Another important element of archaeological recording is profiles: vertical cross sections of excavation units, undisturbed soils, constructed walls, and other features of the archaeological site. This photograph of the profile of the excavated interior wall of this Maya residence illustrates a lot about how this building was constructed.
As you can see in the photo, Toucan House was built atop a cobble platform, some 85 centimeters (~33 inches) thick. The burial crypts were placed within this platform--you can see an unexcavated crypt at the bottom of the photo. On top of the platform, several rows of limestone blocks were placed, then mortared and plastered to make a solid house wall. A plaster floor was layered onto the cobble platform, creating a smooth surface: in this photograph you can see the edge of the plaster floor against the wall.
Among the drawings made of Toucan House and kept with the other documents for the MRP's 2011 excavations, you would find a detailed map of this and many other profiles.
