The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1903-06-04
aulns or 4 osrAT cfrN.
older Thsn proyiossiy Discovered r..
the American Continent.

IRE Gnericar Scnttr1Lh
An archaeoioKiez5 discovery ~ tee
frst imporiAnce was recently rAaa Is
The vicinity q the city q oazaeA, n
the southern part n Mezioo. b. Leo
poico Bares. government srchasslO-
gist of Mexic3. Who aocompanisd
Prof Marshall H. saYille. of the Am
erioan Museum of Easural History, In
his researches in that region The
ruins Of great city. older than any
previously discovered on the Amer.
lean continent. have been uncovered
and the objects found In the temples
and tombs thus far excayated seek 70
link that city with both Egypt ana
China The ruins are more extensive
than those Of Mitis, only a few miles
distant. and appear 70 have been.cos.
cred with the dust ot ages before Tit
"a was begun
The explorers went 70 oaEaca 12y
the purpose Of eKcsvating certain old
zapotec mounds or tombs. and the
discoveries thus fer made more than
Justify their efforts. The ruins AZ
covered by Senior Batres are situated
upon the summit q Monte Aiban.
which rises about 1850 feet higher
thaa the valley Of oaxaca and Is about
elo0e feet abovs the sea level The
mountain IS only few miles from the
/ city Of Oaxaca. the sides and top hay-
ing been cultivated By the natives for
years. The patio or courtyard Of what
may prove 70 be the greatest temple
ever built uPon the American oontfar
& ent, was discovered with a oornaeld.
/ Scattered over the mountain top are
mounds. or mosotes as they are cali
ed in Zapotec, in systematic arrange
ment They appeared 70 be Of tbs
same character ss hundreds Of others
dotfing the great valley OF Oaxacss.
( These mounds arr ranged about =
great square several acres in extent
this square proving upon examination
10 form the ceatral court Of the tenn
pie. -Four pyramid-shaped mounds
run down the center Of the great patio.
which. In the opinion Of Senor Batres.
formed the central affairs of the great
temple. In addition 20 this purpose
they served as tombs. probably for
the monarchs Of the builders Of the
city. and Il was in one of these
mounds that the most important dis
ooveTy was made.
In the work of excavation, the hrE;
object encountered vas a great ODE,
iisk OF porphyry. slightly resembling
the Egyptian obelisk known as Cleo
patras needle. The obelsk Is feters
"a height, eco centmeiers across is
face. and 4s0 cenumetcrs across its
sides. Il rises with psrpendiculAr
lines TO within 80 cenumeters q its
top. from thsi point assuming wedge
shape. On the face Of the obelisk IL
an elaborate aE1re with q deaths
head. ovldeniiy the portrait IN bas-re
lpef Of a dead monarch. The back Il
covered with hieroglyphics. 10 tnns
late which no attempt has jet been
made. Next In importance 10 the
finding of the obe,isk was the eXcava
ton % a jar made of Jade and con
tanning sixty or more specimens oi
! nne Jade. Pieces Of this stone have
been found ia all parts q Mexico fo'
! the past century. and arohacologist,
have regarded them as evidences o.
former Communication of the prehis
ltorie races Of Moxieo with tie Chinese
since the Aztocs had Jade as a hcrit
; eco from earlier peoples, aad evident
j ~ pri1ed them highly. On one o. th'
pieces The face Of ChluAman. Wit,
at the facial characteristics most dis
, unctiy marked is carved
4 Il is the opinlon of anchaeioEisi,
that Aiifla. the great sacred ci,y 81 IA
b RahaunR or TolteCs. was destroye'
some time hegwoen the boginaiug o
the Christian era ana tso year $40 A
I ID. whereas SENIOR Batres believe
. believes chat the ciu of Monto Abb
/ was destroyed By the Eroat uphesvA
2 Vhlch sunk the oontincat % Atlantis
( possibly The biblical doinge, Pictures
cravings plans aud specimens. q
gether with FUN doscripaoa 81 N
Z work and the discoycrers oeserys
i tions and conclusions thercfrom, u
a be submitted az the coming ooagust
r Of Amoreanisu in New YORK Cor IA
/. oonsiaeratioa u he disunsuishc.
: arehaeoiosists q Amerioa.