Kulubá Archaeological Project 2001 Field Season
Ichmul de San Jose
UTM Coordinates: N2326635, E0422862
Distance to Kulubá: 13.7km at 307º
Ichmul de San Jose is located 11.3km east of the modern pueblo of Tixcancal and 8.8km east of the site of Yokat (Figure 1.2). Previously unrecorded, the site is accessed by a dirt road that begins at a paved road that originates in Chancenote. It continues to the small pueblo of Chable and from here a dirt road runs north into a series of ranches. In 2001, the site of Ichmul de San Jose was privately owned by a man from Chancenote. During the time of our fieldwork, the site center was being used as a corral for cattle. Cows were herded into this corral daily for water and then dispersed into a large ranch for grazing. Unfortunately, Structures 4 and 5 are within this corral and have been extensively trampled.
The visibility at Ichmul de San Jose was excellent. Most woody vegetation in the vicinity has been removed and our workers only needed to clear low brush off of some structures. This allowed us to rapidly map 26 structures in the ranch (Figure 6.1). The parcel of land to the west of the ranch we worked in, about 230m west of the site center, consists of monte alto. The largest structure we encountered at the site, Structure 27, was located on the eastern edge of this forest.
A dzadz is found about 115m north of Structure 19. Its upper diameter is approximately 70m. The inside diameter of the dzadz, where the slope from the upper rim levels off at the base, is 35m. While no standing water was seen, some wetland grasses were identified at the bottom of the dzadz. No specialty crops or wells were noted at the bottom. From the highest part of the upper rim, on the southeast side, to the lowest part of the dzadz yields a maximum depth of 10m.
Structure Descriptions
Structure 1
This structure is the tallest (4.5m) one we mapped in the ranch (Structure 27 is taller but is not considered a part of the site center we mapped; see its description below). It is found on the eastern side of a large artificial terrace that supports most of the site center of Ichmul de San Jose. Structure 1 was a civic pyramid of some sort whose base measures 20m E-W × 18.3m N-S. The level upper surface is only 3.9m E-W × 2.3m N-S and lacks any in situ architecture. A line of roughly shaped stones was found on the south slope of the mound; it is oriented E-W and is about a meter long. The lack of in situ architecture on the structure is understandable in light of the fact that the corral was once centered on this mound and has only recently been shifted to Structures 4 and 5.
Lot Number: 04401
Area: 313m2
Volume: 728m3
Structure 2
This L-shaped mound appears to help form the south edge of a small plaza. The long side of the L-shaped rubble reaches an altitude of 1.5m off the ground surface and is oriented so its long axis (18.5m) is E-W while its short axis (8.6m) is N-S. There was waist-high grass all over this structure when we mapped it so we may have missed some architectural details. Because the upper surface is relatively level, it seems unlikely that there was a vaulted building here. Perhaps it was a high basal platform with a perishable superstructure on top. The short side of the L-shape extends south from the long side’s east end. This extension is only 40cm high and measures 5.3m N-S × 5.4m E-W. A line of some 4 megaliths was noted starting at the structure’s southwest corner and proceeding south about 3 meters. These stones appear to have been set in the ground but for an unclear purpose: the ground is level on either side of the stones so the configuration isn’t a retaining wall. The only other item of interest is a long shaped stone found amongst the platform rubble in the SW corner area. It measures 85cm long, 40cm wide, and 20cm thick and was probably part of the superstructure that has fallen down the side of the platform.
Area: 186m2
Volume: 143m3
Structure 3
Structure 3 dominates the southern end of Ichmul de San Jose’s site center. It was built on the southern edge of the large terrace that supports several structures and was once an impressive vaulted structure that faced north. The outline of rubble now measures 29m E-W × 18.5m N-S and is 3.2m in height. The front (north) side of the building features a well preserved stairway. It is 12.2m wide and at least 4 risers of nicely cut stone are visible. The first riser is the best preserved and features the largest cut blocks. At the top of the stairway, where the fourth riser is visible, it grades into platform rubble and it is difficult to delineate where the stairway may have ended and the upper surface of the platform began. In any case, the basal platform supported a vaulted building (17.6m E-W × 3.4m N-S) that probably had at least three and maybe four rooms. The superstructure has an undulating surface, the result of partially in situ walls that haven’t completely collapsed. Two large saqueos are found on the front (north) of the building and one has exposed a wall with two courses of roughly shaped stones visible.
