Kulubá Archaeological Project 2001 Field Season

Santa Monica

UTM Coordinates: N2344526, E0409724
Distance to Kulubá: 9.79km at 164º

The site of Santa Monica is located 30km east of Tizimín along the highway that runs from this town to Colonia Yucatán (Figure 3.1). In fact, the site is found just south of this highway and the road cut has damaged several platforms. Although some standing architecture was found on the two tallest structures, overall site preservation is generally poor. Many platforms have been sacked for building material for the road (especially Structure 3) and many have also caught the attention of pot hunters.

The site center of Santa Monica is found in an open ranch almost completely devoid of large vegetation. Santa Monica was first registered as Atlas site 16Qe(4):4 by David Vlcek in 1976.  Accompanied by David Kelly, Vlcek sketch mapped the three largest structures and collected some ceramics, mainly from Structure 3.  Kepecs (1999) also visited this site as part of her regional Chikinchel project.

Based on our mapping and visual examination of the vicinity where we lacked time to map, Santa Monica was a populous site. Drawing a radius from the site center to the most peripheral platform we mapped (Structure 20) and calculating the area of the ensuing circle leads to a minimal site area of about 400,000 m². A civic structure was spotted nearly 330m from the site center, indicating that there is at least one far-flung civic complex outside the core area. The residential settlement at Santa Monica is quite substantial with platforms continuing in the ranch we mapped as far as the eye could see from atop Structure 1, the tallest at the site. We simply lacked the time to continue mapping in these residential areas.

There are a few water sources within 250m of the site center although neither one is particularly impressive. About 215m SE of the site center is a shallow depression. Although the center of the depression is too shallow to hold permanent water, along its circumference are a few caves. One of these caves, on the southeast edge of the depression, reaches the water table. The other water source is a more substantial cave found in the parcel adjacent to the cleared ranch. Here there is a water source and definite evidence of Precolumbian use: we collected some well preserved sherds from within the cave (Lot Number: 02601).

Structure Descriptions

Structure 1
This is the main civic pyramid at Santa Monica, the larger half of a tandem set of civic buildings (Plate 3.1, shown below). It is about 9m in height and has seen extensive stone-robbing on its northwest edge. This saqueo is over 16m wide at the base of the structure and nearly reaches the summit. An 8 × 8m platform extends off the west edge of the structure and features two short in situ walls running N-S on top of it. The summit of Structure 1 is heavily looted; two trenches were noted on the south edge of this upper area. Despite the stone robbing and looting, there is some standing architecture still visible on Structure 1 (Plate 3.2, shown below). The stonework features rocks with rounded edges and corners; there is no finely cut Florescent blocks. No one side of Structure 1 has clear indications of a stairway, making the delineation of its original orientation difficult. Its relation to the other large civic structures suggest that it probably faced south onto the plaza formed by it and Structure 2.  Another possibility is that it faced west, towards Structure 3.
Lot Number: 01301
Area: 1,314m²
Volume: 5,949m³

Click on image to enlarge

Click on image to enlarge

Structure 2
Found SE and abutting Structure 1, at 7m high Structure 2 is a slightly smaller version of its partner. Like Structure 1, Structure 2 has been damaged by relatively recent potting activity. Near the top, two small saqueos are found: one on the north side and one on the south side. The level summit area has also been sacked, here a 3m diameter pit is found in the center of the area. Some standing architecture was noted on the east side. Like the examples at Structure 1, the stonework at Structure 2 features slightly rounded stones and no finely cut blocks. A low terrace platform extends nearly 16m from Structure 2’s west side and connects up with the south side of Structure 1.  This forms the core plaza area of Santa Monica and suggests that Structure 2 faced west.
Lot Number: 02201
Area: 822m²
Volume: 3,376m³

