The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1903-04-24
EXPLORER HAS DELVED
AMONG ANCIENT CITIES
Many New Things Learned About the Strange Aztec
Civilization Destroyed by coriez Remarkable Speei-
mems Of Sculpture Found.

Another chapter has been added to
the exploration Of the ruined cities Of
Central America once the seats of the
strange Aztec civilization destroyed by
Cortez nearly Eve centuries ago. In
tho recently published report Of Tco'
bert Mailer. who for several years has
been conducting researches among
these ancient ruins In the interests OF
the Peabody Museum OF Archaeology
and Ethnology ~ Harvard university.
hr. Maler's explorations stretched
over three years. and we're carried on
mainly In the Usumatsintla valley, In
southern Mexico Among the long
forgotten cities which Mr.. Mailer visit
ed we're Yaxchllan. literally the CITY
OF the Green Stones:" El Cayo. the
place Where the Banks Are Strown
With Stones;" "Budsilha." or "Smok.
Ing Water" from the mist rising from
an adjacent waterfall. NJ Chile. 20
called from the herb from which chile
sauce n made. Analte. named for the
white lilies that flourish on the banks
Of the river. and ~ Chicozapote.
named from tree which produces n
weilknown Mexican chewing gum.
AZ Ia Mar there sim remained sun.
cient evidence OF It's ancient struc.
lures 70 reconstruct a very good pic
turo Of one OF the smaller cities OF the
Aztec period The architectural con.
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
n wide plaza bordcrcd ON the north
and south by smaller buildings. The
plaza was originally ornamented with
stelao, one Of which although sery.
Ing only 10 adorn 80 small a city aa
La Mar, Is n splendid specimen OF the
best contemporary Aztec sculpture.
II has been suggested that Yaxchl.
Ian, the most important OF the ancient
cities which Mr.. Mailer visited. may
have boon the town referred 10 by
Cortoz IN a letter 20 his master, the
Emperor Charles V, although Mr.. Ma.
lor himself rather doubts the ldcntlh.
cation.
There must have boon heavy rain.
falls In distant Guatemala and eastern
Chlapas," says Mr. Mailer. In describ.
ing his approach 10 Yaxchllan. for
the usumntslntla was excessively
high, having risen to tho very edge OF
the high banks, which made progress
up the river exceedingly dlhiculL We
had 10 force our way through
branches OF trees projecting out OF the
water ana often we had to use our
mschc'es to remoyo the obstacles i'm.
padlnE oar wn.
"Whcn We rested az night" he con.
tlnuea. I'VE fastened our cayuco 20 tho
branches OF a great chlmon and pro.
tected ourselves and our baggage as
we'll an we could with oiled CLOTHS
against the heavy llfht rain. Il was
not possible 10 20 ON shore. as every.
thing was flooded, At noon OF tho sec
ond day We finally arrived at the
ruined city.
The ancieht city Mr.. Mailer asserts
was not city OF streets. but OF ter.
races ring from water front that
IL SLOW and inevitably being eaten
away by tho turbulence OF tho river
Many Of the structures were so ovor.
grown that they could not be oXcavat.
ed. and photographs Of various parts
OF the ruins had 10 be taken at spo.
cial moments when the sun forced lts
way through the thick foliage. Here
and there were found circular stone
affairs. probably set up over tho graves
of persons OF rank, About the temples
were many beautiful stone stolne
carved on both sldesth side facing
the temple almost invariably repre-