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21.0. El Salvador
- University Press of Colorado
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21.1. JOHN M. DIMICK Salvador YB 40:298–300, 1941 During the past field season, Mr. Dimick, assisted by Mr. Stanley H. Boggs, continued the intensive study of the great archaeological site of Campana San Andrés. The ruins are situated 32 km northwest of San Salvador in the fertile, bowl-shaped, and mountain-fringed valley of the Río Sucio. Although thorough exploration has not been undertaken, mounds are known to be scattered more or less thickly over the valley floor, an area approximately 48 square miles [124.3 sq km]. The most imposing group, perhaps the religious and administrative center of the entire aboriginal settlement , lies near the middle of the valley on the west bank of the Sucio. Here excavations have been carried out with the generous permission of Don Fratsco Dueñas, the proprietor, who did everything possible to facilitate the work. The principal group consists of a great plaza roughly 200 m north to south and 140 m east to west, surrounded on three sides by mounds of various dimensions and on the south by an elevated court (over 6 m above the plaza) which in turn, is partially en21 .0. El Salvador 431 closed by ruined structures. The largest of the latter , Structure 1, almost closes the south side of the elevated court, and Structures 2, 3, and 4 are in alignment along its eastern edge. Small excavations were made for pottery and architectural details throughout the group, but the greater part of the expedition’s time was spent in careful exploration of Structures 1, 2, 3, and 4, and one mound, (Structure 8) located on the valley floor just south of the southeast corner of the elevated court. The excavations have disclosed evidence of aboriginal human occupation over a long, but as yet undetermined , period of time. The earliest remains in the form of pottery and artifacts, were found in the upper 50 cm of a layer of soil forming an early valley floor. This occupational level was covered by a 25 cm layer of sterile volcanic ash. Subsequently, the development of the principal group took place. The earlier stages of thegrowthoftheelevated,courtareindicatedatpresent only by plastered floors encountered above the ash layer and by a stairway in Structure 1. The floors were T H E C A R N E G I E M A Y A 432 EL SALVADOR exposed by a deep test pit in the center of the court; the stairway by a trench into the lower part of Structure 1. Well above the early court floors another floor was found, upon which were built the imposing pyramidal Structures 1, 2, 3 and 4. That the pyramids were crowned by temples may be postulated, although positive evidence is still lacking. One of the outstanding architectural features of Campana San Andrés is the fact that, with a few exceptions to be mentioned later, the pyramids and court foundations are entirely of mold-made adobe blocks averaging in size 62 by 24 by 17 cm. Laid carefully in courses, these formed a very solid construction of uniform strength. All exposed surfaces were finished with a smooth coating of excellent lime plaster, which, despite its hardness and good quality, was frequently renewed on court floors and pyramids. Structure 1 is a nearly equilateral pyramid, which rose in narrow vertical-walled terraces, probably 11 in number, to a height of 15 m. There was a broad projecting stairway on the north side. The pyramid corners and the edges of the terraces and steps are slightly rounded, and the pyramid as a unit is a splendid example of aboriginal architecture. Structures 2, 3, and 4, arranged in an orderly manner along the east side of the court, are very similar to Structure 1 but smaller. Another building phase followed the erection of Structures 1, 2, 3, and 4. This mainly consisted of raising the whole elevated court level by 4 m to its present height, thus burying the lower terraces and steps of the existing structures. The labor involved in this task may be appreciated more clearly when one considers that at least 600,000 adobe blocks were made by hand and transported by man power to the building site to fill the elevated court, conservatively estimated at 15,000 cubic meters in volume. Subsequent substructural renovations took place, some merely frontal additions, others burying more of Structures 1, 2, 3, and 4. New forms of decoration were brought into use, balustrades on...