Excavations in Residential Areas of Tikal--Group 7F-1. William A. Haviland

and G: Building Plan Figure 14 Structures 7F-32-1st-F and E: Building Plan Figure 15 Structures 7F-32-1st-D, C, and B: Building Plan Figure 16 Structure 7F-32-1st-A: Plan Figure 17 Structure 7F-32: Section A-A’ Figure 18 Structure 7F-32: Sections B-B’ and C-C’ Figure 19 Sections and Wall Elevations within Rooms of Structure 7F-32 Figure 20 Structures 7F-35 and 36: Plan Figure 21 Structures 7F-35 and 36: Sections A-A’ and B-B’ Figure 22 Structure 7F-Sub.1: Plan Figure 23 Structure 7F-Sub.2 and Bedrock beneath Structure 7F-29: Plans Figure 24 Burial 160: Plan Figure 25 East Wall of Burial 160: Elevation Figure 26 Intermediate Classic Burials on the Axis of Burial 160: Plans Figure 27 Transitional and Late Classic Burials on the Axis of Burial 160: Plans and Section of Burial 150 Figure 28 Burials on the Axis of Structure 7F-31: Plans Figure 29 Burials from Chultun 7F-8 and Structure 7F-29: Plans Figure 30 Group 7F-1 as Constructed in Time Span 25 Figure 31 Group 7F-1 as It Appeared in Time Span 20 after the Alterations of Time Span 21 Figure 32 Group 7F-1 as It Appeared in Time Span 18 after the Alterations of Time Span 19 Figure 33 Group 7F-1 as It Appeared in Time Span 14 after the Alterations of Time Span 15 Figure 34 Group 7F-1 as It Appeared in Time Span 12 after the Alterations of Time Span 13 Figure 35 Group 7F-1 as It Appeared in Time Span 10 after the Alterations of Time Span 11 Figure 36 Group 7F-1 as It Appeared in Time Span 2 after the Alterations of Time Spans 9–3 Figure 37 A Comparison of Height and Platform Index of the Large Houses and Temples of Group 7F-1 Figure 38 Hypothetical Genealogy of the Residents of Group 7F-1 from Group Time Spans 25–1 Figure 39 Details in Room 1 of Structure 7F-29 and 32: Photographs Figure 40 Details in Room 1 of Structure 7F-32: Photographs (Continued) Figure 41 Details in Room 3 of Structure 7F-32: Photographs Figure 42 Details in Room 3 of Structure 7F-32: Photographs (Continued) Figure 43 Burial 160: Photographs of Painted Inscription and Skeleton A In Situ; Burial 193: Photograph Before Removal of Grave Roof

      I

      Introduction

      Group 7F-1 is located on a knoll at 7F: S207 E170, 1,250 m SE of the Great Plaza of Tikal, 340 m SW of Str. 6F-27 (Temple of the Inscriptions), and 195 m S of the Inscriptions Reservoir. Originally mapped as a collection of adjacent platforms and courts, with two templelike structures on the E, two very small structures on the W, and three more substantial ones on the N, S, and towards the center of the group (TR. 2:fig. 1), subsequent plane-table survey (TR. 11:Str. 7F-29 through 36) modified this only by adding one more structure (7F-34). Larger and more complex than any other group in Sq. 7F, this one is also noteworthy for the presence of a carved monument (since moved to the Tikal Museum). Discovery of this St. 23 (in December, 1956) prompted the first controlled excavations undertaken by the Tikal Project (TR. 1:16). Early in 1957, as part of efforts to record all carved surfaces (TR. 12:41), Vivian L. Broman and William R. Coe cleared debris from the lower part of the stela (TR. 1:16; TR. 2:27). Discovering that its base was missing, they continued digging in hopes of finding it, and perhaps an associated altar (TR. 2:fig. 3). Neither was discovered, but what did emerge from this early work (Op. 3A, reported in TR. 2) were glimpses of offertory and mortuary practices at Tikal, insights into monument mutilation and reuse, data on Terminal Classic activities, and hints of the complexities to come once investigation of the site center got underway. No problems were solved, but several were raised, not the least of which concerned the nature of each structure, and how the group functioned. No further work was undertaken, however, as by 1958 the focus of attention had shifted to the Great Plaza and North Acropolis.

      When work resumed in Gp. 7F-1, it was as an off-shoot of the program of small structure investigation (TR. 12:26–31). In 1963, Marshall J. Becker sought to confirm that examples of what came to be called “Plaza Plan 2” could be found in all parts of the central 9 km² of Tikal (TR. 12:29), and Gp. 7F-1 was one of those selected for testing (as Op. 3B and C). Noting the large size of Str. 7F-30, Becker thought that it might be the product of a longer and more complex construction history than any other “Temple on the E” so far excavated (reported in TR. 21). This, and the possibility that adjacent 7F-31 might predate 30, made them good places to look for information on the early development of “Plaza Plan 2.”

      The 1963 excavations, like those of 1957, raised more questions than answers. Although Gp. 7F-1 could be interpreted as the residence of people of wealth and high social standing, who maintained their own private “temples,” the presence of an impressive chamber burial (Bu. 160) so far from the center of Tikal suggested that it could also be interpreted as an example of what William R. Bullard called a “minor ceremonial center.” These he saw as elements in a regional political and religious hierarchy, responsible for the administrative and ceremonial affairs of particular zones, but answerable to a higher center of “church” and state. According