Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-08-17
RUINS OF A METROPOLIS.
REMAINS OF A PREHISTORIC
CITY FOUND IN MEXICO.
EXPLORER sAvILLE's DISCOVERING
DICATIoNS OF A RACE SUPERIOR
TO THE FAMOUS AZTECs.


August %, promises to be the most not
able in the history Of the organization.
1t will he made so chiefly by paper |
. which Marshall II. Saville OF the Ameri-
can museum OF national history is
preparing, which he will read before the
association. In this paper Mr.. Saville |
will relate the remarkable results OF his
recent explorations among the ancient
cities of Mexico. Tue officers OF the |
American museum, who are the only ones
thus far acquainted with the full import
of Explorer Savilie's discoveries, have
pronounced them the most remarkable
ever made on this hemisphere. Not only
are they likely to revolutionize some of
the pet theories OF archeologists and
anthropologists, but they are OF great
interest for the light that they throw on
the question OF the origin Of the most
! ancient inhabitants OF the western CONT |
nent.
The scene Of these remarkable discov- |
cries is Xoxo, about five miles south Of
the district of ORxaca. The most impor-
tant part OF the work WAS accomplished
during six weeks of the half year over
W hiS A'i l. t7aN llIS . lcNChb u ~ SAeShaSu'
Half by accident, Mr.. Saville stumbled
upon the ruins OF great prehistoric me-
tropolis, the ancient capital of the Zepo- |
tecas, by all odds the most enlightened |
nation hat ever inhabited the NewWorld |
prior to the advent of European civiliza- |
ton. He not only found this ancient |
city, hut anearthed hieroglyphics OF a
cha -ecter far surprising anything hith-
ert, opposed to exist in the western |
hen sphere, besides other proofs OF high |
GU re and an advanced civilization. The |
ex .o-er is convinced after careful scien- |
mi. analysis that these revelations place
the prehistoric Zepotecan nation on par
Win the ancient races OF India Chaldea
md Egypt, and that they possibly prove
the first settlers OF this continent to have
been related to the first named OF these
peoples.
Mr.. Sayille is the head OF the depart
ment OF archaeology in the American
museum, and has spent many years in
studying the traces of the prehistoric
peoples OF America. Since 1889 he has
been constantly making researches in
Mexico. Mr.. Saville left on his latest and
was his purpose to decipher certain pict-
ure writings which cover the temple OF
Montezuma's farfamed sun-god, then
considered the most important ancient
American structure. QuetZacoatl the
sun-god, WAS the principal deity of the
Aztecs, and by some lucky chance his
temple escaped the destructive hands OF
Cortez and the other Spanish invaders.
MR.. sAvILLI's DISCOVERY.
Mr.. Sayiile's work was prosecuted
under the auspices OF the Mexican gov
eminent, and he Nas accompanied by Mr..
Humphreys, surveyor, who aacted as an
official Mexican representative. While
on the way 10 his intended field of labor,
Mr.. Saville found traces of great group
OF pyramids near &oxo. This region has
long been recognized as a fruitful field
for the discovery OF Zepoteean relies.
Thinking that little exploration might
uncover something Of value, Mr.. Savile
set his native eborers at work, and in
short time had unearthed Il number OF
pyramids and smaller mounds. The
largest twelve OF these pyramids are OF
the sort called teocalli Aztec word
meaning divine tombs. The ground
throughout this region was thickly over
grown with guamuch and mesquite.
The roots from these trees penetrated to
great depth, and in several instances
they had broken through the stone floors
OF the mounds. Specimens OF ancient
pottery and other relics were found
which had been broken up by the same
resistless forces.
One day while Mr. Sayile was recon-
noitering some distance to the north of
the big group OF pyramids, he came to a
rise of ground forming sort OF low pla
teau some distance above the rest of the
plain and covered with the usual heavy
vegetation and underground. Separating
the vines and BRAN bles as well as he could
for short distance from the outer edge
OF the growth, and peering underneath,
the explorer noticed peculiar bits OF pot
terry and traces of ashes. On examining
the pieces of broken pottery he knew at
once from their peculiar formation that
they had lain here undisturbed for CEN
turtles, sheltered from wind and storm by
the impenetrable thicket through which
not even the heavy tropical rains could
force their way. The explorer applied
himself to pick and spade, and with great
difficulty dug two or three feet into the
earth, where he came to a hard fiat sur
face. He called his laborers, who quickly
cleared away the brush and dirt. The
surface was found to be a cement floor or,
perhaps it would be more accurate to say
a cement roof. Cutting through it, the
workers came to the surface OF a stone
wall. Sealed to this wall by their rims
were cazuelas (earthernware bowls). In
der each bowl was a bright red funeral
idol, which had been SO thoroughly pre-
served by the perfectly dry air that it
looked as though it had been newly
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