Final Report of the 2000 Yo’okop Field Season: Initial Mapping and Surface Collections
Justine M. Shaw, Dave Johnstone, and Ruth Krochock

Group A

Accurately recording the surface remains of Group A constituted the bulk of the 2000 field season at Yo’okop. The northern edge of the group is approximately 100 meters south of the modern road between Sabán and Dzoyola. While this accessibility made it an attractive initial focus for our work, it also has exposed the group to more looting than is evident in other groups. Approximately eight huacero holes were present in the vicinity, although a focus on plazas has prevented architecture from being severely impacted by most of the pits.

Group A (Figure 6 and Figure 7) measures roughly 400 (E-W) by 200 (N-S) meters and rises to between 18 and 46 meters above the site datum. The majority of the structures in Group A are oriented 25 degrees east of north. Containing some of the larger monumental architecture at the site and located to the west-southwest of the aguada, Group A was apparently an important locus during most, if not all, of Yo’okop’s occupation. Based upon architectural style (see "Architecture"), many of Group A’s structures (such as S4W1-2) appear to have been built during the Early Classic, although substantial Late Classic constructions and modifications are also evident. Little Terminal Classic construction is evidenced in the Group. The area seems to have experienced a Postclassic resurgence. Although Formative ceramics are present at the site (see "Ceramic Analyses"), constructions dating to this time in the Group are either buried or architecturally indistinct.

Unlike the majority of sites in the north, Yo’okop’s Group A displays a very formal architectural layout around plazas (Pollock 1965). While some of these plazas are large public spaces (such as the plaza east of S4W1-1 at the terminus of Sacbe 1), others are more private with restricted access (for example, the plaza north of S4E2-1). The eastern portion of the Group includes many such private plazas, surrounded by substantial range structures. Constructions that would have had perishable superstructures are located primarily around the periphery of Group A.  Some of these smaller buildings are associated with albarradas. Although many of the structures in Group A merit further study, only architecturally distinct examples are discussed below.

Structure S4W1-1: The "Castillo"

The most prominent structure on Group A is Structure S4W1-1, also known as the "Castillo" (Figure 8). Rising 28 meters above the acropolis upon which it sits, the top of this principal pyramid can be seen from the modern road below. The base of Structure S4W1-1 measures approximately 55 meters at its maximal N-S width and 45 meters at its maximal E-W width. The surface architecture belongs to two periods, although excavations would likely reveal earlier buried structures.

The majority of the structure, up to about 22 meters in height, appears to be primarily Late Classic in date. An intact northwestern corner is curved, indicating that the structure may have been rounded in a manner similar to the Temple of the Magician at Uxmal (Sáenz 1972) or Cobá’s recently reconstructed Xaybe (Shaw and Johnstone, personal observation). A Late Classic stairway, in poor condition, runs down the north face. This original stair is aligned with the 25 degree orientation that the rest of the Classic constructions in the Group share. At least two terraces were present on this Late Classic substructure.

A Postclassic stairway, only about one meter in width with balustrades nearly as wide, reoriented the building to the northeast. A two-story Postclassic addition was also constructed on the summit, raising the total construction by approximately six meters. Due to the nearly 90º angle of this portion of the structure, it could not be as accurately mapped as the lower, less sharply sloped section. Two rooms on this Postclassic component still contain partially standing vaults. The summit temple has an angled passage, which presumably leads to a lower buried chamber; this entrance is currently partially blocked by debris. The interior of the temple was repeatedly stuccoed and painted blue at one point.

Structure S4W2-1: A Postclassic Accession Structure

Structure S4W2-1 (Figure 9) is the second tallest construction in Group B.  It measures roughly 45 × 45 meters at its base and rises about 15 meters. Two descending passages with intact vaults are present on the north and east faces. These entrances, located on a terrace level approximately 9.5 meters above the plaza surface, lead to small (approximately 1.5 × 1.5 meters) square chambers. The floor of the north chamber is destroyed by a huacero hole extending over a meter in depth into the dry core fill. A central raised portion continues upward about 6 meters from the terrace with the entrances. This construction is composed of two terraces, sections of which are still standing up to a meter in height.

The visible surface of the building appears to date to the Postclassic, although it is certainly possible that the Postclassic remains are only a shell over earlier constructions. However, even if the structure only caps a Classic construction, the sheer size of Structure S4W2-1 indicates that Yo’okop was a significant Postclassic site. One indication that some type of construction was present at this locus prior to the Postclassic is that it was the terminus for Sacbe 3, which connects Groups A and D.  While we do not have a date for this roadway, Group D appears to be primarily Classic. It is likely that Group D was connected at the time when it was actively occupied.