Structure 3
This very large and interesting platform is the third tallest and most voluminous structure at Santa Monica. Sadly, it has been extensively quarried for stone: a full third of the platform’s volume is simply gone. This massive saqueo, centered on the platform’s northwest corner, has been around since at least 1976 as Vlcek noted it during his Atlas visit. He suggested that the stones were carted away to be used as building material for the Tizimín-Colonia Yucatán highway. Thankfully, three corners of the platform remain and as a result it is relatively straightforward to reconstruct what Structure 3 looked like before the quarrying took place. The basal platform is nearly square with both the N-S and E-W axes measuring about 47m.  In addition to the colossal saqueo already mentioned, three much smaller ones are found on the south end of the platform. One has taken a bite out of the SW corner, another is on the east edge of the platform just north of the SE corner. The third is on the south basal platform wall but near the upper surface. What could possibly be the remnants of a stairway riser was found on the upper east edge of the basal platform, this coupled with the placement of the superstructure and other monumental architecture all strongly suggest that Structure 3 faced east. Resting on the 5m high basal platform are at least two superstructures. One is on the south edge of the platform and was some sort of perishable structure that faced north. Two short stretches of north-facing walls were found here; each running E-W and both about 3.6m long. The two wall remnants are offset so that the north one is east of the south. The south wall is 1.2m north of the edge of the platform and is either a bench or the front wall. The north wall, 4m north of the south wall, is either the front wall (if the south wall is a bench) or a terrace step (if the south wall is the front wall). In any case, the rear wall of the superstructure is gone, probably slumped off the south edge of the platform. The second superstructure is a secondary platform which was oriented N-S along the basal platform’s west edge. Unfortunately, this 50cm high platform has been cut roughly in half courtesy of the big quarry. No architectural details were spotted on the secondary platform. The only silver lining to the quarrying of Structure 3 is that this activity exposed a complete 5m high profile of the platform and copious amounts of well preserved sherds. Several areas of the upper part of this profile were clear enough to see two floors about 30-40cm apart separated by platform fill. Interestingly, no obvious substructures were spotted in the profile. The exposed stratigraphy suggests that the basal platform was constructed during one building episode and the upper area of the structure was modified at least twice. The sherds found on the platform and falling out of the profile all conclusively demonstrate that Structure 3 dates to the Late Formative/Early Classic Period (see Section 7.1 for more discussion of chronology).
Lot Number: 01701
Area: 2,069m³ (reconstructed), 1,352m³ (actual)
Volume: 6,898m³ (reconstructed), 4,210m³ (actual)

Structure 4
This residential platform is found 19m NE of Structure 1.  Its basal platform is nearly square (20m N-S × 22m E-W) and about 1.2m high. The basal platform consists entirely of medium-sized rubble, no megaliths, in situ or otherwise, were noted. Three superstructures are found atop the basal platform. The largest is found along the east side of the platform and therefore most likely faced west. It is a rectangular-shaped conglomeration of rubble lacking any intact walls. Its overall dimensions are 10m N-S × 4m E-W and is a meter offset from the east edge of the basal platform. The south end of the superstructure features a heavy concentration of building collapse but no finely cut stones or vault stones were noted. The superstructure is bisected by a long alignment of stone, which runs the entire 10m length, effectively dividing the superstructure into two parts. The west part is thinner at 1.7m wide and was probably a terrace fronting the actual building. The east half is 2.3m wide and was most likely where the actual rooms were located. Curiously, no interior dividing walls were spotted, suggesting the superstructure may have been one long building. Although no end walls were found, it could be a [-shaped structure (see Bey et al. [1997] for a discussion of this structure type). The second superstructure is found to the SE of the first and is a single room facing north. The room is 4.8m wide (E-W) and 2m deep (N-S) and features a 1.5m deep step fronting it. The front (N) edge of this step is lined with in situ cut stones. The third superstructure is an L-shaped rubble outline in the northwest corner area. It is 2.7m wide along both axes and oriented so that its outside corner forms the upper NW corner of the platform.
Lot Number: 01401
Area: 420m²
Volume: 372m³

Structure 5
Structure 5 is located on the north edge of a shallow bajada and 35m east of Structure 2.  It is either an unusually high platform or a truncated pyramid. It is oval in shape, measuring 22m E-W and 24m N-S, and is some 3m in height. The structure is badly collapsed as no retaining walls are visible. About halfway up the west side of the structure 4 stones were found in situ, perhaps the remnants of a stairway. The upper surface of Structure 5 is badly potted. Three large looter pits pockmark the top of the platform, effectively destroying and obscuring any superstructures.
Lot Number: 02301
Area: 455m²
Volume: 819m³

