New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-18
THE HONDURAS EXPEDITION.
WORK BEGUN AMONG HE RUINS At CopAN.
ENTHUSIASM OF THE ARCHAEoLoG1srs STINT
OUT rY THE PEABODY MUsEUN-TnE VAST

ENTHUSIASM OF TIE ARcHAEoLoGIsTs STINT
OUT rY THE PEABODY MUsEUN-TnE VAST
AREA COVERED BY MASSIVE RUINS.
Boston, Jan. II (speciaD-The arrival at Copan OF
the Peabody Museum Honduras Expedition is an
nOunccd In communication from that point received
at tho Harvard University head quarters OF the
ganlza;lon. This ending OF not than Ordinarily
eventual journey is of significance the beginning OF
extended course of exploration from which the most
important results to American archaeology a.c ox-
pcctyd. The proposed thorough invest cation Of tie
most interesting rains on this continent l. Lcgun
under peculiarly fortunate cCndiiiJns-so easily font
innate that the advantage gained without diplomatic
cont st repeated appeals for public aid Is not gen
orally c0mprthended with any tue cStimat'. such
encouragement, nevertheless Is given by the incics-
Inc number of supporters Of The sHcccssfI archacol
ogical work In progress in this country to leave no
doubt of the complete and eminent achievement fore
shad0wcd from the present novel enterprise. in d
direction whence little OF decisive value las been
brought b. previous slight advances TO the solution o.
the great problem which is involved the present group
4 Harvard haeoloSlss have the opportunity OF the
age. which they are not likely TO fill 10 improve.
OF the re,..ari able ancient monuments o, ioHduTas
the reconnaissance hitherto las been the effort chiefly
Of European eXpOrer,.
When the Government of that country issued a
decree In July last. by which MI the runs within It's
borders placed in charge OF the MUS I'm OF ArcAc
olcs, and EtGnology at Cambridge for period OF ten
years tho most exhaustive archaeological research ever
proposed in this country planned without los o.
time. The edict confcrs the exclusive rslit OF c%-
ploraton with tho privilege Of carrying away nehali
Of all the objects scared, the conditions requiring The
continuance Of the work from year to year Tor ue
specified term. The opportunity is esteemed oil hIsh
importance a. a means OF advancing American aicac
oogy we'll for the increase OF the Museum ooieo
tons In a department in need II expansion
The organization Of the Honduras expedition Is rep
resented officially by the accompanying ls' OF names
+ " putnsm professor Of American archaeology ana
ethaolocy curator Of the Museum and director ct the
cNpediuon: NJ II. Savillc. scientific ass.aiant j. g.
Ovens. executive officer; ii. W. Pi1ce, rsden' "7r"
g. p Eowdtch ard :. G.. Lowell, committee on hon
dulas expedition.
The exploring party for this year stafta 10" '''c
Museum in November, the added dulles u Professor
Putnam a, chief Of his department OF a4rAhe''"N en"
ehnology in the Columbian Exposition temporarily
preventing him from personally drec:ine tee cApe'-
ton The explorers have been head from at hi'TNd49
on their slow journey 10 Copan. tic SIC oil inc i'
famous Of the groups Of ruins in Honduras "hoc
excavations will begin The company ari'Nei III 'OP""
an the evening OF December 10. when. aiicr paN>l.
the night at the Cnbido they visited the ruins IN me
morning a,d decided 10 90 Immediately MO camp
They renort choice of spot Tor pitching their tents
On the area described b. Maudslay rs the western
court cf tho Big Pyramid shaded by tai recS ana
near series II statues. Of which representations nave
been given. French cxpl rcrS have offered con-
naraAiyely fnll accounts OF TIE rows Of deatn he''
d "a, teds described and figured by stephens in b.
,ridcIv-ouotNd work The Harvard party report NAt
fragments 81 carved work in stone arc lying aroHN1 ID
every direction evidently having been bro.ch on 'i'
great structures but in some cases IN 'Hch c"u1o'
that the pieces can be pat again In pace 10 "'''c
the original forms. The long flights OF steps III oou
fully cut stone running up the pyramid Oh ever! A-c
me- well p1eservcd To take the pace Of ne tent
house is 10 be built Of loss and poles win -''D
roof Ia addition TO the necessary hvinS ana seephS
looms this will contain storagcroon for the speci
mems collected 4 band Of thItyslx native i4borefe Is
at work clearing the debris around INC Court 4"0
work of taking moulds aad photographs OF ID, lS'P
,ions and fgurcs carved the moroihs atir' etc.,
will be next begun.
rhIs early report from the explorers shows muck
enthueIasm In regard TO the course q cAp.ora'""
MANNED for the present season Of SIX months ~
Iy,h, the m -nber, of the party from Cambridge Wc'
met bycH. ". Price, who accompanied MIR. MaidIaN'
Of England as an assistant on lis recent Ni't !"
Palencuc and now holds tie appointment o Snr'e''T
and engineer OF the expedition aud resident agent ioF
,be Museum For the important part a's!ghed 10
Marshall H. Savc in this work he has been Thoroughly
nr.nard ny actual participation In original resca.ch o.
wsll as Ly other courses Of study. Ills uahhg Ia
beeo received through the personal gudahcc d ~"
fps.or Putnam in exploration In dhereht parts " NV
country and in the duties Of an a'sistaht III 'c
Musoum from which also he is the recipient 90 lc""-
shin His associate John G. Owens. Il student III ITO
fes.or Putfams department OF the Harvard "'acuao
School selected to accompany DR.. Fewkcs IN the recent
uemenway ex petition. holds the HeincnwSy icI "sp
in recognition Of his hie4 advance in SCHOLARSHIP NC
has leave Of absence from the university TO JON III t'o
u,dpras work from whch valuable experience Is 10 be
By General agreement the material lnneointeN s Sm
LOOTED viii he plcCd I'm the Columbian fFpOsiu"h'
,r,sblv the important monuments Ol 'DpaI WIN .'o
York begin. viii be somewhat cOInpIcheh1!'N "pa
snnted I'm response to Official niWtI H,lI lao
tessor Putnam the Gautenlslan ara H"hlhI's
,nenfs will nhe-wise contribute on an e"",sI'C -
~ Inc representation in aid "a the prCpo'el rp"p'''
tlvc ,tudv OF the ancient peoples OF L-
Tho minis To which the work OF the eNpeu'"u" - ny,
drect ID arc scattered lnrge area on ~ ,s
bank nf the Rio COpan in the division OF Hrd'ipN' 49,
tho Cant omaa and salvador bOiildf' = VIZ -,
r.cr,,s ~ strange design half buried III NC r'
vccctation q tropical forest. OF TINS eh'ehsIe 100
nj ysSt pv,amdal structures co4reSpp'o.l" ~
M 1eocaiIlo I'm Mexico with The tere|en cnihCc tv
aoI,,. regarded rs the remains 81 tempe, "" -
tnraS I'm Stone Of different form tli" rohs IN '.c
era ndeur the gigantic mOnOtIs and affairs Nv ere
cahnr-,;c groups Of h!eToelyphc or synDoIr" nsn,
n description the present explorers assert H'' c'oI
conveyed just idea