Kulubá Archaeological Project 2001 Field Season

San Pedro

UTM Coordinates: N2340742, E0405387
Distance to Kulubá: 8.79km at 129º

San Pedro was registered as Atlas site 16Qe(4):5 by David Vlcek on July 22, 1976.  Vlcek noted "3 small mounds; one possibly 4m high were spotted from the road"; apparently he lacked the time to visit the site on foot. San Pedro is found on the north side of the road that intersects the Tizimín-Colonia Yucatán road and runs southeast to the town of Tixcancal, near the modern pueblo of San Pedro (Figure 1.2). Visibility in the ranch where the site is found was excellent, as most vegetation was knee-high at best and did not obscure archaeological remains. While a few chich mounds (piles of gravel-sized rocks) might have been overlooked, we are confident that the vast majority of all the settlement remains of San Pedro within the ranch we mapped were located. Within the 71,552 m² ranch we mapped a total of 47 structures. (Figure 2.1)

A shallow rejollada is found northwest of the site center which may have provided water for the inhabitants of San Pedro. It has an upper diameter of about 65m and a lower diameter of 30m.  Since the rejollada is only 3 or 4 meters in depth and certainly did not reach the water table, we looked for remnants of a well but found none. Even if the rejollada was not used as a source of water, it did provide rich soils which the inhabitants of San Pedro most assuredly utilized.

Another interesting natural feature associated with the site is a small cave found nearly 100m southeast of Structure 1.  Its mouth is approximately 1.2m × 1.5m.  Despite this small opening and a dead animal which gave the entrance a rather unsavory smell, we entered the cave with hopes of at least finding sherds larger than the crumbs we had been collecting on the ground surface. Although we didn’t have a flashlight, we were able to determine that the cave sloped steeply down from its entrance and opened up into a small interior space no more than 20m² in size with a low ceiling maybe 1.5m in height. No water was encountered. No ceramics were found on the floor of the cave or in the many natural limestone niches along its walls. The walls and ceiling were inspected for any kind of painting but nothing was found. There were darker areas of the cave which we could not see well where cultural materials might be found; what we can say from our brief visit was that if the cave was utilized by the ancient inhabitants of San Pedro, they left very little evidence.

Structure Descriptions

Structure 1
This structure is a civic pyramid, the tallest and most voluminous at San Pedro, and undoubtedly one of the mounds spotted by Vlcek in 1976.  Structure 1 is about 3m in height and it seems to be oriented NW-SE although it is difficult to say which of these directions it originally faced. The base of the mound is 16m NW-SE × 18m NE-SW and has a small platform extension on the north side. No cut stones were seen; the mound consists entirely of rubble. No evidence of intact superstructures were found on Structure 1’s summit.
Lot Number: 00101
Area: 268m²
Volume: 416m³

Structure 2
This small square-shaped structure is found 20m south of Structure 1.  It is a low rubble pile about 5m × 5m and has a leveled off upper surface. It seems to have the same orientation as Structure 1 although it is impossible to say if it is oriented NW-SE or NE-SW.  There were some aligned larger stones on the structure’s northeast face; they may possibly be the remnants of a retaining wall.
Area: 23m²
Volume: 7m³

Structure 3
Found 7m SE of Structure 1, this structure is nothing more than an irregularly shaped rubble pile. The stones here were medium-sized (not small chich stones) and it seems unlikely to have been residential in function. Its odd shape and nearness to Structure 1 suggests that it may be the remains of an aborted construction event but this is little more than conjecture.
Area: 5m²
Volume: 1m³

Structure 4
Structure 4 is on a small nivelación (a natural terrace) and forms the eastern side of a small three-piece patio group. It measures 6m × 4m and its eastern side features the most platform fill while the west side grades to ground level.
Area: 24m²
Volume: 2m³

Structure 5
This 5.7m (N-S) × 5.2m (E-W) platform forms the north side of the small patio group. Of the three structures forming the group, this one is the most substantial although still quite small for a residential platform. No remnants of superstructures were noted.
Area: 33m²
Volume: 11m³

Structure 6
Structure 6 is another nivelación and forms the west side of the patio group. The structure extends from ground level on the west side towards an artificial terrace on the east side and measures 5.7m N-S × 5.2m E-W.  The patio bounded by Structure 6 on the west, Structure 5 on the north, and Structure 4 on the east, has an area of 47m².
Area: 20m²
Volume: 2m³

