the plan, fig. 14) was situated immediately 

 between Mounds Nos. 6 and 11. It was roughly circular in shape, 120 

 feet in circumference and 3 feet in height. On being dug away to 

 the ground level it was found to be composed of earth and small 

 blocks of limestone, among which were numerous potsherds and frag- 

 ments of terra-cotta images, though the latter were so small that it 

 was impossible to tell how many images they represented. The pot- 

 sherds varied very much, some being rough and undecorated, others 

 polished and well painted in geometrical devices. Fragments of 

 flint spearhead^ and obsidian knives were also found in this mound. 

 70S0G°— IS— Bull. 64 5 



