16 



C0P1jS t . 



foundations and mounds of stones can be seen, evidence of the considerable population 

 which must have at one time inhabited the plain, and similar remains can be found in 

 many of the smaller valleys in the neighbourhood. 



The small village of Caehapa, which is situated about seven miles up the river-valley 

 to the north-east, also stands on the site of old buildings, and several pieces of stone 

 with remains of hieroglyphic writing on them are still to be seen lying amongst the 

 rubbish on the plaza. Down stream, about two and a half miles west of the village of 

 Copan, at the top of a high hill commanding a magnificent view of the valley, there are 

 also to be seen remains of some stone foundations, and, lying amongst them, a fallen 

 and broken monolith (originally standing about 12 feet high above ground), carved all 

 over with a hieroglyphic inscription, now much worn and very indistinct. 



The sketch-map shows a high pyramidal foundation [No. 29], close to the houses 

 of the modern village of Copan, at the top of which was found a flat slab of 

 stone (S), about two feet square, with a hieroglyphic inscription on its sides. I was 

 not able to ascertain if any stone building had ever stood on this foundation. There is 

 a broken and defaced monolith lying in the scrub about 50 yards to the west of the 

 village, and two " altars " (T & U) stand on the village green, and some other fragments 

 of broken and defaced carved monuments were found from time to time in the neigh- 

 bouring thickets. 



The plain between the stream that runs on the east side of the village and the 

 principal ruined edifices is covered with the remains of groups of houses generally 

 arranged round a courtyard. Only a few of the higher foundations which may have 

 supported temples are marked on the map. There is one broken monolith lying in 

 the scrub to the north of the track to Caehapa. 



^4 mm* 



Photogravure Gnu pil L ImpBoussod .Volufon E C '■ 



Talt cf the face of a STEP Fpoir the Hierogiathic Stairway. (No. 27, Plate I.) 