The Postclassic power of Yo’okop is also reflected in the presumed function of Structure S4W2-1.  Based upon comparisons to similar excavated structures from other sites (Freidel and Suhler 1999), we believe that the building served as an accession structure. Postclassic kings of Yo’okop may have used the structure as part of the ceremony to take office. While the two chambers do not connect with further interior constructions, they would have allowed leaders or other ceremonial participants to temporarily disappear from sight.

Structure S5E1-1: The "Fisher-Price" Structure

Structure S5E1-1 is an unusual construction, with a square base ringed by higher constructions at the top (Figure 10 and Figure 11). Inside this squared ring is a depression, that is similar to a moat in appearance. Rising from the "moat" is a pyramid. Due to its similarity to the popular children’s toy consisting of rings stacked on a central cone, the structure was nicknamed the "Fisher-Price" building by Project participants.

Located in the south-central portion of Group A (Figure 6), Structure S5E1-1 connects the zone of Group A associated with pyramidal structures (presumably more ceremonial in function) with the area dominated by range structures (thought to be elite residences). Only small foundation braces and albarradas are found farther south. The base of Structure S5E1-1 measures approximately 50 square meters, while the top of the central pyramid reaches about 11 meters above the surrounding plaza.

Structure S3E1-5: A Small Terminal Classic Mound near the Aguada

Obviously Terminal Classic constructions are largely absent in Group A, as they appear to have been for the site as a whole. Structure S3E1-5, a small mound located on the edge of the aguada does contain Terminal Classic cut stones across its surface, some of which remain in situ. The building measures approximately five square meters in area and towers one-half to one meter above the surrounding surface. While this mound is not as obviously impressive as larger or more distinctive structures at Yo’okop, it interests researchers because of its relationship to one of the key hypotheses.

Guided by informants, Shaw and Johnstone were able to locate the modern regular flood line on trees around the aguada. This line is present as a discoloration on the trees’ bark. These marks indicate that inundations resulting from nortes regularly raise the level of the aguada by about 68 centimeters in modern times. This flood stage, which can be quite prolonged in an aguada that does not drain into another body of water, would thus cover part of the base of Structure S3E1-5.  Presumably, if the water level were this height during the Terminal Classic, the structure would have been quite undesirable for normal residential occupation.

Logically, it seems more likely that the small mound was built and occupied (as a residence or for another function) during a time when the water level of the aguada was lower than at present. Interestingly, data from nearby Lake Chichancanab (Hodell et al. 1995) do indicate that the Terminal Classic was a substantially drier time for the region. In fact, based upon our very preliminary architectural and ceramic observations, we would postulate that it was so dry that Yo’okop had very little occupation during the Terminal Classic. Structure S3E1-5 may be one of the few structures that the remaining Terminal Classic population did build. Such dry conditions made it possible, and perhaps more attractive, to build in a locus that would not be chosen today. If this small structure is a residence, location near the receding aguada might have been for practical reasons. Alternately, the heightened value that water attained at this time may mean that Structure S3E1-5 is a shrine devoted to a water-related aspect of religion or a government building associated with monitoring usage. Project members plan to propose the test-pitting of Structure S3E1-5 during the 2001 season to begin to explore these issues.

Range Structures in Group A

The eastern portion of Group A is dominated by a series of substantial range structures located around formal plazas (Figure 12). East of Structure S5E1-1 ("Fisher-Price") are a series of small plazas. The first two plazas, about 25 meters long (N-S) by 12-15 meters wide (E-W), are well defined by moderate sized range structures. Much smaller plazas are enclosed by platforms and foundation braces farther to the southeast.

Northeast of S5E1-1 is a larger plaza, flanked by substantially bigger range structures. The vaulted transverse range structure forming the western edge of the plaza, Structure S4E1-3, is approximately 25 meters long, 17 meters wide and 5 meters tall. The eastern side is flanked by Structure S4E1-5, which extends about seven meters farther north than the parallel S4E1-3.  S4E1-5, a vaulted structure with rooms arranged in a transverse and tandem manner, is four and one-half meters tall. The northern side of the plaza is closed off by Structures S4E1-4, S4E1-13, and S4E1-14.  Atop the center of this long (57 meters) range structure is Structure S4E1-3.  The combined height of the two structures is 5.6 meters. Remnants of a central stair and the position of visible doorways indicate that focus was directed inward towards the private plaza, rather than north towards the edge of the Group A terrace.