Area: 438m2
Volume: 779m3
Structure 4
Located within a modern corral, Structure 4 is quickly being destroyed (Plate 6.1, shown below). The slump of the structure is 18.5m N-S × 17m E-W and about 2.5m in height. There is a bulge of slump on the east side of the structure that may indicate there was a stairway here at one point that is now unrecognizable. Set on this base of rubble is the outline of a platform retaining wall that had rounded corners. These rounded corners were noted in the NW, SW, and SE corner areas and they help enclose a platform measuring 15.3m N-S × 11.2m E-W. The stones used to make these rounded corners are high quality cut blocks. On the west side of the structure, between the wall line connecting the rounded corners and the edge of the rubble slump, is a 2.1m long wall line running N-S. This may have been a step that facilitated access to the platform from the ground surface. The superstructure on top of the platform was probably vaulted or at least had masonry walls with a perishable roof. The base of a wall made with nicely cut stones runs 7.2m N-S atop the platform. This wall has two rows of cut stone, one facing outside (west) and the other inside (east) and remnants of a stucco floor were spotted all along the base of this wall. The south end of the wall was the original end since here there are two stones that face south and serve to terminate the wall. The far north end of the wall lacks these end stones, here the wall simply ends. About 1.4m S of the north end of the wall are the remains of a doorway of some sort. Here there is a 1m wide gap in the wall and there are upright jamb stones on either side of the gap. Curiously, there is another double-sided wall that runs E from about the middle of the main N-S wall. This 1.3m long wall is also made from nicely cut stone although the stones are slightly smaller than those found in the main wall. If this was an interior partition wall then it would make the main N-S wall the back wall and it seems odd that there would be doorway located on it. It could be that the whole masonry structure faced west and that the main N-S wall is the front wall and the back wall is now mostly gone. There is an 8.5m long wall line found between the main N-S masonry wall and the edge of the retaining wall. This was originally interpreted to be the front step of the structure but if the building faced west then this could be the destroyed remnants of the back wall.
Area: 275m2
Volume: 355m3
Click on image to enlarge
Structure 5
Like Structure 4, Structure 5 is currently within an active corral and is quickly being destroyed due to the constant trampling of cattle. It is a rectangular platform (13.7m N-S × 8m E-W × 1m high) whose entire northern retaining wall is largely intact as well as some segments on its west and south sides. Atop this platform is an odd I-shaped arrangement of walls and rubble. Two E-W walls form the north and south ends of the superstructure. They are both double walls, that is, they feature an inner and outer face of cut stone. The two walls are 7m apart and are joined by a line of raised up slump that connects to each of them roughly at their midpoint, forming an I-shape. The placement of the two E-W walls in relation to the platform seems to suggest that the superstructure faced east but this is less than certain.
Area: 109m2
Volume: 97m3
Structure 6
This structure is found on the west edge of the large terrace that supports most of the site center of Ichmul de San Jose. It consists of a foundation for a three-roomed house that had perishable walls and roof. Its overall dimensions are 12m N-S × 3m E-W and undoubtedly faced east, onto the main plaza. No in situ walls were found but the arrangement of rubble made it quite clear that there were three rooms to the house. The whole house is 3m deep and the north room is 3.1m wide, the middle room 5.6m wide, and the south room 3.3m wide. The small end rooms consist of heavy rubble while the middle room is relatively devoid of rubble in its interior. A metate is found within the rubble of the south room and a square slab (90cm × 100cm × 20cm) is located 5m east of the middle room.
Lot Number: 04301
Area: 38m2
Volume: 8m3
Structure 7
Structure 7 is a 2.5m high pyramid that faces south. Its base measures 12.3m E-W × 11.7m N-S and features a rubble extension off of its south side. This extension is almost certainly the remains of a stairway although no risers are visible. The destroyed stairway extends 6m from the south side of the main mound and is 6m wide. An odd megalithic wall extends 5.1m south from the SW corner of the mound; it may have acted to create a terrace for the stairway but there doesn’t appear to be much elevation difference on either side of it. The upper surface of the structure measures 6.7m N-S × 5.2 E-W. Some sort of perishable superstructure was built on the back (north) side of this upper surface and encompasses the entire 5.2m width and is 4.2m deep (N-S). A 65cm deep saqueo was noted on the eastern side of the superstructure.
