. Bulletin. Ethnology. MAYA INDIANS OF YUCATAN AND BRITISH HONDURAS 111 Fig. 61. —Larger pottery vase found in Mound No. 17. cross, probably a higlily conventionalized tree, (c) A shallow circular plaque, 36 cm. in diameter, painted light yellow, and polished throughout. Upon its upper surface is painted, in red and black, a coiled plumed serpent (fig. 62), doubtless intended to represent Ouculcan, the ''Feathered ; (d) Two circular objects of ])()lished greenstone, somewhat resembling broad-brimmed hats from which the crowns have been removed (see fig. 57, i). Each has on the upp
. Bulletin. Ethnology. MAYA INDIANS OF YUCATAN AND BRITISH HONDURAS 111 Fig. 61. —Larger pottery vase found in Mound No. 17. cross, probably a higlily conventionalized tree, (c) A shallow circular plaque, 36 cm. in diameter, painted light yellow, and polished throughout. Upon its upper surface is painted, in red and black, a coiled plumed serpent (fig. 62), doubtless intended to represent Ouculcan, the ''Feathered ; (d) Two circular objects of ])()lished greenstone, somewhat resembling broad-brimmed hats from which the crowns have been removed (see fig. 57, i). Each has on the upper surface of the brim a small ovate piece of mother-of-pearl, firmly cemented to the stone. These objects were probably used as ear plugs; with them were five small-perforated spherical beads of polished greenstone. At the base of the northern aspect of this mound \ was a small square enclosure, surrounded by a stone wall 2 to 3 feet in height. On digging into this, near its center, an alligator made of rough pottery, 15 inches long, was discovered. In the center of its back is a small circular opening, covered by a conical stop- per, leading into the hollow interior, in which was found a small perforated pohshed jadeite bead, in the form of a grotesque human face. Close to the aUigator lay a basin-shaped vessel, 28 cm. in diameter, painted yellow, and polished throughout. In the center of this, outlined in thin black lines, is the object seen in plate 19, h, probably meant to represent the two-headed dragon so common in Maya art. Mound No. 18 Mound No. 18, situated less than half a mile from the next preced- ing, was 10 feet high, 70 feet in circumference, roughly conical in shape, and firmly built through- out of blocks of hmestone the interstices between v/hich were filled with earth and limestone P^G. 62.—Coiled plumed serpent painted on plaque dust. At the bottom of the found in Mound No. 17. j •. ,• mound, near its center, resting on the ground, was a cist, about
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectethnolo, bookyear1901
