MAYA INDIANS OF YUCATAN AND BRITISH HONDURAS 



111 



Fig. 61. — Larger 

 pottery vase 

 found in Mound 

 No. 17. 



cross, probably a higlily conventionalized tree, (c) A shallow circular 

 plaque, 36 cm. in diameter, painted light yellow, and polished 

 throughout. Upon its upper surface is painted, in red and black, 

 a coiled plumed serpent (fig. 62), doubtless intended to represent 

 Ouculcan, the ''Feathered Serpent." (d) Two circular objects of 

 ])()lished greenstone, somewhat resembling broad-brimmed hats from 

 which the crowns have been removed (see fig. 57, i). 

 Each has on the upper surface of the brim a small 

 ovate piece of mother-of-pearl, firmly cemented to the 

 stone. These objects were probably used as ear 

 plugs; with them were five small- perforated spherical 

 beads of polished greenstone. 



At the base of the northern aspect of this mound \ 

 was a small square enclosure, surrounded by a stone 

 wall 2 to 3 feet in height. On digging into this, near 

 its center, an alligator made of rough pottery, 15 

 inches long, was discovered. In the center of its back 

 is a small circular opening, covered by a conical stop- 

 per, leading into the hollow interior, in which was found a small 

 perforated pohshed jadeite bead, in the form of a grotesque human 

 face. Close to the aUigator lay a basin-shaped vessel, 28 cm. in 

 diameter, painted yellow, and polished throughout. In the center 

 of this, outlined in thin black lines, is the object seen in plate 19, h, 



probably meant to represent the 

 two-headed dragon so common in 

 Maya art. 



Mound No. 18 



Mound No. 18, situated less than 

 half a mile from the next preced- 

 ing, was 10 feet high, 70 feet in 

 circumference, roughly conical in 

 shape, and firmly built through- 

 out of blocks of hmestone the 

 interstices between v/hich were 

 filled with earth and limestone 



P^G. 62.— Coiled plumed serpent painted on plaque dust. At the bottom of the 

 found in Mound No. 17. j •. . ,• 



mound, near its center, resting 

 on the ground, was a cist, about 2 feet in diameter, roughly con- 

 structed of large flags of limestone. Within this were found two 

 vessels: (a) A basin-shaped specimen of thin pottery, painted red- 

 dish-yellow and polished throughout; on its inner surface is depicted, 

 in fine black lines, an object closely resembhng a four-leafed sham- 

 rock, (b) A vase of the shape shown in figure 63, 13 cm. high 

 and 13 cm. in diameter. This is made of rather thick pottery; it is 