Lot Number: 04201
Area: 179m2
Volume: 237m3
Structure 8
This is an impressive complex featuring a vaulted building with some outbuildings and a substantial terrace (Figure 6.2). The terrace consists of large megaliths and was built on the west side of a low altillo in order to create a level habitation surface. It begins on the NW corner of the main superstructure and continues W 16.2m where it turns south for 26.1m. At the SW corner it turns E and runs 12.7m E until it peters out as it reaches the already level ground surface. The most substantial part of this terrace is the NW corner area where the rubble is over a meter in height. There is a small structure that features megalithic walls off the SW corner of the terrace. It measures 1.8m N-S × 2.8m E-W and may have been a non-residential storage structure of some sort. The main superstructure was once vaulted. The rubble collapse measures 21.5m E-W × 12.3m N-S and is a full 2.5m high. This building features a well preserved stairway some 11.3m wide with 5 rows of risers visible (Plate 6.2, shown below). The stones used to make the stairway are nice cut blocks which are 20-40cm tall and 40-100cm wide. Atop the superstructure is a hummocky surface of high and low areas. High areas are probably where interior divider walls crossed the long building N-S. The building measures 14.9m E-W × 3.3m N-S and originally had 3 or maybe 4 rooms. A few large cap stones were spotted in the rubble on both the back side (N) and front side (S) of the building, removing any doubt that the structure was once vaulted. West of this vaulted building, on the large artificial terrace, are the remains of a perishable house. The house foundation measures 5m N-S × 2.9m E-W and lacks intact walls. There is an L-shaped step associated with the house that is offset 80-100cm from it. It runs along the front of the house then turns west to run parallel with the north side of the house. A metate was spotted in the SW corner area of the large basal terrace, indicating some domestic activities took place here.
Lot Number: 04601
Area: 750m2
Volume: 722m3
Click on image to enlarge
Structure 9
This is a rectangular rubble outline located near the northeast corner of the large terrace that supports the site center of Ichmul de San Jose. It is 6m E-W × 4.8m N-S and lacks any wall lines or other architectural details. While most of the large terrace at the site is delineated by a noticeable rubble outline, the north edge of it is defined by an in situ retaining wall. Beginning at its northeast corner, very near Structure 9, it runs some 43m westward before it disappears into platform rubble that continues another 12.4m to the terrace’s NW corner.
Area: 30m2
Volume: 6m3
Structure 10
Like Structures 3 and 8, Structure 10 is a long masonry building that was once vaulted and features a partially intact frontal stairway. The building faces west and forms the eastern boundary of the site’s main plaza. The outline of slump measures 26.3m N-S × 17.7m E-W and is 3m in height. The frontal stairway is 11.2m wide and there are 5 risers visible. As with the other stairways at the site, the first riser is the best preserved and features the largest cut stone blocks. Both ends of the stairway have partially intact balustrades in the form of long shaped stones oriented perpendicular to the risers. Behind (east) of the uppermost riser is a 3m wide terrace and then there is another step that was made with smaller cut stones than the main stairway. Behind this step is the rubble of the main superstructure. The 17.5m N-S × 3.7m E-W superstructure is a collapse vaulted building. There isn’t much visible architecture atop the rubble but its undulating surface suggests collapsed vaults. Two large square slabs were spotted in the rubble in the NE corner area; one measures 1.4m × .6m × .2m and could be a lintel.
