<P> Since the commoners did not have the power and prestige that the elites had, their houses were usually made out of perishable goods . They would use trees, mud, and grass to construct their homes . They would pack mud onto the walls to keep out rainfall and for temperature control . They would cover the top of the house with grass or tree branches to try to prevent rain from entering the house . If the house had a hearth in it there was a danger of fire since most of the material used to build the house was not fire resistant . Sometimes the house would have a stone foundation, but it was rare . The house was usually one big room, sometimes separated by a wall . It was common for the families to decorate the wall in the front of their house by using lime to make it whiter . The sleeping area was in the back of the house and the front of the house had the door, facing east, and sometimes a porch area . </P> <P> The family would sleep in the same room . The beds were made out of sapling rods and a mat was placed on top . They would use cloths made out of cotton for a blanket to keep warm at night . The commoners houses had to be remodeled often because of the materials used to build them . </P> <P> When a relative died they would usually bury them either under the relatives' floor or near the house . This is one of the reasons that there is less knowledge about the commoners than there is about the elites . </P> <P> The elite people in the Maya society held the political power . They were the kings and royalty of the cities . Because they had more power than the commoners they lived in the center of the city . </P>

What kind of homes did the mayans live in