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THE LESSER CIVILIZATIONS 149 
Porto Rico they are usually open while the latter are 
closed. Nothing is really known concerning their use 
but there has been no lack of fanciful surmises. The 
most popular explanation is that the yokes were placed 
over the necks of victims about to be sacrificed. It is 
evident that the yokes were intended to be placed in a 
horizontal position because there is a plain lower surface 
and the ends are frequently carved with faces that are 
right side up only when the plain side is down. ‘These 
yokes represent the richest and most elaborate works of 
art in the entire region since they are carved in the most 
finished manner from single blocks of exceedingly hard 
stone. 
Other peculiarly shaped stones are found in the 
Totonacan area and are carved according to the same 
splendid technique. The “paddle-shaped”’ stones have 
been found in considerable numbers and their use, like 
that of the stone yokes is absolutely unknown. It is 
evident from the carving that they were intended to be 
stood on end. 
The designs on the sacrificial yokes and paddle stones 
are largely reptilian, but there are examples where the 
turkey, the coyote, as well as the human motive are 
treated somewhat after the manner of the Mayas. In 
fact there can be little doubt that the best period of 
Totonacan art corresponded pretty closely to the best 
period of Mayan art. The most important site is 
Papantla where a remarkably ornate pyramid rising in 
six terraces may be seen, as well as massive sculptures in 
the same style as the works of art described above. The 
front wall of each terrace on all four sides of the pyra- 
mid, except for the space occupied by the stairway is 
divided into a series of niches neatly made of cut stone. 
Formerly each of these niches may have served to 
