This particular pyramid is a solid structure located at the center of the sacbe (system of paved, white, stone roads.) The residents of Coba would climb this structure as a watch tower so that they could see who was coming in all directions.
This cleared area is a portion of the original Mayan sacbe, or paved, white, stone road system. The Mayans built many roads between their great cities, although they had no pack animals and did not use any carts. People would travel along these roads to different cities for ceremonies and trade. You can see a patch of the original pavement from sacbe in this photo.
