32 PALENQUE. 



To the north of the foundation-mound of the Temple of the Sun is another rather 

 smaller mound supporting a building of which the south-west corner alone remains 

 standing. This mound is joined by a terrace to a smaller mound which enclosed the 

 sepulchral chambers shown in Plate XC. 



The entrance to these chambers was originally from the top of the mound by a flight 

 of steps descending to the south-eastern chamber. This entrance has been purposely 

 closed with a large stone slab, and access to the vaults is now gained by a hole broken 

 through the masonry. 



There is a descent of two steps from the outer to the inner or northern gallery, 

 which is divided into three chambers. The doorways of the middle and western 

 chambers have been walled across. In the east end wall of the southern gallery is 

 a doorway now blocked up by fallen masonry and rubbish. 



On the floor of the middle chamber is a coffin, made of thin slabs of stone, coated 

 on the outside with stucco and smeared on the inside with red powder. The coffin 

 had been rifled of its contents. 



The Death's Head Monument. (Plate XC.) 



At a distance of about fifty feet from the Temple of the Foliated Cross, in a 

 S.W. direction, there is a small mound, on the top of which was found the curious 

 monument figured on Plate XC. This monument has been overturned, and was found 

 more than half buried in earth and loose stones. It is in two pieces : one a sort of 

 stone chair about 2 feet 3 inches high and 1 foot 10 inches broad, with an inscription 

 on the front and sides ; the other a nearly circular stone, carved on one side to 

 represent a death's head. From the proximity of the two parts as they were found 

 lying in the ground, and from the accuracy with which the death's head fits into the 

 seat of the chair, it appears to be highly probable that the arrangement of the two 

 parts as shown in the photograph on Plate XC. is correct. The two small pieces of 

 wood, which in the photograph appear to be keeping the death's head in place, were 

 used merely to prop up a part of the lower jaw which had been broken off. 



House op the Lion. ((?) on Plate I. and Plate XC.) 



This small building stands on the steep side of the hill, about seventy-five feet above 

 the stream, and faces the east. It is supported by a low foundation-mound, which 

 rests on a narrow terrace cut out and levelled in the hill-side. 