Area: 375m2
Volume: 657m3
Structure 11
This is an interesting residential platform some 50m SE of Structure 10. The structure consists of four superstructures that all face a common patio (Figure 6.3). This patio is about 20m N-S × 15m E-W and is raised up about 50cm from the ground surface. The first superstructure, on the south side of the patio, is the most substantial. It is most likely a collapsed vaulted building and its rubble outline is 21.6 E-W × 10.5 N-S and 2.5m in height. Atop this rubble, towards its eastern end, are the remains of a wall. Three cut stones, 1.2m in total length, are oriented N-S and face east. This is probably an interior wall that separated the far east room to a middle room. Scattered on this superstructure and across the structure as a whole are cylindrically-shaped cut stones. At first these were interpreted as columns but upon careful inspection, we determined that these are colonnetes that once adorned the façade of the vaulted superstructure. A total of 9 colonnetes were spotted and examined: 4 are associated with the vaulted building and 5 are distributed across the patio of the structure. The size of these stones is fairly uniform: between 35-75cm long and 26-31cm in diameter. Often these stones are rough on one side, obviously the side of the colonnete that was originally attached to the façade. The second superstructure is found on the west side of the patio. It is a perishable structure that faces east onto the patio. The rubble outline suggests that there were two and perhaps three rooms. The third superstructure is found on the northern end of the structure and faces south onto the patio. It is a nivelación that is 14.2m E-W × 6m N-S and features a built-up back side that is 50cm off the ground surface. The front (S) end of the superstructure is marked by a step some 10.7m in length that runs E-W. Centered on the back of this terrace is 3.6m E-W × 1.7m N-S accumulation of rubble. While quite small, this rubble probably marks the outline of a room that had perishable walls and roof. The fourth and final superstructure on Structure 11 is on the east side of the patio and is a nivelación that is built up on the east side. The terrace is 16.1m N-S × 6.2m E-W. Atop the terrace is a rectangular rubble outline that measures 10.6m N-S × 3.8 E-W. Although there are no clues in the form of wall lines, this was probably a two-roomed perishable house that faced west onto the patio. Two metates were mapped on Structure 11: one on the front side of the vaulted superstructure and another near the SE corner of the third superstructure.
Lot Number: 04701
Area: 789m2
Volume: 479m3
Structure 12
This structure features an impressive megalithic platform that supports three superstructures (Figure 6.4). The rectangular platform is 29m N-S × 19m E-W and creates a surface that is some 70cm above the ground. Large megaliths, some over a meter in length, are found on all four sides of the platform. A small extension (2.3m E-W × 1m N-S) is found off the south edge of the platform and could be the remains of a small stairway. The eastern side of the platform has a sizeable extension that protrudes 6.8m E of the megalithic retaining wall and is some 16m long. This extension appears to have been annexed onto the original rectangular platform but also features some megaliths on its eastern side. A line of stones was set on the extension’s west side that acts as a step from the platform surface. Atop the extension was a superstructure of some sort. The upper surface of the extension is 12.5m N-S × 3.6m E-W and features little in the way of intact architecture. A single wall line running N-S for 2.7m is found in the center of the extension. Clearly there was a perishable structure here that faced west, onto the platform, but its foundation is largely gone. The second superstructure is found on the basal platform’s southern edge. It is an outline of rubble 6.5m E-W × 4.5m N-S. The front (N) side of the superstructure has a few in situ stones, including a possible door jamb. This was probably a house with perishable walls and roof. The third superstructure on the megalithic platform is centered on the northern edge. This was a house that had a megalithic foundation, 4.8m E-W × 4.1m N-S, with perishable walls and roof. A 1.4m-wide gap in the front (S) wall indicates a doorway. A 12.7m long line of stones is just in front of the megalithic house and serves to act as a step. Despite the obvious residential function of this structure, no metates were found here.
Lot Number: 04501
Area: 660m2
Volume: 434m3
Structure 13
This isolated mound is over 120m W of the great terrace at the site center. It is a small (7m N-S × 5.6m E-W) but fairly substantial (80cm high) platform that is entirely devoid of any preserved architecture. It was built on an altillo and was probably a single-roomed house.
Lot Number: 04001
Area: 38m2
Volume: 21m3
Structure 14
Structure 14, along with Structures 15 and 16, form a small residential patio group (Figure 6.5). This is a very well preserved house foundation (Plate 6.3, shown below) that measures 7.2m E-W × 4.3m N-S. It has a two-riser stairway that is centered on the south side of the house; it is 3m wide (E-W) and 80cm deep (N-S). Although this stairway is clearly associated with Structures 15 and 16, the presence of this stairway on the structure’s south side indicates that the house faced south, away from these other houses. A metate is found 3m E of Structure 14.
