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407 The temples and platforms discussed in the following report were excavated during the 1954 field season . The primary objective in the excavation of the temples was the gathering of comparative data on serpent column temples at Mayapán. Two low platforms in front of Strs. Q-143 and Q-218 were cleared as examples of a minor and little-known architectural type. The structural details of the platforms were worked out satisfactorily, and some interesting clues were obtained as to their use. Though it would be of interest to compare serpent column temples at Mayapán with those at Chichén Itzá, such a comparison is beyond the scope of this report. We shall limit the comparisons to the three temples reported herewith, and to Str. Q-58, excavated by Shook (1954: 254–258) in 1953. Strs. Q-143 and Q-218, with their adjacent platforms , were excavated by the author; Str. Q-159 was excavated by Pollock. Emphasis was placed upon clearing the debris from the superstructures of the temples, with particular attention to details pertaining to the serpent columns. STRUCTURE Q-143 (270 S, 210 W) Str. Q-143, on the east side of a small court to the east of the Castillo (Str. Q-162), was a mound about 7 m high before excavation. The temple faces west, and is flanked on the north and south by colonnaded structures which abut its terrace walls. Investigations by E. Wyllys Andrews in 1942 had exposed parts of the front and medial walls of the temple, the tops of the doorway columns, and the serpent heads. The only area of the temple interior left unexcavated during the 1954 season was the south end of the shrine room. The pyramidal substructure probably has two terraces, but this point is not certain since the only excavation undertaken on the substructure was the uncovering of the balustraded stairway. If two C u r r e n t R e p o r t s Carnegie Institution of Washington Department of Archaeology No. 32 December 1955 Three Serpent Column T emples and Associated Platforms at Ma yapán Howard d. winters Howard d. winters 408 terraces are present, the adjacent structures, Q-142 and Q-144, almost certainly were constructed in part over the lower terrace of Q-143. The stairway and balustrades are constructed of well cut stone, which seems to be almost entirely reused material (Figs. 32.1a; 32.3a). Much of this stone is sufficiently well dressed to warrant comparison with masonry of the Puuc type. No trace of serpent heads was observed at the foot of the balustrades. The walls of the superstructure still stand from 1 to 2 m high (Figs. 32.1a; 32.3e), except at the rear, where only a few courses of masonry are preserved. Parts of a battered basal zone were found on the exterior walls of the temple south of the south doorway and on the south side (Fig. 32.3b), presumably the walls rose vertically from the batter. No trace of a plinth was found anywhere around the superstructure . The outer walls of the temple are built of the usual rough slab masonry with interstitial chinking . Well dressed stone was used for the facing of the battered zone, the lower part of the front doorjambs , and the facing of the altar (Fig. 32.3b–d,f). The rear wall of the anteroom is constructed largely of well dressed, re-used stone, including several nicely carved pieces (Fig. 32.3f). The altar facing is dressed only on its outer and upper surfaces, and is probably dressed stone of the Mayapán type. It may be noted that in some cases the nicely cut and dressed stone is clearly re-used material of the Puuc type; in other instances, the decision as to whether the dressed stone is of Puuc or Mayapán type depends on rather subjective evaluation of the quality of the stone and the care taken in its dressing. Patches of two thick coats of plaster still adhere to the inner walls of the temple. Careful examination failed to reveal any trace of painting or other decoration. Large chunks of roofing plaster, averaging 0.15 m in thickness, were found in the debris filling the rooms of the temple. Underlying the plaster were many thin slabs of limestone. The flat upper surface of the plaster was invariably well smoothed. From this evidence, it may be inferred that the temple had a...

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