The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-05


the writing Is at least partly phonetic.
Tho next step in Mr.. Saville's cxplora-
lions was the great crypt OF Aoho. III
was discovered by Dr. Sologuren' the
famous Mexican Archaeological and collec-
tor Of relics. in 1856. Mr.. Saville forced
his way into IL by small size door
which had been previously unknown. 10
reach the interior four h0ors, each from
two 10 three inches thick. made OF very
hard white cement were cut through
Peculiar architectural formations OF an
important ceremonial significance were
found I'm the interior OF the crypt. IL
seems u.ely. from the religious and
ceremonial symbols uncovered here, that
the origin Of the Zcpotecan religion may
De found 20 be- Identical with that OF the
most ancient faith OF the eastern world.
The great discovery. and the one which
scientific men consider the most impor-
tant vet made. was hit upon In the course
Of excavations made among the mounds
already menuOned.A terra Gotta drain
pipe was found leading from one OF these
mounds into the fields The joints OF the
pipe were several feet long. and they
were so made as TO ht carefully together.
The course Of the pipe was followed for
"a considerable distance. Then it broke
OF. but further along Il was found again.
and. following 81 up a steep mountain,
the explorer came 10 a huge temple at
the top surrounded by an imposing peri
STYLE n had been a work Of the great
est difficulty to follow the long course
81 the buried pipe. but probably by no
other means could the ancient city have
been discovered. hidden as II was by
thick grOwths on all sides.
WE'RE TERRACED.
The sides OF the mountain. on the sum-
nit Of which stood the city, had been arti-
nclaliy terraced. the top had been RACED
and fortified on all sides until II was i'm
prcgnable The temple itself was n fine
piece of architecture. Beyond IT on the
broad area OF the mountain top, were the
crumbling ruins Of amphitheatres. palaces
and other public buildings Streets and
passagoways were exactly as they had
been during the long centuries since their
dcsertion Here on this terraced noun
tain. overlooking great stretch OF coun-
try at it's foot was AT last found the lost
capital OF the Zepotecan nation. at one
time probably the rulers over most OF
the other peoples Of the continent Ger
tainly their leaders in art civilization
and industry
The mountain on which the skeleton Of
this prehistoric metropolis was brought
10 view IS marked on the Mexican Gov
eminent maps as Monte Alban. It's
crOwning wall is completely hidden by
the surrounding growth Of lofty trees.
and 10 IS so difficult Of access that II
has never been attacked or ever seriously
thought Of as a field Of exploration. That
there were ruins upon this summit was
known before Mr.. Savlle's visit, but they
were supposed 10 be only the remains Of
some rude Indian fortress instead. as has
been proved. the wreck Of stately and
civilized city.
ITS ANCIENT NAME.
"Zachia was. I'm all probability. the
ancient name of the city on Monte Al
ban" says Mr. Saville. Not very far
away there exists a little village which
now bears the same name The SPOT was
strategicaly an ideal place for great
capital city I'm the troublous times when
II must have existed. It's situation made
80 an impragnable fortress. The noun
tain stands at the intersection Of the
three broad valleys. OaXaca. Ella and
Jalplan. Thus u commanded wide view
i'm an directions, and, being Isolated by
these valleys from the surrounding noun
tains and looming high above them all. it
kept perpetual guard over all the country
round
OF course my work did not extend
over a sufficient length Of time 10 deter
mine the exact extent of the culture.
wealth. and civilization OF the people
who once inhabited the city, but they
must have been far I'm advance of most OF
those with whom We have become i'm
degree acquainted through other mounds
and ruins. The city was certainly one of
considerable size. extending over several
square miles We came upon stone
aQucducts over six feet wide. In the
different parts of the plain are big
mounds which. ON investigation, proved
To be the crumbling remains or what
were once great public buildings. The
frequent earthquakes Of that region
which probably caused the destruction
Of the city, have shaken these once inn
portant structures into mere heaps or
dust and debris
"In the southern end Of the city we
found a big mound over thousand feet
long and three hundred feet wide. The
slopes of it's sides were regular and faced
with masonry and there was stairway
leading 10 it's summit IL may nave
been the site of a vast temple or OF
series of public buildings. At the opposite
end of the city there was a rectangular
basin of about the same size which once
formed a great amphitheatro where pub
lie gatherings were held and religious
ceremonies performed.
No PROOFS LEFT
"No reliable proofs are left OF what
a Zapotocan dwelling was like EXcaNa-
lions of temples. causeways, pillars
arches. ain other magnificent public
structures ana "a searching StHhf pA lllt
plans and general appearance of the city,
have furnished the most convincing data
for "a scientific meaning with which the
explorations have clothed tn masses OF
hitherto meaningless stone and dust
Everywhere there was found proof that
the Zapotccaus were 81 pcacc-lOvirg pco-
PIE who must have been governed 10y am
elaborate code of laws and customs
They had literature. too, for we found
proofs and traces of IL. though. of course,
there was no time 20 go extensively into
that phase OF the explorations. Their
religion must have developed TO an ad-
vanced stage. for We found proof that
they did not offer up live sacrifices in
thei. religious fetes. Doubtless ..rther
work viii bring 10 light other important
and interesting facts about the lives and
customs of these people, whom we must
Justly look upon as our earliest predeces-
sors ON this continent Just how extern
sive these discoveries may prove 10 be 1t
is impossible to say at the present time.
Ever since the attention OF anthro-
biologists has been called 10 this hemis-
phere as a field for archaeological study.
the great question has been TO settle con-
lectures as 90 how the prehistoric tribes
aud nations sprang up in America. The
theory most widely accepted is based on
the hvpothesis that the vanguard Of
human mieration 10 this continent was
composed OF wandering tribes from Asia
who crossed by the Behring Straits into
Alaska and who. meandering southwark
N-.~.t k,,arfeo finally settled IN,