The eastern structure of the above plaza in turn forms the western edge of the largest plaza formed by range structures on Group A.  The most dominant construction in this arrangement is Structure S4E2-1, on the southern side of the plaza. This enormous 57 × 33 meter transverse vaulted range structure has a central stair, facing north. As only small structures are found on the north side of the plaza, Structure S4E2-1 would have had an excellent view of the site’s aguada, which lies down a sharp natural slope to the north-northeast. The eastern edge is delineated by Structure S4E2-9, another transverse vaulted range structure. Although smaller than S4E2-1, the 20 × 38 × 4.5 meter construction would dominate most other settings. This substantial plaza group is perched on the limits of the natural rise above the aguada. Farther north, as the terrain drops by approximately 25 meters in the 70 meter span to the aguada, no structures were evidenced. Farther east along this edge only platforms and foundation braces are evidenced; this largest plaza group appears to mark the eastern end of Group A.

Based upon the size, formal nature, and location of these range structures, we believe them to be the residences of the most elite occupants of Yo’okop. The substantial horizontal and vertical dimensions of the structures composing these eastern plazas, as well as their location on prime land just above the aguada, attests to the power of the occupants. While the size of these range structures is impressive, the obviously planned nature of the plazas, with the consistent 25 degree alignment, perhaps deserves even more attention. Such sizeable, formally arranged plazas are absent at most Northern sites. Cobá (Folan 1983) is one of the few sites in the North to also exhibit such features; large numbers of planned plazas with substantial range structures are much more characteristic of Southern sites such as Tikal.

Small Structures in Group A

Although few small structures were found within the monumental core of Group A, several clusters of small buildings were located on the fringes of the Group. The first of these clusters is situated in the north-central edge of the Group’s northern terrace (Figure 13). Beyond this edge, the natural surface slopes sharply downward until it reaches a flat plain. Although entirely lacking vaulted architecture, this north-central cluster does have a formal entrance. The northwest corner of the entrance is composed of at least two stacked substantial blocks forming a right angle. The walls coming from this corner are less well defined due to collapse. The northeast edge of the entrance is formed by a 13 meter long, rectangular foundation brace (Structure S3W1-7). At least two steps mark the transition from natural slope to denser occupation zone; these steps continue west along the front of the cluster until they end near Structure S3W2-1, hypothesized to have an administrative function because of its larger size and location. The terrace edge has been extended out so that S3W2-1 is on an arm of Group A.  The majority of the architecture in the cluster is located directly to the south of the steps and all other structures in the immediate area (except Structures S3W2-1 and S3W1-7) are located within a low stone wall. Included in the cluster is a sunken structure that may have been a sweatbath (Structure S3W1-6). Several looters’ pits are present in the open areas between the small structures, as well as in the buildings themselves. Although much of this north-central cluster appears to be consistent with small residences excavated at other sites, its location and restricted access may indicate that it was perhaps a more administrative- or trade-oriented zone. Alternately, the wall may have been erected during a time of when area occupants felt the need to protect themselves (see "Fortifications" in Group B).

To the east of this north-central cluster, to the west of Sacbe 1, are scattered non-vaulted structures, including Structure S3E1-2.  Although small in size, its strategic location close to S4W1-1 and the Sacbe 1 terminus mean that it may have been an important ceremonial and/or administrative building. Other foundation braces (Structures S3E1-1 and S3W1-1) rest directly atop the Group A terrace edge, also just west of the roadway.

The southern and southwestern edges of the Group, although lacking a definite, architectural edge, were defined as the point at which monumental architecture abruptly transitions to small platforms and foundation braces. One locus of small architecture was mapped at the southwest corner, while another concentration was found just south of Group A’s substantial range structures. This south-central concentration is distinguished by its use of apparently contemporaneous albarradas to divide portions of the cluster, as well as its continuation of the 25 degree site alignment. Other small architecture at the site tends to be less rigid in following this orientation.

A final small cluster of note in the area was found after a nearly 100-meter gap to the east of Group A (Figure 14). Two brechas were cut to the east of the S4E2-1 plaza group after informants reported that substantial architecture continued in this direction. While no monumental architecture was located, several structures on a well-built platform were found. Based upon architectural styles, the platform and several structures upon it appear to have been built in the Early Classic, with less well-built buildings having been added in the Late Classic. The gap between this platform and Group A is most readily explained by the undulating terrain between the two loci.  No architecture was found in the zone immediately north of the platform; here the sharp decline to the aguada likely made construction unattractive.

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