COPAN. 



19 



arranged in great steps, a single step measuring in some instances as much as 8 feet in 

 breadth and height. The heavy rains and the growth of the roots of trees and shrubs 

 have reduced these structures to rough-looking mounds of tumbled blocks of stone and 

 rubbish, square or oblong at the base, more or less rounded at the corners, and rising 

 almost to a point or flat ridge at the top. Some of the buildings which stood on these 

 foundations were two storeys high, and all, probably, had lofty superstructures (such 

 as can still be seen at Tikal, and at the ruins of Menche on the banks of the Rio 

 Usumacinta). The destruction of these superstructures accounts for the present shape 

 of the mounds — the falling masonry has knocked off the salient angles of the large 

 steps, and filled up the receding angles with broken fragments, and the whole mass has 

 been subsequently bound together by the roots of trees. So complete is the ruin of the 

 temples and houses that in no single instance could any portion of the walls of these 

 buildings be seen without digging through the fallen masonry and rubbish to some 

 considerable depth. 



The system of roofing here used (as in almost all ancient American buildings) was 

 what may be called the horizontal arch. The 

 idea that stone-roofed houses had been raised on 

 these foundations received confirmation when 

 faced stones cut diagonally at one end were 

 found amongst the debris at the bottom of the 

 slopes. It seemed certain that they must have 

 been used in the construction of roofs. I also 

 noticed that many of the mounds had slight 

 depressions on the top ridge, either one in the 

 centre or two or more at regular intervals. It 

 occurred to me that these depressions might 

 mark the position of doorways, and this was 

 found to be the case, and proved to be a most 

 useful guide when excavations were commenced. 



Round three sides of the Great Plaza (Plate 

 IV.) * the steps rising to the terraces are in a 

 fairly good state of preservation. The large 

 square mound on the first terrace to the west 

 [No. 1] f has a distinct flight of steps, shown in the plan. The top is flat and almost 

 square, and there is no evidence that any stone building had ever been raised on it. 

 Some previous visitor had dug into the foundation, but apparently discovered nothing 

 of interest. A broken monolith (E) lies in front of this mound. The slopes and mound 

 which rise still higher to the west of this are too much destroyed to be of any interest. 



* The numeral in the sign O-- on the map and plans refers to the photographs, the direction of the 



extended arms giving the angle comprised in the view. 



f Numbers in square brackets refer to the red numerals on the large plan, Hate I. 



d2 



Section through single-chambered house. 



RoOF-STONE. 



