DESCRIPTION. OF “THE SITE: 13 
up stream and down, is covered with the remains of stone structures, and at 
some of these outlying groups have been found the most archaic monuments 
of all. A brief description of the more important of these groups follows, 
their location on plate 3 being shown by the green numbers. 
1. At the modern village of Santa Rita, 12 kilometers up the valley, northeast 
of the Main Structure, are the remains of an important settlement having at 
least one court. There are a number of mounds, many blocks of dressed stone, 
sculptured fragments throughout the village, and pieces of one monument, Stela 23. 
(See plate 3.) 
2. About a kilometer south of the road to Santa Rita, 6.5 kilometers up the 
valley, northeast of the Main Structure, is a terraced hill overlooking the Copan 
River. Onits leveled summit stand Stela 13 and the associated altar. (See plate 3.) 
3. On the leveled crest of a ridge about half way to the top of the mountain, 
2.5 kilometers east of the Main Structure, is Stela 12, the eastern Piedra Pintada. 
(See plate 3.) 
4. Just west of the Quebrada Seca, on the first bench of foot-hills above 
the road to Santa Rita, 2.5 kilometers northeast of the Main Structure, are the 
remains of a rather extensive group. ‘There are a number of stone buildings, and 
the wealth of sculptured fragments which strews the ground indicates its former 
importance. Fragment Z’ was found here. (See plate 3.) 
5. On the west bank of the Copan River, 1 kilometer east of the northern 
end of the Main Structure, is a small group of mounds surrounding a plaza, in the 
center of which stands Altar W’. (See plate 3.) 
6. Just east of the quarries, on the first bench of foot-hills above the road to 
Santa Rita, 0.5 kilometer north of the Main Structure, is a small group con- 
taining a very elaborately sculptured temple, which, judging from the fragments 
lying around, must have been one of the most beautiful in the valley. (See 
plate 3.) 
7. On a low ridge overlooking the valley, 1 kilometer south of the Main 
Structure, is a group of mounds. Nearby is a rock-cut shrine, hewn from an out- 
cropping of the native rock, and consisting of several grotesque figures and altars, 
the most conspicuous of which is a gigantic toad; hence the name Shrine of The 
Toad, here suggested for this group. (See plate 3.) 
8. West of the Main Structure 1 kilometer is a group of pyramids and mounds, 
and seven monuments: Stela 6 and its altar, Stela 5 and its two altars, Altar 
X, and a human figure, the two last found in the foundations of Stela 5. (See 
plate 3.) 
g. On the site of the modern village of Copan, 2 kilometers west of the Main 
Structure, are numerous remains of an important settlement. ‘There was at least 
one large plaza, now occupied by the plaza of the modern village, surrounded by 
a number of pyramids, mounds, and the following monuments: Stelz 20, 21, 22, 
fee2s, 15,18, and -7:and Altars P’, O’,.U%. 5, U, - Eland Vieanda ice 
of fragmentary inscriptions V’.. Some of the foregoing are the most archaic monu- 
ments found at Copan, notably Stelz 20, 22, 24, 15, and 25, and Altars P’, Q’, Le 
and M’. With the exception of the Main Structure, this is the largest group in the 
valley. (See plate 3.) 
to. On the site of the modern cemetery, 3 kilometers west of the Main Struc- 
ture, is a leveled area and two monuments, Stelz 8 and 9, and in the immediate 
vicinity on a lower bench to the south is a third, Altar I’. (See plate 3.) 
11. West of the Main Structure 4 kilometers is an important group of mounds 
and pyramids with the remains of a number of stone buildings, but no sculp- 
