116 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 64 



as many of them still lie on the surface, and nowhere are they buried 

 more than a few Indies, except at the base of the mound, where 

 earth from its side, washed down by rains, would naturally have 

 covered them with a sUghtly deeper layer. On making excavations 

 at various points within the enclosed space, the floor was found to 

 consist first of the earth which contained the broken incense burners, 

 with some blocks of limestone, and beneath this of a layer about 4 

 feet thick composed of marl dust, very small fragments of pottery, 

 and rubble, welded together into an ahnost cement-like mass. 



Mound No. 23 



Moimd No. 23 was situated near the northern end of Chetumal 

 Bay, on the east coast of Yucatan. The mound was 12 feet in height, 

 roughly circular in shape, and 12 yards in diameter at the base. 

 The top was flattened, and near its center a circular space 10 feet 

 in diameter was inclosed by a low, rouglily built stone waU. On 

 digging within this space there were brought to light, immediately 

 beneath the surface, the following objects: 



(a) Part of a large hourglass-shaped incense burner in rough 

 pottery, decorated with a hmnan figure in liigh relief, 20 inches high. 

 Unfortunately the left arm and log and part of the chest are missing 

 from this figure, which, judging by the headdress, cm'ved nose, and 

 tusk-like teeth, is pro!) ably intended to represent the God Cuculcan. 

 The left foot is sandaled, and on the left wrist is a loop-fastened string 

 of beads, while over the front of the chest hangs a breastplate of 

 quilted cotton, decorated with flaps and fastened over the shoulders.^ 

 Round the neck is a flat gorget, decorated with round bosses, and 

 in the ears are large circular ear plugs with tassels dependent from 

 their centers. Over the upper part of the nose is a curious curved, 

 snake-like ornament. The lofty headdress^ with broad flaps extend- 

 ing over each ear almost to the shoulders, has in front the head and 

 upper jaw of some mythological animal, the latter projecting well 

 over the face of the god, as if in the act of swallowmg hun. Point- 

 ing downward from the plumed ornament on the right side of the figure 

 (the corresponding one on the left has been broken away) is a cro- 

 talus head, which so often accompanies representations of this god. 

 The figure still exliibits traces of blue and white paint on that part of 

 the face protected by the broad flap of the headdress, and originally 

 doubtless the whole was painted in various colors, which first 

 exposure to rain and afterward burial in moist earth, have almost 

 completely obUterated. (b) An earthenware figure, 26 inches in 



• It would appear that these thick woven or plaited cotton breastplates were fortified with salt. 

 Landa, op. cit., p. 48: "Y sus rodelas y iacos fuertes de sal y algodon." 



Ibid. p. 172: " Hazian xacos de algodon colchados y de sal per moler colchada de dos tandas ocolchaduras, 

 y estos eran fortissimos. " 



