An Unexplored Realm in the Heartland of the Southern Gulf ... - Famsi

The Throne complex is represented in blue at the bottom of the upper image and
to the right in the lower one. In these images the elevation and volume of this complex
can be discerned. In the field, however, it is difficult to fully comprehend and appreciate
the nature and extent of this feature due to it sheer size, the land’s natural topography,
and the vegetative cover.
Architectural and Natural Features
The Surface Mapping and Terrain Modeling procedures produced details and
unique perspectives of various natural and architectural features at El Marquesillo. Figure
4.8 is a different digital terrain model (DTM) that illustrates these features in a plan view.
The range of color enhances visualization of the elevations and prominent architectural
structures can be identified. The lowest surface areas are depicted in red and transition to
a blue, which represents the highest elevations. These heights and depths are relative to
the average surface level determined through the collected data points and are illustrated
in the color scale. In this case, the low point is 8.99 m below the average surface level
and the highest point is 8.08 m above.
The Northern Area
In the survey of El Marquesillo, the bottomland is adjacent to Structure 86 in
Field 1, a sloping area that represents the natural land contour that has been relatively
unaffected by actions of the San Juan River. The placement and form of Structure 86 is
notable. Figure 4.9 demonstrates that the south side of the mound is level with the plaza.
The north side, however, follows the natural downward slope of the land continuing to a
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