Structure 7
This appears to be an unusually high chich mound. The mound features an oval-shaped base, 9m NE-SW × 12m NW-SE, and rises a little over a meter in height. No remains of superstructures nor retaining walls were found.
Area: 83m²
Volume: 48m³

Structure 8
This structure is a square (8m × 8m) platform that has a small terrace that extends 7.5m off its northwest corner. No intact retaining walls were recorded and there are no superstructures on the platform’s upper surface.
Area: 48m²
Volume: 12m³

Structure 9
Structure 9 is a small rectangular (7.7m E-W × 4.3m N-S) platform. While less than 4m from Structure 8, this platform seems to be oriented differently. Structure 8 is oriented NW-SE while Structure 9 is oriented to "Mesoamerican North", that is, slightly east of north.
Area: 34m²
Volume: 11m³

Structure 10
This structure is a relatively large residential platform which measures 15m N-S × 11m E-W and has an indented northwest corner area. The platform stands about 0.5m above the ground surface and a small line of stones was noted on its upper surface. The stones were shaped but not cut and the alignment was 4.3m long and oriented E-W.  No other signs of superstructures were found.
Area: 173m²
Volume: 46m³

Structure 11
This small platform is located almost 14m northwest of Structure 10.  It is 7.1m E-W × 5.4m N-S and is unremarkable except that a small amount of surface ceramics was found associated with it and collected.
Lot Number: 00201
Area: 35m²
Volume: 11m³

Structure 12
Structure 12 is an L-shaped platform oriented so its long axis runs NW-SE and its short axis runs NE-SW.  The main platform is approximately 40cm high. The northwest part of the structure lacks a clear build-up of platform fill and instead grades gently down to ground level. A rectangular shaped rubble pile extends off the south edge of the main platform; it is 4.6m E-W × 3.0m E-W.
Area: 104m²
Volume: 25m³

Structure 13
Measuring 9.6m N-S and 4.6m E-W, this small structure is oriented so its longest axis lines up with "Mesoamerican North." On its west side, the platform rubble grades to ground level; this may have been the original access route. No superstructures atop the platform were found.
Area: 43m²
Volume: 7m³

Structure 14
At 2.4m in height, Structure 14 is the second tallest civic mound at San Pedro. Like Structure 1, it is difficult to delineate which direction the pyramid originally faced. A small platform extends off the northern side, measuring 8.1m (N-S) × 3.8m (E-W). It could be that this pyramid faced north because Structures 15 and 16 form a plaza with Structure 14 on the south side. If these three structures were constructed as a plaza group then it seems likely that Structure 14 would have been built facing north, towards the plaza.
Area: 210m²
Volume: 262m³

Structure 15
This range structure partially bounds the main plaza at San Pedro on its east side. It is 21m long (NW-SE) and 12m wide (NE-SW) and stands 1.2m above the ground surface (Figure 2.2). A trapezoidal shaped low mound extends off the NW part of the basal platform. The back (NE) side of the structure features heavy platform rubble and possible corner stone in the NW corner area. Rubble was also particularly heavy with little chich on the SW side of the structure, the side that faced the plaza. Almost assuredly there was a stairway here at one time but no in situ risers or balustrades could be confidently identified. The only preserved architecture found was a line of four shaped stones on the SW upper edge of the platform, they seemed too small to be stairway risers but could be. Another possibility is that they are the vestiges of an altar of some sort that are often found centered on the edge of the platform opposite the location of the main superstructure. Structure 15’s main superstructure is now gone but most likely was located along the NE edge of the basal platform.
Lot Number: 00701
Area: 211m²
Volume: 152m³

Click on image to enlarge

Structure 16
This structure forms the north side of the San Pedro plaza. It is a 2m high pyramid that has a relatively leveled-off upper surface. The civic structure measures 19m N-S and 20m E-W and features a low platform extension (12.6m N-S × 17.6m E-W) off its north side. The structure seems to be oriented N-S and most likely faced south onto the plaza although there are no identifiable superstructures on its summit to help support this contention. There is also a saqueo (a depression caused by human agents) found on the pyramid’s south edge where platform fill has been removed. The plaza formed by Structure 16 on the north, Structure 15 on the east, and Structure 14 on the south, has an area of 1,584m².
Lot Number: 00301
Area: 502m²
Volume: 373m³

Structure 17
Measuring 6.4m² in diameter, this structure has a round shape. However, it was not built circular, as two stretches of retaining wall are not curved. Instead it appears that the structure had more than 4 sides, since the two retaining walls are neither parallel nor perpendicular to each other. The 40cm high mound may partially demarcate the west side of the San Pedro plaza, the most open of its four sides.
Lot Number: 00801
Area: 40m²
Volume: 6m³

