The Tiger temple is one of the smaller temples at Palenque, also located on the eastern side of the Otolum River. The interior of Mayan temples are quite small compared to the overall structure. The rooms are high and narrow, and accommodate very few people. The Maya did not use the arch, instead they used corbelled vaults, which is the reason the rooms are so narrow. The interior of temples show remnants of red paint and stucco decoration. Carved wooden beams, referred to as lintels, spanned the doorways . These lintels were beautifully and intricately carved, as a result surviving lintels have been removed to museums for preservation. One way archaeologists have determined that these temples served ceremonial functions is from the burn marks on the floor, stone alters, and walls that indicate repeated use of incense. Archaeologists have also found stashes of exotic materials located beneath temple floors and inside altars. These stashes include items such as painted pots, jade ornaments and incense burners.

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