552 INDIAN SETTLEMENTS IN CENTRAL AMERICA. 



3. COMPREHENSIVE REMARKS AND CONCLUSIONS. 



The old Indian edifices of northern Central America display in various 

 parts of this territory an unusually great variety both as regards the 

 disposition and the construction of the single buildings. Upon closer 

 investigation we find, however, that the structures of special districts 

 show certain peculiarities which are common to all of them, but are 

 not found in the structures of adjoining districts. These common pecul- 

 iarities, however, apply only to general features, whilst we never meet 

 with slavish imitation of a definite style of architecture. On the con- 

 trary, even within the boundary lines of a certain style there exists 

 still an almost indefinite variety of disposition and outward formation 

 among the Central American Indians. As the edifices in the neighbor- 

 hood of a style of building often already show hints suggested by the 

 peculiarities of a neighboring style, we may conclude from this that 

 the Indians maintained among themselves a lively intercourse and pos- 

 sessed a great capacity for acquiring knowledge and taste from their 

 neighbors. Everywhere we find the fundamental idea of walls and 

 terraced pyramids, but in their erection many varieties of style at once 

 appear. Unfortunately, I must here limit myself to the structures on 

 the highlands of Guatemala and Chiapas, and to those of East Guate- 

 mala, Peten, Tabasco, and Yucatan. Within this district I think I may 

 define the following styles of architecture : 



I. The steps of the pyramids and walls are ascending. The build- 

 ings are not distinctly grouped around courtyards (squares). 



1. Chiapas style: The buildings of a settlement are rather irregularly 

 arranged. 



2. Motozintla style: The buildings of a settlement show a tendency 

 to face a certain direction. In front of many tumuli tile pavements are 

 made. 



II. The steps of the pyramids and walks are perpendicularly ascend- 

 ing. The buildings of a settlement face any one decided direction. 

 The larger settlements show a part of their buildings arranged entirely 

 or in part around an inclosed courtyard or square. 



ARCHITECTURAL STYLES OF THE MAYA PEOPLE. 



A. Varapaz style. — The settlements are mostly small. The buildings 

 face the four cardinal points. Mortar was but imperfectly used. In 

 Chacujal stone buildings with perpendicular walls, parapets on the 

 platform. 



B. Architectural styles of the highland tribes. — The settlements show 

 a crowded disposition of their buildings. In the whole district temple 

 courts shaped like H make their appearance. 



(a) Mb mortar is used in the buildings. 



1. Tzenal style: The buildings of a settlement are not arranged so 

 as to face the cardinal points, but preferably intermediate directions. 