Structure 18
Structure 18 is a 5.3m² diameter chich mound. It lacks a level upper surface; instead the low mound rises about 30cm to a single high point roughly in its center.
Area: 21m²
Volume: 4m³

Structure 19
Almost identical to its neighbor, Structure 18, Structure 19 is a low chich mound measuring approximately 4.8m² in diameter. Its highest point is about 25cm higher than the outer edge of the mound. It is difficult to imagine Structures 18 and 19 having a residential function.
Area: 17m²
Volume: 3m³

Structure 20
This is a conically-shaped mound nearly 1m in height. A 1.4m long stretch of non-megalithic retaining wall was found on the southwest side of the structure but no other architectural details were noted.
Area: 56m²
Volume: 27m³

Structure 21
Structure 21 is located behind the range structure, Structure 15, and is a small chich mound measuring 2m E-W × 2.6m N-S.  It is very low, raising only some 10cm off the ground surface.
Area: 5m²
Volume: 1m³

Structure 22
This small (7m E-W × 6.4 N-S) square-shaped structure is located east of the pyramid (Structure 16). It consists entirely of small rubble and is some 60cm high. No in situ architectural details were found.
Area: 45m²
Volume: 13m³

Structure 23
Located about 18m SW of Structure 16, Structure 23 is an oddly-shaped rubble pile lacking any architectural detail. It seems that is a square-shaped platform 6.5m E-W that has a northward extension which is 8.1m long. A partial retaining wall was noted along the southeast edge of the structure; it consists of roughly shaped stones but are not particularly large in size. The structure is about 40cm high.
Area: 56m²
Volume: 16m³

Structure 24
This is yet another chich mound roughly 4.8m in diameter. It is quite low to the ground, rising only some 10cm.
Area: 22m²
Volume: 2m³

Structure 25
Structure 25 is a trapezoidally-shaped platform. Its north and south sides are roughly parallel with the former measuring 15.7m long while the latter is about 7.5m in length. The platform is 13.8m N-S and is about 50cm high. It does not have any remaining superstructures on its surface but it did feature some sherds that were eagerly collected.
Lot Number: 01001
Area: 160m²
Volume: 63m³

Structure 26
This is easily the largest residential platform we mapped at San Pedro. The basal platform rises 70cm off the ground surface and measures 24.7m E-W and 21.8m N-S.  A few megaliths were noted on the platform’s east edge although it was unclear if they were in situ or not. Likewise, there is a jumble of 3 or 4 megaliths in the northwest corner area of the platform. A saqueo was found centered on the south side which has taken a bite out of the basal platform. A superstructure is found situated in the southeast area of the platform. It is a distinct 20cm rise which is roughly 5.6m N-S and 4.6m E-W.  It is unclear if this is the remains of a secondary platform which supported a house or if it is the collapsed remains of the house itself. Unfortunately, no in situ architecture was found associated with it. Surface sherds at Structure 26 were relatively abundant although they were not particularly impressive in size.
Lot Number: 00901
Area: 564m²
Volume: 283m³

Structure 27
This is a small nivelación that faces south. The small rubble extends from ground level on the north side and makes a level surface that is about 20cm off the ground on the south side. No architectural details were found on the structure’s surface.
Area: 32m²
Volume: 2m³

Structure 28
This chich mound is found 8m SE of Structure 29.  It is 7.5m in diameter and about 10cm high.
Area: 12m²
Volume: 1m³

Structure 29
Structure 29 is a fairly large nivelación that faces east. It is 15.3m N-S and 9.8m E-W.  The eastern edge features the most rubble build up as here the structure is raised some 50cm off the ground surface. No architectural features such as retaining wall or superstructures were found associated with the structure.
Lot Number: 00601
Area: 78m²
Volume: 14m³

Structure 30
This is a small but interesting structure. It consists of a very low square-shaped accumulation of rubble about 1.4m × 1.4m.  Some 1.2m east of this is what appears to be a broken stela. It lacks any intact surface features, as it was either originally coated with stucco or the limestone has eroded to the point where its original sculpture is unrecognizable. The slab seems to be a stela since it has a rounded top although it was either very short or is only the top piece of what was originally a larger monument. The piece found is 100cm wide, 50cm tall, and 25cm thick.
Area: 2m²
Volume: 1m³

