Evening star., 1897-03-05
A FIND OF RARE VALUE
The Only Aztec Manuscript Now in
America.
Unearthed by q LabOrer While Dig
and Description of the Relic.

The archaeological museum at the Ohio
State University has been enriched by a
find of great rarity and value. A fortunate |
chance has placed it in possession of an
Aztec manuscript, the fifth so far known to |
be in existence in the entire world. and the |
only one now in America. the others all be-
ing in European museums.
On September . last a laboring man of
Fairfield. Iowa. in the employ of the water
works of that city. while engaged in ex-
cavating, brought to light what was ap-
parently an ordinary chunk of wood. ex-
cept that its surface was incrusted with a
coating of Pitch. The object was found
about three feet below the surface. the di
mensons being a foot in length by eight
inches in width and five or six inches in
thickness. A stroke with the pick caused
It to break open. revealing a space that
had been scooped out of the center. i'll
which lay roll of birch bark. covered on
one side with strange-looking hieroglyphics.
From the description Prof Moorehead of
the Ohio State University concluded that
the find was nothing less than an Aztec
manuscript. and with the instinct of the
true archaeolcgist his fingers itched to get
hold of the treasure. The relic was finally
forw arded to the Ohio Archaeological So
ciety.
The Manuscript.
The bark is of extreme thinness and is
of the character which was ordinarily en-
ployed by the Aztecs in their writings The
hieroglyphics are made with red pigment
ana remain fresh and distinct. The natural
color of the bark is also well preserved.
| The three pieces into which the manuscript
| is divided are from three to four inches
| long and from two to three inches wide.
| A CLEAN of light is thrown upon the
manuscript in question by Prof. Moorehead.
iS d0ubt of religious Significance.
The circle of spots which surrounds the
human figure on the center fragment Is
| known to be the sun symbol. The figure is
| evidently meant to signify a priest of the
sun or chief protected by the sun. On
| the upper fragment is a house-lke figure
| which denotes temple. The semi-circle of
| spots above it shows that 1t is temple OF
| the sun.
| AS to the probable age of the manuscript
| it cannot be less than 400 years At the
| time of the Spanish conquest In 1900 the
| Aztec civilization in Mexico was stamped
out, their records were destroyed by the
| fanatical priests and no vestige of their
| nationality allowed to remain. All the lit
| erature as far known except the few
| fragments of which mention has been
| made sacrificed. No writing was done
| by the Aztecs after they were crushed by
the Spanish conquerors. How much the
| manuscript in question may have ante
| dated this event is matter of conjecture.
The wooden in which the manu-
script was inclosed is in fair state OF
| l.
inside is cEarred 1t had been rudely
| fashioned with stone But for the
coating of pitch it must have long since
| gone to decay and its precious contents
with it. Its Aztec origin was speedily de-
| termired upon examination by Prof.
| Moorehead, whose extensive researches IN
| archaeology in connection with the Smith
sonian Institution at Washington. d. G.
make him familiar with the signs employ
ed by this race in their writings. There
are but three works extant upon this
branch of archaeological science, and the
copies are very rare and expensive
It's Significance.
Prof. Moorehead will send the manu-
script to the Smithsonian and have II
passed upon by the archaeological author
tiles there He does not expect, though
that they will be able to read 1t, as this
feat has not been accomplished in the case
| of any of the other Aztec manuscripts In
| existence.
| Another question that may be asked Is
| as to how the manuscript came to be found
| as far north Iowa. when the scene Oh
! the old Aztec civilization was no nearer
| to this spot than the present boundary
line of Mexico. This might be accounted
| for in two ways. 1t was either carried by
| an expedition of AZtecS into the present
| territory of southern Iowa or was cap
| tured and borne away by Indian tribes
| during their war with this semi-clvinzea
| nation. In whatever manner 1t came 70
| the location in which 1t lay buried for cen
| turtles 1t must have been carried distance
| of not less than y2,OO miles. The Indians
| employed picture writing In recording tne.f
deeds, using for the purpose buffalo skins.
| bark and other substances. The Aztec
| manuscript is not to be confused. however,
! with this class of relics, as 1t belongs 10
| a higher civilization, and in the discerning
eve of the archaeological scholar mas notn-
ing in common with the Indian records.