Mound No. 21
Mound No. 21 was situated near Corozal, in the northern district of British Honduras. This mound had very steep sides; it was 50 foot in height by 200 feet in circumference, and was built of blocks of limestone, the interstices of which were filled with friable mortar. Toward the west the mound joined a smaller mound, 20 feet in height. A rumor was current among the Indians in the neighborhood that some years before a number of fragments of clay idols had been found lying on the surface of the earth near the mound. Excavations were consequently made all around the mound, for a distance of 10 to 15 yards from its base, through the alluvial soil, down to the limestone rock, a distance of 6 inches to 2 feet. These excavations brought to light enormous quantities of fragments of crude, coarse pottery vessels, for the greater part the remains of large hourglass-shaped incense burners, which had been decorated on their outer surfaces with either a human head or an entire human figure. Among these fragments were animal heads in terra cotta, the snake and the dragon being of most frequent occurrence, but the deer, alligator, and tiger also being represented. Heads of the owl, the wild turkey, and the humming bird likewise were found. Fragments of about a dozen human faces were brought to light, with the usual nose ornaments, large round earrings, and labrets. Quilted cotton, stud decorated breastplates, sandaled feet, and bracelet-decorated hands and arms were also plentiful. The right arm seems in most cases to have been extended, holding in the upward turned palm some object as a gift or offering. These objects vary considerably; three are undoubtedly wild turkeys, with their long necks coiled around their bodies; two are palm-leaf fans attached to handles; one appears to be a shallow saucer containing three small cakes; while two are pyramidal, spike-covered objects, possibly meant to represent the fruit of the pitaya cactus. With these fragments of pottery were found four entire oval pottery vases, each about 4 inches high, standing on three short legs, each containing a few clay and polished greenstone beads. Close to these was a pair of vases, shaped like a right and left foot and leg, of the size approximately of those of a child 7 or 8 years of age, greatly expanded above the ankle. These vases showed traces of white and blue paint, which had, however, almost completely worn off; around them were a considerable number of fragments of the bones of deer and peccary, very much decayed. Close to the base of the mound was found an oval block of limestone, which formed the nucleus of a small hill, 2 to 3 feet high and 5 to 6 feet in diameter, composed almost entirely of pottery fragments, with a capping of humus. It is not improbable that this was the spot on which the ceremonial destruction of these incense burners took place, the fragments being scattered in all directions around the entire circumference of the large mound.
Mound No. 22
Mound No. 22, situated at Saltillo, near the mouth of the Rio Nuevo, northern district of British Honduras, was partially explored in 1908-9 on behalf of the Institute of Archæology of Liverpool University. The mound was about 30 feet high; it was built of limestone blocks, limestone dust, and rubble. It stands at one corner of a quadrangular space measuring 80 by 35 yards, and elevated from 4 to 5 feet above the surrounding ground level. This space is encompassed by four mounds, joined by a bank or rampart averaging 10 feet high. Around the base of the mound a great number of fragments of pottery incense burners were found, with the images of the gods, which decorated them externally. Eight complete heads and two broken ones were recovered, together with arms, legs, bodies with quilted cotton breastplates and maxtlis, elaborate headdresses, and various objects held in the hands of the figures. These vessels are almost exactly similar to those found along the valley of the Usumasintla and Rio de la Pasion, described by Seler in his "Antiquities of Guatemala." Rude specimens, with the face of the god only decorating the outside of the vessel, were found by Sapper and Charnay in use among the Lacandon Indians a few years ago. The dress and ornaments of these clay figurines, which vary from 1 to 2 feet in height, are those found almost universally throughout the Maya area. The large circular ear ornaments, with a tassel or twisted pendant hanging from the center, the curious projecting curved ornament above the nose, the small button-like labrets at each corner of the mouth, are present in all, and are highly characteristic. On all the feet elaborate sandals are worn, fastened by thongs attached between the first and second and third and fourth toes, with a band passing around the ankle ending in a broad dependent flap. Around the legs are plain bands and strings of beads; around the wrists, strings of beads, in some cases fastened by an ornamental loop. The breastplates are of quilted cotton, some very elaborate, and decorated with beads, studs, and tassels, while below the breastplate covering the genitals is the maxtli, or small apron, commonly worn by both Maya and Aztec. The objects held in the hands consist of birds, fans, globes, incense burners, and other less easily distinguishable articles. The whole of the space within the earthwork appears to have been sprinkled with these fragments of pottery vases and idols, but it was only around the base of the large mound that entire heads were found. The fragments seem to have been originally placed on the earth, and in course of time to have been covered by a thin layer of humus from decaying vegetation, as many of them still lie on the surface, and nowhere are they buried more than a few inches, except at the base of the mound, where earth from its side, washed down by rains, would naturally have covered them with a slightly deeper layer. On making excavations at various points within the enclosed space, the floor was found to consist first of the earth which contained the broken incense burners, with some blocks of limestone, and beneath this of a layer about 4 feet thick composed of marl dust, very small fragments of pottery, and rubble, welded together into an almost cement-like mass.
