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FAMSI © 2003: Francisco Estrada-Belli (Vanderbilt University) |
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Archaeological Investigations at Holmul, Petén, Guatemala Group III, Court A Structure 2. A looters’ tunnel in the northern side of the Str. 2 pyramid was investigated by David Bell. In this tunnel, the rear corner of the second-to-last construction phase of the building was visible, consisting of an elaborate apron molding, a talud and remains of red stucco finish. In order to explore this elaborate building’s façade, a side-tunnel was opened, following the façade along the northern side of the building in an easterly direction. This portion of the façade appeared to be composed of a sequence of a 1 m high bench, surmounted by a talud and apron molding, with partially preserved red paint (Figure 12, Figure 13). At a distance of 5 m from the rear corner the bench-and-talud façade abutted a perpendicular wall running N-S. This second wall (3 m in length) was faced with large rectangular blocks, forming an apron molding but at a different height from the previous wall, and bore no stucco lining. This wall appeared to have been part of an early structure which at a later time was expanded toward the back (west) with a well-made stucco façade. Both constructions were later covered by a single fill of the last construction stage of the building containing Late Classic period ceramics (Tepeu 2). Excavations were resumed in the area in front (east of) Structure 2, a tall pyramid on the west side of the rectangular courtyard. A previous excavation in the center of the court, in front of Str. 2 uncovered several Late Classic plaster floors above a massive fill build-up of large roughly shaped limestone blocks. James Doyle re-opened the excavation and followed the last floor in the sequence towards a structure on the east edge of the courtyard. The floor appeared to be perfectly preserved and rising to a low 2-inch step toward the structure (Figure 14, shown below).
Abutting the front (western side) of the structure below the humus were large quantities of Terminal Classic artifacts, including figurines, ocarinas, and fragments of local imitations of Pabellon Orange carved barrel-shaped pottery (Bernard Hermes, pers. comm.). Several large blocks were also removed from the layer indicating that the structure possessed a masonry vault and that it had fallen into the courtyard (Figure 15, shown below). The above evidence also indicated that the area between the structure and the pyramid (Str. 2) was used as a midden after the structure’s collapse.
Below the collapsed vault, the northern doorjamb of the structure and the northern half of the single interior room were cleared of debris. The building outer wall was made of large cut-stone blocks and it rested on a 40 cm-tall plinth. The interior floor was lined with finely smoothed plaster and a C-shaped bench occupied most of the space. The back wall of the structure had collapsed and fallen out on the sloping side of the courtyard platform. A looters’ trench had also penetrated below the interior bench from the rear (eastern) of the building. A small cavity was observed below the bench with remains of a burial and fragmentary bones. A test excavation within the looters’ trench below the bench led to an earlier stuccoed surface made of three well-preserved steps. An additional test excavation was placed in the interior of the room, which led to uncovering the upper steps of the same stairway (Figure 16, shown below).
According to this evidence, it was possible to conclude that in the early part of the Late Classic period (Tepeu 1?) the courtyard was focused on the western pyramid (Str. 2) and open on the eastern side with a monumental stairway leading to the top from the East Plaza. The Court A complex at that time may have had a primarily ritual function. Subsequently, in Tepeu 2/3 times, the court’s eastern stairway was covered by an elite residential/civic structure with a single doorway facing the courtyard and the pyramid across from it. The northern and southern sides of the courtyard may have been enclosed by residential/civic structures as well at this time (see Str. 44 excavation). Finally, the main access to the courtyard was moved to the northeastern corner of the platform with a steep angle-ramp or narrow stairway rising from the plaza (yet to be excavated). The excavation of the southernmost structure of Court A, Structure 44, was resumed by Katie South. In 2001, the central room was excavated revealing a long and narrow ambient with two benches. The benches were razed down to a few inches from the floor and rubble and marl was used to seal the doorways leading to side-rooms at either end of the building (east and west), in what appears to be a "termination" ritual. The artifacts found within the structure suggested that the building was abandoned during the Terminal Classic period. In 2002, Katie South investigated the eastern end-room of the building. The excavation revealed that the side-room had been in-filled with grey marl and the walls torn down to the first course. The front wall was still preserved and appeared to be of a better quality than the lateral walls (Figure 17, shown below).
In sum, the excavations in 2001 and 2002 in Structure 44, revealed the existence of a Terminal Classic residence which had undergone at least one episode of remodeling in which the end rooms were blocked and the back wall re-built. Subsequently, the structure was ritually terminated by razing the benches and exterior walls, and the interior filled with fine marl. |
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