Structure 6
This is an impressive platform which would be even more so were not dwarfed by nearby Structure 3, some 27m to the north. The basal platform of this structure consists entirely of unconsolidated rubble; no intact retaining walls or stairways were noted. The platform is roughly square, measuring 35m E-W × 32m N-S, and is a full 2m in height. Four superstructures are found on the basal platform, one on each edge of the upper platform surface. The first and most substantial of these is found on the west side. It is probably a collapsed masonry building of some sort, although no vault stones were seen in the rubble. It is a meter in height and the base of the superstructure is 16m N-S and 6m E-W.  The upper surface of it is devoid of any architectural details and measures 9.5m N-S and 1.8m E-W.  The second superstructure is found flush with the south edge of the basal platform. It appears to be a small secondary platform, the base of which is 9m E-W and 3.3m N-S.  The rubble rises 50cm in height and features no other architectural details. The third superstructure is a small rectangular-shaped rubble outline along the east side of the platform. It is 3m N-S and 2.2m E-W and is quite low, only perhaps 20cm in height. The fourth and final superstructure is the foundation of what was a two-roomed frame brace house with perishable walls and roof. It is found along the north side of the basal platform and is 3.8m deep. The west room is slightly larger than the east, measuring 5m across whereas the east room is 4m in width. No doorjambs or benches were found associated with the foundation.
Lot Number: 01801
Area: 1,236m²
Volume: 1,875m³

Structure 7
Structure 7 seems to be a staircase that provided access to the small plaza found between Structures 1 and 2 at Santa Monica. The rise of this stairway is quite gentle: while 14m in total length, there is only an elevation gain about a meter from west to east. The stairway begins on the west side and is 18.1m wide. This width continues 6.5m eastward when it narrows down to 4.1m wide and continues another 7.5m.  Curiously, the stairway stops 5.8m short of the platform that is attached to Structures 1 and 2.  Only a few of the risers on Structure 7 were clearly identifiable but in all cases the stones within the perimeter of the structure were oriented N-S, consonant with the stairway interpretation.
Area: 145m²
Volume: 28m³

Structure 8
This platform has been largely destroyed due to construction of the Tizimín-Colonia Yucatán highway. Only the east side remains intact, the west side is completely gone and the north side nearly so. A 20m stretch of the south side is still there although it is impossible to guess how long it might have originally been. Since only the SE and NE corners remain, it is not possible to project the platform’s original shape. Thus, the area and volume calculations provided below are of what is currently visible and obviously only a portion of what was originally there. The basal platform is 1m in height and the intact east side of the structure is 29m long. Two superstructures are visible on this platform although again there may have been others located on the now-destroyed western side. The first is found on the north edge of the platform, 9m N-S and oriented so its long axis is E-W.  It is either a secondary platform or collapsed masonry structure and the rubble which makes up the superstructure is a full meter in height. Only an 8.5m E-W × 3m N-S area of the superstructure’s upper surface remains and no architectural details were noted on it. The second superstructure is a small rectangular rubble accumulation in the SE corner area. It is 5.7m N-S × 3.2m E-W and features three in situ stones that are lined up N-S along the east edge of the superstructure and face east. They most likely represent the upper edge of the basal platform.
Lot Number: 01601
Area: 501m²
Volume: 425m³

Structure 9
This structure is found 30m south of Structure 2 and is on the west edge of a shallow bajada. It is a square-shaped platform that is 70cm in height and measures 16.6m N-S × 13.6m E-W.  The basal platform consists entirely of rubble: no intact retaining walls or other details such as stairways were detected. Only one small wall fragment was discovered atop the platform. It is found in the northwest area of the platform and is an alignment of unfaced stones some 2.1m in length, and oriented E-W.
Area: 220m²
Volume: 113m³

Structure 10
Structure 10 is an unusual long platform that features evidence of a significant enlargement project to an already existing platform. The original platform measures 36m E-W x 25m N-S and has an average height of about 1.5m.  A long alignment of rubble extends off of the NE corner of the platform, a built up area on the south side of the bajada obviously designed to form a terrace east of Structure 10.  The original platform had indented corners, at least on the west side since here their megalithic outline is visible. It was to this west edge of the platform that an extension was annexed to. This extension maintains the original platform’s N-S dimension and extends 26m westward. It appears that this large enlargement was never completed. The extension is lower than the original platform, about 60cm in height, and consists of large rough platform rubble. It appears that the builders opted not to build up this extension to the height of the original platform and they didn’t cap the rough platform fill with a layer of smaller chich. Two superstructures were found atop Structure 10; both on the original platform. The first is found on the east edge of the platform and is a raised up area that measures 10.2m N-S and 4.1m E-W.  A trace of a megalithic step was noted on the west edge of the superstructure. Its dimensions suggest a secondary platform although no distinct architectural remains were found on its surface. The second superstructure probably represents the outline of a house and is found on the south edge of the platform. It has dimensions consistent with a two-roomed house, 6.3m E-W × 2.7m N-S, but no interior divider was found in the rubble.
Area: 1,566m²
Volume: 1,513m³