Mound No. 23
Mound No. 23 was situated near the northern end of Chetumal Bay, on the east coast of Yucatan. The mound was 12 feet in height, roughly circular in shape, and 12 yards in diameter at the base. The top was flattened, and near its center a circular space 10 feet in diameter was inclosed by a low, roughly built stone wall. On digging within this space there were brought to light, immediately beneath the surface, the following objects:
(a) Part of a large hourglass-shaped incense burner in rough pottery, decorated with a human figure in high relief, 20 inches high. Unfortunately the left arm and leg and part of the chest are missing from this figure, which, judging by the headdress, curved nose, and tusk-like teeth, is probably intended to represent the God Cuculcan. The left foot is sandaled, and on the left wrist is a loop-fastened string of beads, while over the front of the chest hangs a breastplate of quilted cotton, decorated with flaps and fastened over the shoulders.[47] Round the neck is a flat gorget, decorated with round bosses, and in the ears are large circular ear plugs with tassels dependent from their centers. Over the upper part of the nose is a curious curved, snake-like ornament. The lofty headdress, with broad flaps extending over each ear almost to the shoulders, has in front the head and upper jaw of some mythological animal, the latter projecting well over the face of the god, as if in the act of swallowing him. Pointing downward from the plumed ornament on the right side of the figure (the corresponding one on the left has been broken away) is a crotalus head, which so often accompanies representations of this god. The figure still exhibits traces of blue and white paint on that part of the face protected by the broad flap of the headdress, and originally doubtless the whole was painted in various colors, which first exposure to rain and afterward burial in moist earth, have almost completely obliterated. (b) An earthenware figure, 26 inches in height, which doubtless at one time ornamented the outer surface of a large incense burner. The left foot and leg are gone; the right foot is covered with a sandal held on by a curved heelpiece rising above the back of the ankle, and fastened in a bow in front of the instep, while a leather thong passing between the great and second toe is attached to this, holding the front part of the sandal in place. Round the leg is a broad band, with a row of semilunar ornaments projecting downward from it. The maxtli has been broken away, but the quilted cotton chest covering is still in position. This is held in place by bands passing over the shoulders, and is ornamented by a row of five circular studs passing down its center, with long tassels below, which must have hung on each side of the maxtli, and tassels above, attached near the shoulder, which hang down on each side of it. The throat is covered by a broad band, decorated along its lower edge with four pairs of small circular studs. Round the left wrist is a bracelet composed of six flat oval beads, fastened in front by an ornamental loop. The left arm is extended, and in the hand, held palm upward, is grasped an acorn-shaped object from which project nine spikes. From each side of the mouth project long curved tusks. The nose is of unusual shape, being long, straight, and slender; the bridge is covered by a curved snake-like object. The headdress rises 6 inches above the superciliary ridges; its lower part consists of the head and upper mandible of the bill of some bird, probably a hawk or eagle. Above this rises a hollow cylindrical erection, with the upper border scalloped, supported on each side by objects which suggest broad stone blades, hafted in club-shaped handles, and ornamented in front with a plume of feathers. There can be little doubt that this figure is meant to represent the God Itzamna, as the sunken cheeks, the single large tooth on each side of the mouth, and the prominent, though well-formed nose, are all characteristics of this god. (c) An earthenware figure, closely similar in size and appearance to those just described. Of the face only the left eye, the left side of the mouth, and the nose are left; the last named is short, rounded, and well formed, and is ornamented at its root with a small round stud. (d) Fragments of a rough bowl of yellowish pottery, which must have been of considerable size. Unfortunately only four fragments were found; these exhibit on their outer surfaces parts of a hieroglyphic inscription, roughly incised in the clay while it was soft, with some sharp-pointed instrument. Of the many glyphic inscriptions which have been found at different times in British Honduras, painted on pottery and stucco and incised on pottery, stone, and other material, none has proved to be an initial series, which would fix the period in the Maya long count when the mounds, temples, burial places, and other monuments scattered throughout this colony, were constructed. According to recent researches the latest date recorded by an initial series on the monoliths of Quirigua, in Guatemala, is within about 70 years of the earliest date recorded by any of the initial series found up to the present among the ruins of Yucatan.[48] As the tide of Maya migration was undoubtedly from south to north, and as British Honduras stands midway between Guatemala and Yucatan, it is only reasonable to suppose that the colonization of the greater part of it by the Maya took place at some period between the abandonment of the cities of Quirigua and Coban, and the rise of Chichen Itza, Uxmal, and other Yucatan cities. This theory is borne out by the fact that the hieroglyphic inscriptions and pictographs found in the colony are closely allied to those found both in the northern and southern cities; moreover, the painted stucco and wooden lintels so common in Yucatan, but not found in the south, are present here, while the sculptured stelæ found in the south, but of extreme rarity in northern Yucatan, are (though not very numerous and poorly executed) found in British Honduras. (e) Large quantities of fragments of rough pottery vases and bowls; some of these evidently belonged to hourglass-shaped incense burners, 2 to 3 feet high, decorated with incised lines and glyphs, raised bands, and studs, but without human figures on their exterior surfaces. A number of these fragments were taken down to the camp of some chicle bleeders in the vicinity; unfortunately in the night the palm-leaf shelters caught fire and the whole camp was burned to the ground, most of the potsherds being lost or destroyed. Among these were probably the missing parts of the clay figures and of the hieroglyphic-covered pot. The whole of the mound was dug down, but with the exception of traces of a wall built of squared stones on the ground level, nothing worthy of note was found in it. It is almost certain that this mound had never been visited from the time of its erection till its discovery last year by chicle bleeders looking for sapodilla trees in this very remote corner of Yucatan. The clay images were lying on the top of the mound, partially uncovered, and had anyone, even an Indian, visited the place, they would almost certainly have removed these, as there is always a ready market for ídolos, as the Indians call every relic of their ancestors, among curio collectors who visit Belize.