GAXN] MAYA INDIANS OF YUCATAN AND BRITISH HONDURAS 93 



the first, as all tlio Avails and the roof w<>ro in situ. It was composed 

 throughout of largo flat irregular slabs of slate, averaging about 2 

 inches in thickness. It measured 8 feet by 2 feet T)y 2 feet in height. 

 The chamber was fiUed with earth, and the roof was not more than 

 6 or 8 inches below the surface of the mound. Tlie following objects 

 were found in this chamber, all resting upon tlie slate slabs which 

 formed the floor. At the north end five nearly globular red earthen- 

 ware pots, of rather coarse manufacture, each containing a stone 

 celt, were found. These pots had been packed closely together, in 

 earth, and over them a large slab of slate had been j^laced as if 

 to protect them; this, however, it failed to do, as the pots were so 

 saturated with moisture that it was found possible to remove only 

 one unbroken. The celts averaged 6 inches in length; all were weU 

 made and polished ; four were of greenstone, one of a bluish-gray stone. 

 Close to the pots were found a small jadeite face and three green- 

 stone beads or pendants. Nearer the center of the floor of the cham- 

 ber were found two small cubical objects of light greenstone 1 cm. 

 in diameter, very closely resembling dice, with a geometrical device 

 inscribed in rather deep lines uj^on two of their opposed surfaces; 

 these might have been seals or stamps, or they might have been 

 used in playing some game. With them were a smaU solid cylin- 

 der, of light greenstone, finely polished for suspension, 12 small 

 obsidian knives, seemingly quite new, as they showed no signs of 

 notching from use, and six convolvulus-shaped ornaments of light 

 greenstone, finely polished, which had probably been used as ear 

 plugs. Close to the last lay a hollow cylinder of extremely hard 

 terra cotta 7 cm. in height, inscribed externally with a geometrical 

 device in Ioav relief (pi. 16, d). This object was undoubtedly a 

 cylindrical seal or stamp for use on a handle; similar specimens are 

 not uncommon in the south of British Honduras and in Guatemala, 

 though in the north of the colony and in Yucatan they are of much 

 less frequent occurrence. SmaU patches of charcoal and of green 

 powder wore found i"n several places scattered over the floor of this 

 chamber. Nothing further was found in this mound, which was 

 composed throughout of earth and water-worn bowlders. 



Several more mounds were excavated at Kendal, but notliing wac 

 found in them. They were all composed of earth and large, water- 

 worn bowlders, the former greatly predominating. Close to many of 

 the mounds a deep excavation in the surface is to be seen, from which 

 the material to construct the mound was evidently taken. These 

 mounds form a decided contrast to those in the north of British 

 Honduras and in southern Yucatan; they are lower, flatter, more 

 diffuse and irregular in outline, with the line of demarcation be- 

 tween the base of the mound and the surrounding soil very poorly 

 defined. The northern mounds are more clearly defined, with steeper 