Structure 31
This is a relatively large nivelación built on the south-facing slope of an altillo. The structure is 15.4m E-W and the greatest build-up of rubble is 50cm high on the south side. No intact retaining walls were found nor were any superstructures located atop the nivelación.
Area: 83m²
Volume: 17m³

Structure 32
This chich mound is approximately 7.2m in diameter. Unlike some chich mounds, this one lacks a flat upper surface and instead has a true mound shape which rises to a single point.
Area: 25m²
Volume: 3m³

Structure 33
Structure 33 appears to be a chich mound and is 7.9m in diameter. However, it also seems to have a square-shaped upper surface about 2.2m E-W and 2m N-S.  This small upper area features slightly larger rocks than the chich below and might be the remains of a superstructure.
Area: 44m²
Volume: 7m³

Structure 34
This is an unusually long structure oriented so that its long axis is N-S.  This axis is 36m long while the structure’s average width is only about 7.5m.  The long rubble structure is nearly a meter high on its north end; here the rubble extends slightly NE as it nears the north end. The south end of Structure 34 features a very low rubble extension which turns SE from the main N-S axis. The middle part of the structure is about .5m in height. No superstructures were identified on the rubble.
Lot Number: 00501
Area: 209m²
Volume: 36m³

Structure 35
This is a small chich mound just to the SW of the larger Structure 33.  It is about 6.5m in diameter and features a relatively large stone on its east edge that could be the remnants of a retaining wall. This seems unlikely, though, since the structure is so small and is otherwise a typical mound of chich.
Area: 11m²
Volume: 1m³

Structure 36
Structure 36 is an isolated mound found southeast of the San Pedro rejollada. The mound is quite low, only 10-20cm above ground surface, and roughly 3m square. No superstructures were found within the small-sized rubble.
Area: 10m²
Volume: 1m³

Structure 37
This is a rectangular conglomeration of small rubble that is 7m E-W and 3m N-S.  Although no traces of frame brace walls were located, the shape of Structure 37 seems to suggest a two-roomed house.
Area: 15m²
Volume: 2m³

Structure 38
Structure 38 is a small chich mound roughly 4m in diameter. It is quite low in height and lacks any discernable architectural details.
Area: 11m²
Volume: 1m³

Structure 39
This platform measures 21m E-W and 12m N-S and as such is one of the larger residential platforms at San Pedro. The structure is built on a gentle south-facing slope and as a result the south edge of the platform features the most rubble build-up. Here the rubble is about 50cm high and this grades to ground surface on the north edge. Traces of a megalithic retaining wall were seen on the west side of the structure as were a few megalithic stones in the northeast corner area. A saqueo is found on the south edge of the basal platform near the southeast corner. Atop the platform is an area of dense rubble and chich on the western side. This was some sort of superstructure and extends from the west edge some 4.8m eastward.
Lot Number: 00401
Area: 222m²
Volume: 29m³

Structure 40
Structure 40 is one of many small structures found south of Structure 39.  This mound is rectangular in shape and is 5m E-W × 3.5m N-S.
Area: 17m²
Volume: 3m³

Structure 41
Found just a few meters east of Structure 40, this is a roughly square-shaped mound about 5.5m E-W and 6m N-S.  It is between 20 and 30cm in height and lacks any superstructures.
Area: 37m²
Volume: 5m³

Structure 42
This is a low rubble outline 4.2m E-W and 3.3m N-S.  It is about 3m SE of Structure 40 and 3m SW of Structure 41.
Area: 14m²
Volume: 1m³

Structure 43
Structure 43 is 5m west of Structure 40 and is rectangular in shape: 3.6m E-W × 4.8m N-S.  It is quite low, no more than 20cm off the ground surface, and is oriented differently from the nearby large platform Structure 39 and nearby small structures.
Area: 20m²
Volume: 2m³

Structure 44
Oriented NE-SW, this low rectangular rubble mound is 5m NW-SE × 4.5m NE-SW.  No architectural details were noted.
Area: 18m²
Volume: 2m³

Structure 45
This rectangular rubble mound is 4.5m E-W × 2.5m N-S.  It is quite low and no superstructures are present.
Lot Number: 01101
Area: 12m²
Volume: 1m³

Structure 46
A nivelación built on a south-facing slope, this structure is about 30cm high on the south edge. This rubble grades to ground level on the north side. The platform is 7m E-W and 6m N-S and lacks any surface architecture.
Area: 35m²
Volume: 3m³

Structure 47
Structure 47 is a low chich mound nearly 3m in diameter. It is quite isolated, found 32m SE of Structure 46.
Lot Number: 01201
Area: 5m²
Volume: 1m³

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