New-York tribune., 1905-02-12
FUNERAL URNS.
Found in Tombs of Ancient Zapo-
tecans an MeTlcO.

What is considered of the most note
worthy archaeological discoveries made in Mexico
in recent years has resulted from the eXplora-
tions Of Professor Marshall II. Saville, of the
American Museum of Natural History. 1t con-
sists of the uncovering of a number of burial
torbs of the ancient ZapOtecan race in the State
of Oaxaca. The striking feature Of these re-
markable underground mausoeums is the curl
Gus series of terra Gotta funeral urns, which
were conspicuousy arranged In most cases on
the facade of the structure. These urns portray
the human face and also show the personai
adornments of this remote period. such as large
car ornaments necklaces of stone, she'll beads
and breast pieces in the shape of human heads
adorned with hieroglyphics. Where no mask
covers the face they show that the habit OF
filing the teeth prevailed, evidently for decora-
tive purposes.
These researches were made possible through
The liberalty of the Duke of Loubat The dis
coveries were made in the valleys of Eta, OAK
aca and Tlacolula, in the central part Of the
State of Oaxaca These regions in pre-Colum-
bfan times were inhabited by several cultured
races In one of the valleys are the famous
ruins of Militia, with it's mosaic palaces. attrib-
uted to the Nahuatl tribe. Upon a range of hills
in the valley Of Zachila, some thirty miles dis
tant stood the great fortified city known as
Monte Alban, which is thought to have been the
capital of the old Zapotecan empire. Scattered
ut varying distances are groups of mounds. some
in the form of a pyramid, others circular or rec
tangular These vary In dimensions from ten
to fifty feet above the level of the surrounding
tlnd Many have been ploughed over, which
has destroyed their original shape. Trees were
found growing over several of the tombs and
the ground under cultivation. Excavations
showed that the mounds in nearly all instances
ntafD
from the surface cement floors found.
some one above another, foot more apart
AS the clearing proceeded, it was found IN Cne
Of the most important mounds that hight of
stone steps led down to a spacious chamber, the
door of which was sealed with a large stone.
The facade in the front wan in the form of
a frame, In which found five terra Gotta
funeral urns painted red, two having deaths
head made of stucco. The face of each urn
was protected by fragment Of jar. The urns
were fastened against the wall with cement.
On removing the large stone which sealed up
the entrance, the cement floor was observed to
be covered almost entirely with votfve offerings
in the shape of food vessels, incense burners
and human bones That this burial place
of a parsonage of rank and wealth was indl-
Gated by the mural paintings in bright colors
which once covered the entire walls. These rep
resented a series of human figures draped In
flowing garments.
Probably the most highly priced feature of the
tomb was the hieroglyphc> inscription carved on
the stone door Intel. This unfolded entirely
new form of writing from any before known in
Mexico, and is the first ever found in Zapotecan
territory. No gold silver objects were found.
In one of the chambers twenty-six beads. made
of amazon and jadeite. were obtained; also frag-
ments of an onyx jar, on which were painted de-
signs in various colors. One of the curious finds