Area: 36m2
Volume: 7m3
Click on image to enlarge
Structure 15
This house foundation is found on the east side of the common patio shared with Structures 14 and 16 (Figure 6.5). It is 4.8m N-S × 3.6m E-W and lacks in situ wall lines. Despite this, the regular arrangement of rubble makes it clear that this was a one-roomed perishable house.
Area: 18m2
Volume: 4m3
Structure 16
This two-roomed frame brace bounds the north side of the patio shared with Structures 14 and 15 (Figure 6.5). Its SE corner is 7m N of Structure 15’s NW corner. Its overall dimensions are 10m E-W × 4.2m N-S. An interior divider runs down the center of the structure, forming west and east rooms. While no door jambs were found, it seems likely that the house faced south, towards the patio.
Area: 42m2
Volume: 8m3
Structure 17
Structure 17 is a nearly square basal platform (11.9m E-W × 12m N-S) that is 50cm in height. It consists of platform rubble although traces of megalithic retaining walls can be seen along the south, east, and north edges. A curious L-shaped arrangement of megaliths is atop the platform—it might be the foundation of a megalithic house or, less likely, an old retaining wall from a substructure. The short side of this L-shape begins near the SW corner of the platform and runs N for 3.7m and then turns E for 4.9m until it abuts the superstructure. This superstructure covers the entire eastern side of the platform. It is 12m N-S × 3.3m E-W and features a retaining wall all along its front (W) side. The superstructure appears to be the remains of a long building that had at least one interior partition towards its southern end. This divider is 3m north of the southern edge and thus creates a 2m wide room south of the divider and a 10m wide room north of it. Two metates were recorded on Structure 17: one on the platform near the west edge and the other is off the platform, 3m west of the first.
Area: 140m2
Volume: 62m3
Structure 18
This megalithic house seems to be paired with Structure 19 as the two are about 10m apart and face one another. Structure 18 features a megalithic foundation (6.3m E-W × 4.1m N-S) that pens in solid chich. Centered on the northern side of the house is a step extension that is 4.4m wide (E-W) and 1.8m deep (N-S). This step suggests that the house faced north.
Area: 32m2
Volume: 6m3
Structure 19
This two-roomed frame brace has a megalithic step on front of it that indicates the house faced south. The house is 3.1m deep (N-S) and is divided into two rooms: the west room is 4m wide and the east is 3.7m wide. Some 2.2m in front (S) of this foundation is a megalithic step that is 7.3m long. The easternmost megalith in the wall is 1m × 40cm × 60cm. Two metates were recorded here, one southwest of the west edge of the megalithic step and the other north of the NW corner of the house foundation.
Lot Number: 04101
Area: 26m2
Volume: 5m3
Structure 20
Structure 20 is a rectangular platform that supports a single superstructure. The basal platform is 17.1m E-W × 14.6m N-S and averages about 80cm in height. The NW corner marks the highest point of the platform while the platform rubble peters out to ground level near the SE corner. Most of the platform consists of heavy rubble but a few megaliths were found along the eastern side near the NE corner. A single superstructure is found on the basal platform and it was built along the west side of it. It is a two-roomed foundation that is 3.3m (E-W) deep. The interior divider bisects the rectangular house into a north room that is 4.5m wide and a south room some 4.9m wide. The back wall of the house is largely destroyed and has fallen down the slope of the west platform edge. Three metates were found on Structure 20: one a few meters east of the north room, one near the south edge of the platform, and the third less than a meter from the platform’s SE corner.
Area: 248m2
Volume: 162m3
Structure 21
This small structure may very well be an outbuilding of Structure 20. It is square-shaped accumulation of rubble that measures 4.2m N-S × 3.2m E-W. It was obviously a house built directly on bedrock. The fact that a 3.4m-long retaining wall step is found 3.3m W of the foundation suggests that this small building faced west, towards Structure 20.
