Page:Mexican Archæology.djvu/421

Rh mounds, probably the remains of the earliest settlement of all, and it is in one of these that a slab bearing a date in the long count, but later than any in the central area, has been discovered. Thus we appear to have three, or possibly four, periods represented at Chichen Itza, the first by the mounds where the initial date was found, the second and possible third by the Monjas group with its reconstructions in typical Yucatec style, the last by the northern group with its definite "Toltec" affinities. It is to be noted that this corresponds in a most remarkable manner with the Tutul Xiu tradition. The first settlement would be that of which they heard when they were yet at Balcalar, the second and doubtful third periods would represent their own occupation and reoccupation, while the last would illustrate the result of the Nahua influx which brought about the fall of the league of Mayapan. The other date in the long count which has been found in the Yucatec area is at Tulum. This is a very early date, in the sixth katun of the ninth cycle, and may possibly relate to some event in past history. At any rate it supports the evidence furnished by Chichen Itza that the Maya peoples who reckoned by the long count and built the cities of the central area had penetrated into Yucatan before the arrival of the Tutul Xiu. Tulum has not yet been satisfactorily explored, but the buildings there are neither imposing nor richly decorated; the site however presents one feature of interest in so far as it is surrounded on three sides by a wall, the fourth being protected by the sea.

Uxmal, which, according to the Tutul Xiu account, was founded from Chichen Itza, shows, as regards the majority of its buildings, a very close correspondence with the Monjas group of the latter site. Most of the buildings exhibit the true Yucatec character, including the mosaic masks with projecting "trunks," and pilastered ornament is also found. A few however do not