COPAN. 



21 



The width of these chambers did not exceed seven feet. The square mound [No. 7] to 

 the south of these houses does not appear to have supported any stone building, but 

 there are traces of a low wall having enclosed the level space at the top. Near this 

 wall were found some stones, shaped like skulls, and a stone serpent's head. Close to 

 this mound are the remains of two small houses, and another square mound [No. 8] 

 the casing of which is almost entirely destroyed. 



On the plain to the west are numerous foundations of small houses, but only those 

 lying nearest to the principal structures are shown on the plan. 



On the east side of the Plaza is a detached square mound [No. 9] which formed the 

 foundation of a house or temple, and beyond it is another mound [No. 10] of the same 

 character, from which a low terrace runs out towards the north and then turns at right 

 angles to the west. The main group of terraces and buildings to the south is covered 

 with a forest-growth well shown in Plate V. 



To the south of the Great Plaza there rises a broad stairway, which as it ascends the 

 slope divides into three separate flights of steps, each narrowing towards the top 

 (Plate VI., a). The space between the steps appeared to have been highly ornamented, 

 and the carving (Plate IX., I) had probably fallen from that position. The steps on the 

 right and left lead to level terraces, and the centre flight must have led to the temple 

 [No. 11] which stood at a still greater elevation. This building presented the 

 appearance of a formless heap of stones, out of which a huge ceiba tree was growing 

 (Plate VI., b). Some portions of the chambers, which are shown in the accompanying 

 Plan, were excavated. The porches on each side probably extended some distance 



Plan of No. 11. 



beyond the line of the walls of the building. The roof and superstructure had entirely 

 disappeared, but the inner wall was in places perfect up to the spring of the vault. 



A step about eighteen inches high and eighteen feet long (A to B, see Plan), formed 

 of two blocks of stone, projected in front of the inner doorway ; the face of this step is 

 ornamented with a number of figures seated cross-legged and covered with elaborate 

 breastplates and other ornaments in sharp and well-preserved carving (Plate VII. . a, and 