Structure 11
This square platform is found 22m south of Structure 10.  It is a typical basal platform whose dimensions are 16.8m E-W × 14.4m N-S × 1m in height. A small portion of the basal platform’s upper edge is preserved in the northwest corner area, it begins in the NW corner, runs south for 1.4m and consists of three roughly shaped stones. The only remnant of any superstructures is found 2.3m east of the three aforementioned three stones. Here there is a N-S oriented wall fragment some 3.2m in length and comprised of 5 roughly shaped stones.
Area: 262m²
Volume: 188m³

Structure 12
Structure 12 features an unusually shaped basal platform. While its west, north, and east sides are straight, its south edge features a pronounced bulge in the middle that effectively gives the platform a SW edge and SE edge. The platform’s maximal dimensions are 34m N-S × 21m E-W.  It stands about a meter in height although it was clearly built on an altillo, the bedrock of which is seen off the structure’s west edge. The northeast area of the basal platform is where at least one superstructure is situated. There is a large area of dense rubble here, measuring some 7.5m E-W × 12.8m N-S.  Within this rubble, on the north edge of the basal platform is the corner of what was a perishable house of indeterminate shape. There is a 2m long E-W frame brace wall and at its eastern end it turns south for another 2.3m.  The frame brace wall is odd since it is on the edge of the rubble scatter and has a different orientation.
Lot Number: 01501
Area: 608m²
Volume: 489m³

Structure 13
This small structure has a roughly circular shape about 14.5m in diameter. It probably was not built as a circular structure but rather collapsed in such a way that has obscured the original shape. It sits about 60cm in height and the upper surface is devoid of superstructures, largely due to a large saqueo in the center of the platform.
Area: 169m²
Volume: 68m³

Structure 14
Structure 14 is located 18m SW of the much larger Structure 6 and 19m SE of Structure 15 (Figure 3.2). It is a low (30cm high) square platform that is 9.9m N-S and 9.1m E-W.  A stretch of megalithic retaining wall was noted on the south face of the platform; it originates at the SE corner and three megaliths are laid end-to-end going westward before the wall is obscured by platform rubble. One superstructure is atop the basal platform. It is an accumulation of small rubble centered on the south edge of the platform whose dimensions suggest a small house: 2.1m N-S × 3.6m E-W.  No in situ walls or doorjambs were found amongst the rubble.
Lot Number: 01901
Area: 92m²
Volume: 23m³

Structure 15
This is a trapezoidal platform that is 15.7m E-W on its north end, 9.2m E-W on its south end, and 16.1m N-S (Figure 3.2). The basal platform rises 50cm off the ground surface and is devoid of intact architecture save for the northeast corner where a megalithic corner stone stands in situ. There are two stone alignment atop the platform, both of which are oriented roughly N-S.  The shorter of the two is in the northwest area of the platform and consists of 4 west-facing stones that make up a 2m long wall. The second line of stones is in the center of the platform and is merely an alignment of unshaped rubble some 3.9m in length.
Lot Number: 02001
Area: 199m²
Volume: 83m³

Structure 16
Much like Structure 15, Structure 16 is a low trapezoidal platform. The platform’s west side is 8m N-S while its east end is 13.4m N-S.  Its E-W dimension is about 10.7m and the platform is only about 30cm high. No superstructures were found on the platform’s upper surface.
Lot Number: 02101
Area: 116m²
Volume: 27m³

Structure 17
This square platform measures 12.9m E-W × 11.9m N-S.  Traces of megalithic retaining walls are on all four sides of the platform but the west side is the best preserved. Here, a large megalith marks the SW corner and some 9 megaliths are found laid end-to-end until the wall reaches the NW corner of the platform. Although the platform is in relatively good shape, any superstructures that were once on top of it are not. Only a few megaliths were noted in the southwest quadrant of the platform but these were not aligned in any discernable fashion.
Area: 152m²
Volume: 60m³

Structure 18
Structure 18 is small but relatively high (1m) residential platform measuring some 15.3m E-W and 18.0m N-S.  Most of the platform’s retaining walls are obscured by rubble but a nice megalithic corner stone was spotted on the NW corner and two megaliths were found on the south side of the platform near the SW corner. There were probably several superstructures on this basal platform but only one of them is distinct. Centered on the south edge of the platform is a rectangular accumulation of rubble that is 5.3m E-W × 2.3m N-S.  No walls were found within the rubble but it is probably the remnant of a house foundation. An amorphous accumulation of rubble was noted along the platform’s east side and a few larger stones are near the northwest corner area.
Area: 273m²
Volume: 197m³

