The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-05
THE RUINS OF
A METROPOLIS.
Remains Of a Prehistoric City That
Was Found in Mexico.
EXPLORER SAVlLLE'S DISCOVERY
lie Uncarthed the Ruins While on Il
Mission Tor the American Museum
Of Natural History supc'
Iior 90 the Famous AztcCs.

-
The coming meeting OF the American
Association lor tnr Advancement or
Science which Will convene at Boston on
August 2d promises 90 De the most
n0ta1ic lu ilc history OF me organization.
...I Lid. ma4. so cucny by a. paper
which Mr Marshall D. sayine OF the
American Museum of Natural History Is
preparing. winch ho viii read before
Che association. ln This paper Mr.. SaNiile
will relate thc remarkable results of ms
recent explorations among the ancient
cities OF Mexico. Tho officers OF the
American Museum. who are the only ones
thus ar acquainted with the fun import
OF Explorer Satlues discoveries nave
pronounced them Inc most rcmdrkauie
over mad, ou tlls hemisphere. Not only
are th0y UseIy t0 revouuOnize some or
tho urf theories of archgcOIogists ana
anihr0po.Dsists but they are of great in-
terest for tine light that they throw ON
the question of thc origin OF me most
ancient inhabitants of tne western cont-
ucuf.
The scene of these remarkable discover
ies ls Xoxo. about i've miles south OF the
district of OaNaca. The most important
part of The work was accomplished du-
ring slX weeks of the half year over
which Mr SIvllcs recent trip extended.
Half ly accident. SIR. SaviIe stumbled
upon tne ruins of great prehistoric
metropolis. the ancient capital or the
Zep0tecas by aI odds the most cnlight-
eued nation that ever inhaoitated the
NCw world prior to the advent of Euro
pean civilization. BE not only found this
ancient city but uuearthcd hlcrogyphics
OF character far surpass ing anything
hitherto supposed t0 exist in The Western
Hemisphere. besides other proofs OF
high culture and am advanced civilization.
The explorer u.s. convinced after careful
scientific analysis that these revelations
place The prehistoric Zepotccan nation
on "a p8r with the ancient races of India,
Chaidea and Egypt and that they possi-
bly, prove the first settlers OF this conu-
nent t0 have been related 10 the first
named CT these peoples
SUCCESSFUL TRIP.
ar Savilc is the head Of the Depart
mmt of Archaeology in the American
Museum and has spent many years I'm
studying tho traces of the prehistoric
peoples of America Since 1889 he has
been constantly making researches IN
Mexico. SIR. S8viIic left ON his latest and
most successful trip in October last. lt
was bis purpose to decipher certain PIC
ture writings which cover the temple OF
Montezuma far-famed sun-god, then
considered the most important ancient
American structure. QuetzaicOau, the
sun-c0d. was the principal deity Of the
AzteCs. and hy some lucky chance his
temple escaped the destructive hands OF
C0rtez and the other Spanish invaders
ar. Sarilo's work was prosecuted under
The auspices off the Mexican Government
and he Was accompanied by Mr.. Hum
phreye surveyor who acted ass an ofi-
clH M0Hican representative. While ON
tine way 100 his intended field of labor
Mr Saviilc found traces of great group
off pyramids near .\oNo. This region has
louc boon recognized as a fruitful held
for fhn .cotcrF of Icpnttcan relics.
Thinking that little exploration might
uncover something of value Mr.. Saville
saf hie native lahorers at work. ana in
a short time had uue1rthcd "a number Of
pyramids aud smaller mounds. The
largest twelve of these pyramids are OF
tho sort called te0calu. AN Aztec word
meaning divine tombs The ground
throughout this region was thickly over
grown with guamuchi and mesquite. The
roofs from these trees penetrated 90
great depth. and 600 several instances they
bad broken through the stone floors or
tho mounds Specimens of ancient pot-
tory and other relics were found which
had been broken mp hy the same rcsistless
forces
THE DISCOVERY.
one day. while air. Sayille was recon-
motoring some distance 90 the north OF the
biz group off pyramids. Dee came 90 rise
of ground forming ID sort of low plateau
some distance above the rest of the plain
and covered with the usual heavy Vege-
tation and underground. Separating the
vines and hramhlcs as Wei as he could
for a short distance from the outer edge
of the growth and pocrng underneath.
The explorer noticed peculiar bits of pot
tory and traces oi ashes. ON examining
the pieces of broken pottery he knew at
once from their peculiar formation that
they had Jain undisturhcd for centuries,
sheltered from wind and storm 10y the
impcuctrah.e thickct through which not
even thc heavy tropical rains could force
their way The explorer applied himself
90 pick and spade. and with great dill
Guilty duF two Or three feet into the
earth. where he came I'D "a hard. fiat sur
face He called h.s lahorcrs who quickly
cleared away the brush and dirt. The
surface was found to Dee cement floor or
perhaps 10 would Dee more accurate 90 say
cement roof. Cutting through TO- the
workers came Co the face of 90 stone wall.
Sealed TO this wall by their rims were
cazue.as (carthcuware boWls). Under
each bowl was 90 bright red fun Cral IDOL.
which had been So thoroughly preserved
Sos tho perfectly dry air that 10 looked
as thoueh 30 had been newly painted.
What had at first appeared 20 be
stone wall was now seen 10 Dee long sltD
forming Intel over the top of "a door
AFTER further digging. the doorway was
uncovered and was found 90 be blocked
by huge metate matiyc mi.lstonel. It's
corners had been filled in with smaller
stones and the whole mass cemented
over SO that the tomb was Theoretically
iealed against dampnees and other cor
rosivc aeents The intel of this doorway
was huge stone block of volcanic origin.
obout elk foet long and eighteen inches
wide. Carved across It's entire surface
were Inscriptions in the meroglyphics of
a civilized race no writius OF such an
advanced character AS that OF these
hieroclvpnics has ever before been discov-
cred I'M America The explorer took casts
fn plaster and papier mache impressions
of This monouth. and finally OF the whole
doorway The inscriptions show I'm excel
lent relief and Mr. Saville is now en-
cared m study of them from the casts
ITo intends 90 recast duplicates OF the
originals ana send them go the ablest
hierorIynhists and students OF ancient
records in order that the utmost know
ledge ANA SKIM may bee brought 20 bear
Tor thcir decinhering
CHAMBER or THE TOMB.
As soon as the doorway was cut
through SIR SnIlo and his assistants
entered tle chamber of the tomb. Mural