The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-05-08
EXPLORER HAS DELVED
AMONG ANCIENT CITIES
Many New Things Learned About the Strange Aztec
Civilization Destroyed by cor'er-Rsmsrkable Spee-
Of Sculpture Found

Another chapter has been added 90
the exploration Of the ruined cities Of
Central America. once the seats OF the
strange Aztec civilization destroyed by
Cortez nearly ave centuries ago. In
tho recently published report Of Tco
bert Mailer. who for several years has
been cnnducilnr researches among
these ancient ruins In the interests Of
the Peabody Museum Of Archaeology
and Ethnology at Harvard university
Mr. Malora explorations stretched
over three years. and we're carried on
mainly In tho Usumataintla valley. In
southern Mexico Among the long
forgotten cities which Mr. Mailer visit
"a we're Ya1chlan. literally the CITY
OF the Green stones." ~ Cayo. The
place Where the Banks Are atrown
with Slonea;" "nud8iiha.' or "Smok
inF Water" from the mist rising from
an adjacent waterfall. ~ chile. 20
called from tho herb from which chile
sauce n made: Analte. named for the
white lilies that flourish on the banks
Of the river. and ~ Chlcozapote.
named from a tree which produces a
weliknown Mexican chewing gum.
A. Ia Mar there stlll remained sun
Client evidence of lie ancient struc.
lures 10 reconstruct a very good pic
turo OF one OF the smaller cities OF the
Aztec period. Tho architectural cor.
ter OF the city. Il was found. was
formed by two temples. now IN ruins.
which crowned two pyramids. one
facing 10 the east and tho other 10
the west Between the pyramids was
a wide plaza bordorcd ON the north
and south by smaller buildings. The
plaza was originally ornamentod with
stolao. one of which. although aory.
Ing only 90 adorn 10 small a city NJ
La Mar 10 n splendid specimen of the
best contemporary Aztec sculpture.
II has been suggested that Yaxchl'
Ian. tho most important OF the ancient
cities which Mr.. Mailer visited. may
have boon tho town referred TO by
Cortoz IN a letter 90 his master. the
Emperor Charles V, although Mr. Ma.
Ter himself rather doubts the idcntlh
cation
There must have boon heavy rain
falls in distant Guatemala and eastern
Chiapaa.' says Mr.. Mailer. In doacrlh.
Ing hia approach 10 Yaxchllan. for
the uuumaialnila was excessively
high, having risen TO the very edge OF
the high banks. which made progross
up the river exceedingly dlnicult We
had 10 force our way through
branches OF trees projecting out OF the
water. ana often We had 10 use our
machc'ea to remove the obstacles I'm.
padlnE our wnr
When We rested az night" he con.
tlnueu. I'VE fastened our cayuco 10 the
branches OF great chlmon and pro
tccied ourselves and our baggage as
we'll az We could With oiled CLOTHS
against tho heavy Alfht rain II was
not possible 10 20 ON shore. as ovory.
thing was flooded. AT noon OF the sec.
ond day We finally arrived az the
ruined city.
Tho ancient city, Mr.. Mailer asserts
was not a city OF streets. but OF ter.
races r.-,rg from a water front that
Is SLOW and inevitably being eaton
away by tho turbulence OF the river
Many OF the structures were 80 over.
grown that they could not be oNcayat.
ed. and Photograph OF various parts
OF the ruins had 10 ho taken at spo.
clal moments when the sun forced To-
way through the thick foliage. Here
and thore were found circular stone
affairs. probably set up over the graves
of persons Of rank About the temples
were many beautiful stone stolno
carved on both 6ldos-tho side facing
the temple almost invariably roproi