[Aztlan] Plaster & Echoe

[D. Clark Wernecke]

I've just been lurking and watching the arguements and I have to say I
agree with Sid. I did my dissertation on Maya construction materials and
techniques (available at
http://repositories.tdl.org/tdl/handle/2152/724?show=full   if you really
want to get into it).

Yes, there do seem to be some measurements in common but they seem to be
akin to early building measurements elsewhere in the world ie. body
measurements. Looking at large measurement databases such as the late great
George Andrews' we can see that many measurements (such as dorr entrances)
fall into a range. There really isn't very much special about this. I
include a chapter in my diss looking at all the various attempts (that I
was aware of) at defining Maya mesurements.

My problem with the acoustical theories and, specifically, the "chirp"
(besides thje extensive modern reconstruction of the structure itself) is
the fact that the quetzal is a mountain slope inhabitant. Yes, the Maya
traded in quetzal feathers and even somewhat imaginative imagery of the
quetzal BUT I would bet that only a handful, if that, of the inhabitants of
Chichen Itza had ever heard a queztal. Building a structure to mimic a
sound noone would recognize just seems beyond belief to me.....

Clark

D. Clark Wernecke
Research Associate
Texas Archeological Research Laboratory

Cwernecke at compuserve.com