Structure 19
This is a low square-shaped residential platform whose dimensions are 14.1m E-W × 15.1m N-S × 50cm high. Traces of megalithic wall were spotted at the northeast corner where a large corner stone sits in situ as well as the west half of the south side where three megaliths were noted. A possible megalithic corner stone is also found at the SE corner. Atop the rubble platform is a solitary superstructure. It is a 5m E-W × 4.3m N-S accumulation of rubble in the southwest corner area that lacks any intact architecture. Most likely this rubble is the destroyed remains of a house foundation that once supported a perishable dwelling.
Area: 217m²
Volume: 88m³

Structure 20
Structure 20 is found on a relatively high altillo which is about 3m higher than the surrounding ground surface. It is a square platform some 13.5m N-S and 15.8m N-S.  The 50cm high platform has a prominent NW corner stone of megalithic proportions and though not in situ, some similarly sized stones were located in the SW corner area. A single superstructure is atop this basal platform, centered on the north edge. It is a 4.1m E-W × 2.6m N-S rubble scatter. No intact walls were noted but its shape and size are indicative of a house foundation. An amorphous rubble scatter was also found in front (south) of the superstructure.
Area: 214m²
Volume: 83m³

Structure 21
This rectangular platform is 15.3m E-W × 10.4m N-S and features no intact retaining walls except for the NE corner area where several large megaliths are found. Atop this platform, there is a large concentration of rubble on the east side that is 6.8m N-S × 4.4m E-W.  This superstructure lacks any intact architecture.
Area: 161m²
Volume: 61m³

Structure 22
Measuring 18.3m E-W and 21m N-S, this large platform is on average 70cm above ground level and features a jumbled concentration of megaliths in its SW corner; none of which are in situ. The megalithic jumble is unusual since there isn’t a cornerstone found where the west and south sides of the platform meet. Another concentration of heavy platform rubble is found along the east side of the platform but again none of these megaliths are in their original place. A superstructure in the form of a low secondary platform is found on the eastern edge of the basal platform. This feature is 3.4m E-W × 9.7m N-S and is curious because no architectural remains were found on top of it.
Area: 375m²
Volume: 204m³

Structure 23
Structure 23 is found about 8m N of a shallow rejollada. It is roughly square-shaped (12.1m E-W × 10.6m N-S) and features well-preserved megalithic retaining walls (Figure 3.3). Vestiges appear on the west and south sides while the east side is nearly completely intact and the north side is only missing one megalith. The intact megalithic retaining walls are unfortunately not associated with similarly preserved superstructures. Atop the 30cm high platform is only a scatter of rubble in the NW corner area and little else.
Area: 119m²
Volume: 29m³

Structure 24
Found just to the west of Structure 12, Structure 24 is a very low square-shaped pile of rubble. It measures 12.3m N-S × 13.2m E-W and based on its size and shape seems to be an unfinished basal platform.
Area: 162m²
Volume: 32m³

Structure 25
Structure 25 is a large residential platform that supports a single superstructure. The basal platform is a full meter in height and is nearly square at 25.8m N-S × 24.4m E-W.  The platform consists entirely of rubble; no in situ retaining walls were spotted. The basal platform has been potted in two places: a saqueo is found in the southeast corner and a hole 2.7m in diameter is found near the NE corner as well. The lone superstructure is found along the south edge of the platform and is a rubble scatter some 4.1m N-S × 9.7m E-W.  While no wall lines were noted, most likely this was a two- or three-roomed house with perishable walls and roof.
Area: 632m²
Volume: 106m³

Structure 26
Only 4.1m north of Structure 25, Structure 26 is small platform built up on the north side. The south end of this 9.6m E-W × 9.3m N-S structure grades to ground level. No superstructures are on top of this platform.
Area: 83m²
Volume: 11m³

Structure 27
This oddly-shaped structure is found NE of the shallow bajada at Santa Monica. Its maximal dimensions are 18.4m E-W × 17.6m N-S although the platform features several indentations and extensions. The south side of the platform is relatively straight and the east side is as well save for a small indentation in the NE corner. The north edge is jagged and the platform rubble grades from over 50cm in the NE area to ground level in the NW area. The west side is also jagged and features a low L-shaped retaining wall. At the southern terminus of this wall, a line of rubble moves up the platform to the east and connects up with the only superstructure that was noted. A simple wall some 1.7m long and oriented E-W is all that was found on the basal platform.
Lot Number: 02401
Area: 276m²
Volume: 119m³

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