Area: 14m2
Volume: 3m3
Structure 22
Although the basal platform for this structure is relatively small (19.7m N-S × 13.8m E-W × .8m high) it supports three packed-in superstructures. The platform is built on the south side of an altillo so most platform rubble is on the southern edge while the north end grades into the natural terrain. Beginning at the SE corner of the platform and running 6.3m northward is a stretch of megalithic retaining wall. A jumble of megaliths on the west side of the platform arguably looks like the remnants of a stairway. If this is in fact a stairway, it is about 2.6m wide. The first superstructure is found along the south edge of the platform. It is a two-roomed house fronted by a megalithic terrace. The line of megaliths is 6.9m long and is offset from the front of the house some 1.1m. The house consists of a distinct rubble outline and is 3.6m deep. A divider running N-S through the house separates the interior space into a 3.1m wide west room and a 3.3m wide east room. The second superstructure is along the north side of the platform. Like the first superstructure, it is a two-roomed house. It is 3.8m deep with its west room some 3.8m wide and its east room 2.6m wide. The west room is relatively clear of heavy rubble and instead has small chich. Meanwhile, the east room is filled with solid rubble. No door jambs were noted but this house most likely faced south onto the platform. The third superstructure is only 1.4m west of the second. It is a single-roomed foundation measuring 4.1m N-S × 3.2m E-W. The room seems unusually crammed onto the structure between the platform’s west and the second superstructure. The lone metate mapped on Structure 22 was found 1.1m E of the third superstructure’s NE corner.
Area: 241m2
Volume: 153m3
Structure 23
Structure 23 is a single-roomed house that was built directly on bedrock. It measures 4.8m N-S × 3.9m E-W. The stones here are small rubble (no megaliths) and there is a lack of wall lines or jamb stones.
Area: 19m2
Volume: 4m3
Structure 24
This structure is 3.9m E-W × 3.1m N-S and is about 30cm in height. It appears to be the remains of a single-roomed house. The rubble lacks any architectural details.
Area: 12m2
Volume: 2m3
Structure 25
Found 6m S of Structure 24, Structure 25 is virtually identical to its neighbor. It measures 3.8m E-W × 3.6m N-S and is the foundation of a single-roomed house. Like Structure 24, it lacks any in situ wall lines.
Area: 14m2
Volume: 3m3
Structure 26
This rectangular structure features a basal platform measuring 14.9m N-S × 6.6m. The rubble stands 50cm high and does not feature any intact retaining walls. One superstructure is found on top of the platform. It is found along the north side of the platform and is a rectangular rubble outline (4.5m E-W × 3m N-S). This is probably the remains of a house that had perishable walls and roof.
Area: 96m2
Volume: 38m3
Structure 27
Structure 27 is an enigma. When we started our fieldwork at Ichmul de San Jose, our local work crew alerted us that there was a nohoch mul ("big mound") in the heavily wooded ranch adjacent to where we were working. We only had time to visit the structure for an hour or so and make a rudimentary sketch map. We used the GPS to tie in the location of Structure 27 with our main map. What makes this structure unusual is that it dwarfs any of the structures at Ichmul de San Jose’s site center. We had a tape and compass while we were sketching and thus our measurements of the mound are relatively accurate. A substantial basal platform some 2m in height supports two large superstructures, one on either end. On the north end of the basal platform is a rubble mound that rises 4m off the platform and creates a leveled-off upper surface 15m E-W × 5m N-S. The superstructure on the south end of the basal platform is even larger than the first. This is a pyramid that rises 6m off the basal platform (giving the structure as a whole a maximum height of 8m from the top of the southern superstructure to the ground) and comes to a small square-shaped upper surface (5m × 5m). We did not notice any standing architecture but the structure was found in monte alto that provided less than desirable visibility. How this huge structure relates with the site center some 220m to the east is perplexing. It could be that "real" site center is entirely concealed in the forest, save for Structure 27, and the civic buildings we mapped in the ranch are actually an outlying civic group. Another hypothesis is that Structure 27 predates the site center and these smaller civic buildings were built in the shadow of an older civic structure. At this point we tend to favor this latter hypothesis. We know that the Pure Florescent stone work and slateware ceramics indicate that the site center we mapped was occupied in the Late/Terminal Classic. While we did not collect any ceramics at Structure 27, no finely cut stone was observed. Our visual inspection of the structure reminded us of the large civic buildings we mapped at Santa Monica that we have tentatively dated to the Late Formative/Early Classic. Only a more thorough exploration of the forest to the west of the ranch we mapped can begin to resolve the puzzle presented by Structure 27.
Area: 2,450m2 (estimate)
Volume: 6,703m3 (estimate)
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