his trench would suffice. In 1965, interest lay in the other structures of the group as I sought to put 7F-30 in the context of Gp. 7F-1 as a whole. Further work on 7F-30 was limited to what might produce evidence for the one-time erection of monuments in front of an early version of it. Only later was the complexity of what was naively assumed to be a fairly “straightforward” architectural sequence realized. Thus, in the face of numerous uncertainties, a probabilistic reconstruction of 7F-30 in its various forms is all that we have. Justification of that reconstruction requires considerable discussion of the evidence, and the alternative ways that it might be interpreted. The deep trench excavated by Becker constitutes the basic point of reference, so for each architectural development, the data from it are discussed first. Following this, available evidence from the two tunnels and the trench through 7F-31 is related to that from the deep trench (Table 2.2).
An added complication is that some forms of 7F-30 featured a substantial terrace (Plat. 7F-3) on its W. Even though it extends farther S, the evidence indicates that this terrace was built as an integral part of the structure. Although it is described separately, the stratigraphic relationships of units of Plat. 7F-3 to those of Str. 7F-30 are noted here.
STRUCTURE 7F-30-5TH
Architectural elements (Fig. 4, 5, and 10) that evidently belong to the earliest version of Str. 7F-30 are U. 1 through 12, with their various fills as seen in the deep trench (Fig. 10). In summary, these were assembled as bedrock was cleared, and the chamber excavated for Bu. 160 (CS. 13). Following the interment, workers laid up a three-course masonry wall in its entrance, the interior of which they plastered. Impressions of textile are evident in the plaster used to finish the inside surface of this wall. Left was a space 0.44 m high through which to exit. This was then sealed with large stone blocks, at the same time that fill (described in the caption to Fig. 10) was loaded into the shaft. Completion of this operation (as CS. 12) is marked by a pause-line, U. 1.
Following CS. 12, the core of a structure was built up in a series of four stages (CS. 11–8) to a height of about 2.20 m, for which a rough retaining wall on the W (U. 2) was erected in 0.40 to 0.70 m increments. As each section was installed, fill was placed E of it, and pause-lines (U. 3, 4, and 5) mark completion of all but CS. 8. That the top of U. 2 and its fill marks the end of this stage is indicated by apparent continuity of overlying fill to the W (see below). Although not confirmed by excavation, the elements of CS. 11–8 probably ran E to abut U. 6, which is something of an enigma. In Fig. 10, this nearly vertical wall is depicted as the rear of the substructure of 5th (not to mention succeeding versions of 7F-30; see Fig. 4–9). Yet, it is distinctly different from the walls of other substructures at Tikal, which normally were built with a pronounced batter. Even in Gp. 7F-1, the contemporary Str. 7F-32-2nd-C displays such walls. There is good reason for this, as battered walls are less prone to collapse. Multicourse vertical walls, however, worked perfectly well for temporary purposes, and U. 6 strongly resembles the walls that face construction cores within the substructure of Str. 5D-33-1st (TR. 14; Fig. 9b; see especially the core walls within the upper three levels). All this raises doubts that U. 6 really was the back wall of 7F-30, but no other likely candidate was seen in the 1.20 m excavated E of it. Possibly, a battered E wall did once exist, but its total collapse has rendered it unrecognizable. Perhaps deeper excavation behind the structure might reveal its base. Meanwhile, in the absence of visible evidence to the contrary, 7F-30 is reconstructed as if U. 6 was its back wall, despite doubts.
Returning to construction of 30-5th, the next action seems to have been placement (as CS. 7) of the lowest five steps of a stairway, U. 13, fill for which rests on light-colored earth, U. 7. Above this, stair fill abuts U. 2. A pause-line, U. 9, runs from the rear of the riser stone for the fifth step to U. 2 just below its top, and marks the end of CS. 7. Whether stones were set as stretchers or headers is not noted in excavation records.
The question arises as to why the first five steps were built at this time, rather than earlier or later in the construction sequence. A reasonable hypothesis is that work could not proceed further without some special provision being made to get both men and materials up to the elevated construction surface. This is supported by the height of U. 2 with its fills, the presence of U. 7 and 8 beneath the stairway and its fill, and what is known of male stature at Tikal (Haviland and Moholy-Nagy 1992:fig. 4.1, scheduled for full discussion in TR. 30). There is no clear structural reason for U. 7 and 8; indeed, structural soundness would have been enhanced by placing the stairs and their fill directly on bedrock, in the manner of U. 2 with its fill. Yet, U. 7, at least, was purposely placed; it abuts U. 2, and its thickness (ca. 0.30 m) is too great for it to be dust that accumulated naturally between CS. 11 and 7. A logical reason for its placement is that, as U. 2 with its fill was built up higher and higher, access to the construction surface became more difficult. Average stature for “working class” males at Tikal in Early Classic times (when this construction took place; see below) was close to 1.63 m; therefore, U. 4 (the pause-line that separates the fills of CS. 9 and 10) would have been, roughly, at neck height for a man of average stature standing on bedrock. Unit 5, the pause-line dividing the fills of CS. 8 and 9, would be at about the same height if the “average man” were standing on U. 7. The top of U. 2, though, is 2.20 m above bedrock and 1.86 m above U. 7. Construction could have proceeded to this height, in the absence of some special means of access to the construction surface, only if some makeshift means were available to allow workers to pass materials from below to those on the construction surface above. Earth or other debris dumped by the structure walls in the manner of U. 7 would have served this purpose. Something more was needed to proceed beyond the top of U. 2, and the lower five steps of U. 13 appear to have solved the problem.
TABLE 2.2 (Part 1)
Structure 7F-30: Time Spans
TABLE 2.2 (Part 2)
Structure 7F-30: Time Spans
As CS. 6, the height of the growing structure was increased by some 0.60 m (cf. to the increments of CS. 10 and 11) as additions were made to the walls, fills, and the U. 13 stairway. Materials for this were probably carried up the previously constructed part of that stairway. Marking the end of CS. 6 is U. 10, a pause-line; the fill itself is continuous from the stairway across the top of U. 9, up over U. 2, and all the way to U. 6. Black material included in this fill is not known in any of the preceding ones, although there could be some in unexcavated portions. Similar material was used in succeeding construction stages.
Another increment in height, this time of close to 1.00 m, defines CS. 5. Again, additions were made to walls and stairs as fill was piled up between them and over that already in place. As before, most fill was rubble, but in this case the upper portion consists of alternate bands of black earth (like that seen in CS. 6), and white earth. The uppermost light-colored stratum, U. 11, appears to be a pause-line marking the end of CS. 5. It runs from U. 6 eastward, ending 0.80 m or so from the stairway (about 0.10 m E of a later intrusive cut for Bu. 140).
The substructure was brought to its final desired height with the completion of U. 6, installation of a fill-retaining wall to the W (U. 12), and the dumping of fill in between (CS. 4). The top of U. 12 probably served as the top step of U. 13, although later intrusion of Bu. 140 (immediately W of U. 12) destroyed proof. Nevertheless, upward projection of U. 13 treads and risers meets U. 12 at a reasonable distance below U. 14, a remnant of the substructure floor. This pavement runs E from the top of U. 12, which it covers. Stratigraphy indicates that fill beneath U. 12 was dumped from W to E, confirming use of U. 13 stairs to gain access to the elevated construction surface.
At first glance, fill of CS. 4 looks quite different from fills used in earlier stages. Because of this, one might regard it as a later addition to an earlier
