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15.1. KARL RUPPERT Explorations in Campeche YB 32:89–92, 1933 As result of the exploration and study of Calakmul in 1932 and reports of other sites in the same general region, an expedition spent the months of March, April andMayintheexplorationofsouth-centralCampeche. Mr. Karl Ruppert, archaeologist, was in charge; Mr. John H. Denison, Jr., served as epigrapher; Mr. John O’Neill, as surveyor. The field of work was reached from Chichén Itzá via Mérida, Campeche, Canasayab, La Gloria, and Central Buenfil, which was made the base of supplies. Messrs. Denison and O’Neill made a preliminary trip to Calakmul to take observations for latitude and longitude (N18 degrees 8.7'; W89 degrees 50' 21"). On March 10 the entire expedition left Central Buenfil for the ruins of La Muñeca, which were reached at 2:30 the same afternoon. La Muñeca is a dry camp. Anyone visiting the site, except during the rainy season should, Mr. Ruppert reports, be prepared to haul water from two to six leagues. La Muñeca was visited in 1932 by Messrs. Ruppert and J. S. Bolles but, due to lack of time and illness, only 15.0. Campeche 399 a sketch map of the site and a preliminary examination of the stelae and buildings were made. The latitude and longitude of the site are N18 degrees 14.7' and W89 degrees 37'. The ruins lie on two low ridges, which have their long axis north and south. Thus the city is divided into two well-defined sections, of which the westernmost contained the highest mounds and all the stelae. Nineteen stelae were found, of which eight are carved, seven carrying Initial Series dates. The earliest and latest dates for the city are 9.13.0.0.0 and 10.3.0.0.0, respectively. The next objective was Placeres, an abandoned chiclestation7leaguestotheeast,whichservedasbase fortheexpeditionforsevendayswhiletrailswereopened and the nearby areas to the south, west and north were explored.Leaving part of the supplies and equipment at Placeres, the expedition left on March 26 for a threeweeks trip to the north and west. Stops were made at the sites of Noche Buena, Río Bec and La Hormiguero. Noche Buena is an extensive site, a hard six hours ride north of Placeres. The buildings have almost T H E C A R N E G I E M A Y A 400 CAMPECHE entirely fallen. Only in a few cases are sections of wall or arch still in position. The study of the buildings showedtheincorporationoflateralwingsintheground plan in several instances. No stelae were found. March 30 to April 7 was spent at Río Bec. This city was discovered by R. E. Merwin of the Peabody Museum some 20 years ago. Merwin’s Group F and G were the only ones examined by the present expedition , attention having been confined to the area west of these groups. The site was not recognized as Río Bec until after Mr. Ruppert’s return from the field, when the latitudes and longitudes were checked. They are N18 degrees 20.5' and W89 degrees 22' 4", respectively . Merwin’s groups to the east of F, the nearest of which is 1.5 miles [2.4 km], were not seen. The principal structure in the western area, Structure D, Group I, with its lateral towers, was recognized as being of the Río Bec type. The masonry is the finest found, being made up of small, carefully worked stone the size of bricks. The low platforms supporting buildings have the same measurements in plan as the buildings themselves . These platforms are either plain or ornamented with colonnettes. Excavations in front of doorways did not show steps giving down from the platforms. Stucco and stone decoration covering the façades or as inset panels of geometric design was used in the ornamentation of the buildings. A type of construction not seen at other sites visited is a low rectangular platform supporting a building which extends around three sides of the platform. In the center of the open side, or sometimes in the middle of the platform, is a small masonry altar-like mound. Hormiguero, located at latitude N18 degrees 24.0' and longitude W89 degrees 38' 35" was next visited (April 9 to 14). It is much smaller than Río Bec, but is similar in style of architecture. The use of lateral towers was noted on two structures. The principal building has a length of 47 m, a...

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