Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-12-09
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Feet in
@seo-
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races, supporu,,
walls, composed o.
of porous volcanic ST.,
closely cemented with
g 1t has been satisfat
ed by archeologists th ne original
monument OF temple w. fve-storied
truncated pyramid, constru> ted entirely
OF hewn stone, and measuring about
fifty feet in height. Of this only the
base or lower story now remains, which
is rectangular In form, it's lines cor
responding exactly to the profits of the
compass, and measuring along it's up
per edge sixtyfour feet from north to
south and fifty eight from east to west.
1t consists of huge dressed granite
blocks, some of them eight feet in
length, and nearly three feet in breadth
and thickness. These are most accu-
rately fitted without cement, and form
in position an inclined wall fifteen and
half feet high; which presents we'll
finished plinth below; then a broad
surface, divided into two
long panels which extend the
whole length Of the WALL next frieze,
also divided into two panels; and, lastly,
prominent cornice by which it is ter
minated above. The whole of the
frieze, which is three and a half feet in
width, and the two broad panels are
crowded with figures in bas relief, hav-
ing projection of four or five inches,
and, as they extend from one stone to
another, it is more than probable that
they were sculptured after the wall was
erected. 1t is impossible to give an in
telligible description of these carvings
without the aid Of illustrative draw
ings. They consist, however, for the
most part of the human form, with front
view of the body and face in profile,
tunic around the loins, heavy necklace
of round balls about the throat, and
profusion of curved lines dropping
from the head, and supposed to
represent feathers. Some of the figures
terminate below in kind of feather
brush or scroll: some are reeling, some
standing, and others apparently walk
ing, holding erect in the right hand
club shaped like a cricket bat. There
are also well-defned rabbits, heads of
nondescript animals like alligators, with
| dropping lines from the interior of their
open mouths and the tops of their
heads, hieroglyphic letters, circles in
| closing a cross, and near the last fig
ure like the letter V on it side (thus 81
which have fancied were intended for
a pair of dividers. Nearly the same
figures and groupings are repeated upon
each of the two broad panels and upon
the four sides, and another set upon the
two halves of the frieze, and the same
upon the, four sides, Among the latter
is very remarkable representation Of
man sitting cross-legged, with cap
upon his head, from which projects for
ward the head and half the body of a
snake, and over his eyes what appears
to be a pair of spectacles without
glasses. ,... s1f.F.
&C In the sides of the hill, short dis
lance from the summit, are three or
four large openings leading to subter-
ranean excavations, two of which we
followed to the distance of twenty or
thirty yards, where they terminated alb
ruptly in moderate sized halls, ten or
twelve feet high, but without any stone
facings OF cement. A third one, which
Was OK DlOI0u ny LII. Dho1GOu huQ INf.
Drees, led to large vaulted hail, par
TALLY walled with cemented stones, and
supported by pillars left in making the
excavation. In the centre of the
arched ceiling they observed a large
opening, occupied by hollow cylinder
of earthen-ware, the upper orifce of
which was closed, as if by something
having fallen into it. This hall is said
to be situated underneath the pyramid,
and it's opening to communicate with
the interior of the latter. The floor of
the tunnel leading to the hail is cement
ed, and ashort distance within the en-
trance [ found the root and shaft of
small deer's horn, about eight inches
in length. Other small structures, to-
gether with fragments of ancient pot
terry, were found around the spot"
The writer continues:
"Whoever may have been the builders
of the pyramid of Xochicalco, it is
quite evident that they lived before the
time of the constructors of the pyramids
of Teotihuacan, for the reason already
stated that they did not understand the
use of obsidian, which was so largely
employed by the latter in the manu-
facture Of cutting instruments, arrow
heads, and the Like. That they pos
sessed great taste in architecture, won
derful skill in some mechanic arts, and
| 4o1o,.o h7xy oloo,. r., J,., &c ,o;oYEHo