The latest of all the sites is undoubtedly Santa Rita, which shows
strong Mexican influence; this belongs to the second era of Maya
civilization, which reached its highest development in Yucatan and
the northern cities. Excluding the Tuluum Stela, the date upon which,
9.6.10.0.0, is almost certainly not contemporaneous,[24] the only
Initial Series deciphered with certainty in Yucatan up to the present
time is that at Chichen Itza, 10.2.9.1.9, nearly 3 katuns, or 60 years,
later than the latest at Naranjo; but probably the Santa Rita site
is much later in date than this, and if we may judge by the objects
found in the mounds in the vicinity, some of which show strong Spanish
influence, it was occupied up to and beyond the conquest.
[Illustration: PLATE 7
SKETCH MAP OF BRITISH HONDURAS, WITH ADJACENT PARTS OF
YUCATAN AND GUATEMALA, INDICATING THE POSITIONS OF
MOUNDS EXCAVATED]
DESCRIPTION OF MOUNDS
MOUND NO. 1
Mound No. 1 (No. 24 on the plan of Santa Rita (fig. 14), situated midway
between Nos. 6 and 22) was conical in shape, nearly circular at the
base, 18 feet high, and 90 feet in circumference. It was built
throughout of large irregular blocks of limestone, the interstices being
filled with limestone dust and earth, forming together a sort of friable
mortar, which rendered the whole structure nearly as compact as a solid
block of masonry.
[Illustration: FIG. 14. Plan of Santa Rita mounds.]
Excavation near the center of the mound, at a depth of 2 feet below the
surface, brought to light a large circular disk of roughly hewn
limestone, 3 feet in diameter by 8 inches thick. On lifting this it was
found to cover the mouth of a bell-like cist, nearly 3 feet in diameter
and about 5 feet in depth. On opening the cist, which was slightly
narrower at the bottom than at the top, it was found to be nearly half
filled with very fine brown dust, at the bottom of which lay a roughly
made circular urn 18 inches in diameter, covered by a mushroom-shaped
lid.
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