Structure V sits atop a small pyramid
"Relief sculpture in stone and plaster on the north facade of the room is in the Chenes open-serpent-mouth motif in the general character of Str. II at this site and Str. II, Chicanna, but markedly compressed laterally.
Ruppert described this motif as bounded by vertical rows of masks; they may be compared to those at Str. XX, Chicanna."
David F. Potter. Maya Architecture of the Central Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Middle American Research Institute 44. New Orleans. Tulane University 1977, p. 99
"The substructure now supports a one-room building closely flanked on the west by a tower-like block of masonry. It is possible that a second block may have occupied a similar position to the east of the building.
The existing tower has rounded corners forming a number of narrow zones separated by plain bands, somewhat similar to the ornamental buttress of Structure VI. It still stands above the level of the spring of the vault of the adjoining building, but its facing has now practically all fallen above the level of the building's floor."
Ruppert, Karl &John H. Denison, Jr. Archaeological Reconnaissance in Campeche, Quintana Roo, & Peten. Publication 543. Washington D.C. Carnegie Institution of Washington. 1943, p. 40.
"There are buildings in this Río Bec area whose entrances would date from a later time, [like] Structure V at Hormiguero, whose beautiful but baroque entrance — with the exception of its softly curving serpentine jaws and the eye with its stange supra-orbital plate, which replaces the nostrils — has its lower part physically invaded by the volute arrangements that come from the peculiar angled masks.
It would seem that the artist has brought forth the best of his talent here in working with the elements that make up these masks, alternately leaving voids or filling the empty spaces on the upper part with unnecessary motifs."
Gendrop, Paul. Rio Bec, Chenes, & Puuc Styles in Maya Architecture. Labyrinthos Press. Lancaster, California 1998, p. 112-113
"Structure V, a platform supporting a building, is rather well preserved and occupies the southern side of the western half of the Middle Group. The substructure rises about 7 m., with its facing fallen or covered wtih debris, except for portions visible on the south and west.
On the south the basal zone of the substructure is approximately 10.50 m. long and over 2 m. high. The masonry is of large blocks laid in even courses. Above this zone is a second, 2.30 m. high, set inward 25 cm. from the face of the first. The facing stones are laid with the same care but are smaller than in the first section...
Access to the building was by a stairway (on the north side of the substructure), now indicated only by the contour of the debris. The building rests on a podium, 90 cm. high. The facing is plain on the south side; the north side (front) is decorated wtih masks of stone and heavy plaster at the two corners, with a plain area, 2.66 m. long, beneath the doorway."
Ruppert, Karl & John H. Denison, Jr. Archaeological Reconnaissance in Campeche, Quintana Roo, & Peten. Publication 543. Washington D.C. Carnegie Institution of Washington. 1943, p. 40
Soon after leaving the site, our guide admitted how much he hated going into this low area because of all the snakes. The fainthearted among us instantly became yet more fainthearted.