The Tomahawk., 1916-11-23

; TlkAL
architecture exceedingly ponderous,
and that the builders developed better
constructions as time went on. The
buildings, especially the pyramid tenn
pies, are solid and with very thick
walls. The numerous structures of the
residential type are also in excellent
state Of preservation as regards their
lower story. The crumbling Of the
second tier of rooms has tended to
cover and protect the lower part OF
the building, so that the lower stories
are as firm and solid as the day they
were built.
Practically all the buildings are built
upon some form Of artificial mound.
In the case Of the temples, the mound
takes the form of truncated pyramid.
It is notable fact that the pyramids
at Tikal are higher and sleeper than
at any other Maya center. The sides
of the pyramids are made in great
steps or terraces, faced with stone, and
often inset at the corners and paneled
ut the sides. Access to the temple is
gained by single stairway only, In
stead of by four stairways, one on
each side Of the mound, as is noted
ut Chichen-Itza.
In no other Maya area Is there such
uniformity and similarity in the plans
of the great temples. AS Il general
rule, they contain three chambers, one
behind the other. The floor Of the
two back rooms Is raised slightly above
the level Of that In the front room.
In the residential buildings there ap-
pears to be great diversity Of plans,
no two being exactly alike. They,
range from two to five stories in height
and some Of these buildings contain up
to- 40 chambers. These were probably
the homes of the priests. In these
residences the rooms run longitudinal
ly in two rows along the length Of the
building, with one or two transverse
rooms at either end. They sometimes
form court by themselves or per-
haps form one or more sides of court,
the other sides Of which are occupied
by temples. Frequently there Is
close connection between building
for dwelling purposes and that for
worship.
Earliest Maya Roofs.
The temples show greater thick
ness Of wall than the residential build
ings, and the room space in Tikal Is
smaller in proportion to wall space
than has, been noted anywhere else.
The fact that the principal temples
erowning steep and high pyramids
were themselves topped by lofty
roof structure necessitated this heavy
wall for support. From their cumbcr-
some nature it may be reasonably sup
posed that the Tikal roof structures
represent the first attempt in this d.
rection by the Maya. The walls are
made OF slabs of limestone set in a
plentiful supply Of mortar and covered
up under a liberal coating Of stucco.
and upon this the occupants skilled in
writing and designing made incised
drawings, presumably with the pointed
flint or obsidian knife peculiar to that
period. Wooden beams placed over
doorways and elaborately carved wood
en- Hntels are common form Of en-
bellishment at Tikal.
In the wealth of stelae and circular
affairs Tikal, according to Mailer, Isl
unequaled among all the known'
ruined cities. Over 100 stelae can be
found there, and nearly every one with
it's own circular altar. A cOmpara-
lively small number Of these show the
splendid bas-relief work Of Mayan art.
The hundreds Of small mounds and
chultunes stretching in line from Tikal
eastward and the large number Of i'm
portant sites in the vicinity show that
this city was the center of a large
population. AS already noted the few
dates that have been deciphered place
1t among the very oldest of the Maya
cities. 1t is true that there are no
accounts concerning the abandonment
or destruction of Tikal nor can it be
actually proven that this city had
| ceased to exist at the time Of the
Spanish conquest. That this Is prob
ably so, however, is to be deduced
from the fact that in all the Spanish
accounts of the invasion and conquest
of this country there is absolutely Mt
mention whatever of those cities. Ere.
quently the cOnquerors wandered
through jungle and forest. Soldiers
| and scouts sent on ahead in search OF
food and supplies are known to have
been within q days march OS some OF
these ancient Maya Giles and it is e4,
tremely difficult to believe that iivs
ing town OF great religious center.
such as Tikal, could, under tile cir~
cumstances, have been oYerleeked 4