The Carnegie Maya IV: Carnegie Institution of Washington Theoretical Approaches to Problems, 1941-1947

No. 5. Cenote X-Coton at Mayapán

43 The cenotes of Yucatán have been studied by various people and institutions, notably H. C. Mercer (1896), L. J. Cole (1910), Carnegie Institution of Washington (see Pearse and others, 1936), Brainerd (1942), and Lothrop (1952). These studies have been primarily geological, hydrographic, and zoological, the archaeological aspect not being treated save by Mercer , Brainerd, and Lothrop. In this report I plan to emphasize the archaeological importance of one of the numerous cenotes at the ruins of Mayapán. Cenote X-Coton is located in the southeastern section of Mayapán (Jones 1952, map, Square T) close to one of the seven main gates and a small group of ceremonial structures. It is one of 19 named cenotes found within the city wall and is of the type where much of the roof has fallen, but a considerable portion still remains (Figs. 5.1, 5.3; Cole 1910, Fig. 3; see also Pearse and others 1936:18, Fig. 3). The open southern part of the cenote is used to cultivate bananas. The local Indians get in and out by means of tree roots which reach to the floor of the cenote. We used a 6 m ladder (Fig. 5.4b) for ourselves and employed ropes to lower equipment and remove pottery and other finds. It will be noted from the plan (Fig. 5.1) that the cenote is roughly divided into a southern and a northern section by remains of stone walls and by a centrally located, artificial platform. The floor of the southern part, where the banana grove now stands, is fairly level and represents a good depth of soil. To the north, the floor slopes downward, the surface being covered for the most part by a thick deposit of bat dung. Indeed, deposits of bat dung occur in all areas sheltered by the overhanging roof of the cavern, only the banana grove and Cave 1 being free of this material. There were indications of much washing of surface debris from south to north, an observation amply verified by the results of a heavy rain while work was being carried on in this cenote. This readily accounts for the silting C u r r e n t R e p o r t s Carnegie Institution of Washington Department of Archaeology No. 5 January 1953 Cenote X-Coton at Ma yapán RobeRt e. Smith 5.1. Plan and Sections of Cenote X-Coton. a. Depressions for resting water jars. b. Hole in roof of cenote above platform. c. Water hole in Cave 1. d. Puuc Medium Slate bowl; e,e’. Original Pit 1, and western extension. Northern extension of Pit 1. g. Burial in Cave 2. Cenote X-Coton at Mayapán 45 up of the water hole, a feature discovered only by excavation. Work at Cenote X-Coton began in March 1952, with the removal of the surface layer of bat dung that was distributed over the greater part of the floor of the cavern. This uncovered numerous sherds (40.8 percent of all sherds encountered) in a shallow stratum (5–8 cm) of dirt and pebbles and also revealed several of the upper steps of a stairway which we followed downward until water was reached (Figs. 5.1; 5.3; 5.5d). There were 18 steps (Fig. 5.5c): 15 of masonry, two cut from bedrock, and just above water a final bedrock ledge in which two hemispherical depressions had been made, presumably for water jars (Fig. 5.1a). A third depression was hollowed out of the lowest bedrock step. Originally masonry retaining walls had lined the stairway on either side. Much of the east wall remained but the west wall had mostly fallen. The pottery from the surface (R. Smith 1952, Table 1, D-2, surface soil; D-12, soil covering stairway), as was to be expected, consisted mostly of Mayapán period sherds (80 percent) plus a few Puuc, Regional Polychrome, and Fine Orange types, and a considerable number of fragments too weathered to be identified. The water hole was deep but the opening small, measuring 90 cm by 3 m. Exact depth could not be ascertained because of the narrow, crooked shaft, but a pole was inserted to a depth of 369 cm. In an effort to find artifacts at the bottom of the pool, a steel jaw-like contrivance was attached to a pole. The opening and closing of...