Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-24
ANCIENT MEXICO HIS THEME
PROF. E. L. HEWETT ADDRESSES
ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE.
Result of Explorations and observa-
tions in Mexican Cities-Presi-
dent John W. Foster Presides.

The Washington Society of the Archeo-
logical Institute of America was very
handsomely entertained last evening by
Ambassador and Nine. Creel at the
Mexican embassy. when an illustrated
lecture on ancient i,Mexico' was given
by Prof. Edgar L: Hewett, director
of American archaeology in the insti
tute. Prof. Hewett devoted the year
in which he held the institutes fellow
ship in American archaeology in the
exploration of ancient cities in Mexico.
He spent much time in Spanish America,
and is one of the best-equipped investiga-
tors in the archaeology of America in this
country. Owing to the scientific charac-'
ter of his work. he was appointed di-
rector of American archaeology by the
institute. and has since done considerable
work in the exploration of Indian an-
tiquities in the southwest
Prof Hewett was introduced by Mr..
John W. Foster. president of the society.
Prof. Hewett said. in part:
What 1 shall try to do tonight is to
give you picture of ancient America by
taking you over rapid survey of all the
highest seats of culture from the south
western part of the United States to Cen
trail America. proceeding from north to
south. in about the same order in which
l have proceeded in the persnal eXplora-
ton of the greater part of what will be
shown. 1 shall touch upon only the most
conspicuous centers, emitting many i'm
portant ruins, and even entire culture
areas.
Boundaries of Mexico.
81 have adopted the title Ancient Mex
leo for the reason that the greater part
of what I shall talk about lies within the
present boundaries of the Mexican repub-
liz h11f NTH to
quities of the United States and the Cen
trail American republic l desire to pre-
sent this picture of ancient America as a
whole in order that you may understand
the task before it. The Archaeological
Institute of America a year ago avowed
it's purpose Of undertaking the investiga-
ton of the culture areas of the American
continent as a contribution to the worlds
study OF the history of the human race.
The Mayors of Central America attain
ed. perhaps. to the highest culture of any
native American people. Their archi-
lecture. as seen in the ruins of their tenn
pies, was substantial and imposing and
beautifully embellished in stucco and
mosaic. Their sculpture was as fine and
strong as that of oriental nations, and
their system of hieroglyphic writing,
which stiff battles the archeologist, was
Vergfng upon literary character. Their
culture had run its course and fallen into
decay before the coming of the Spaniards.
The Aztecs were the strong native race
conferred about the Lake of TeXcoco,
where the City of Mexico now stands.
that Cortes encountered and overthrow
early in the sixteenth century. Their
architecture took the form of massive
pyramids of earth and stone. surmounted
by temples which were embellshed with
the sculptures and carvings representing
their countless deities. The religion of
the Aztecs was marked by rites of ex-
IRENE cruelty. among which was that of
human sacrifice. They had not yet de-
.veloped written characters as advanced as
those of the Mayors. hut they had system
Of pictural writing Lin which they ex-
pressed their ideas of the calendar and
the name and attributes of their gods
Cliff Dwellers.
THE cliff jewellers and puehlos of the
southwestern part of the United States
were less advanced in civilizatio than
the Mayors and Aztecs, though in domes-
tic architecture they surpassed them. The
cliff household, rock citadels and enor-
nous community houses scattered over
southern Colorado, Utah. New Mexico
and Arizona tell the story of a peaceful,
Industrious people. who relied upon de-
Tense rather than aggression. The cliff
jewellers were still in the art of pottery
making and simple Industrial pursuits.
Their picture writing was of the crudest
sort. Their religion, while full of weird
ritual, was free from the jnhuman prac-
tees of tropical America. Like the Maya,
the cliff-dwellng culture had reached its
climax before the coming of the white
race.
II think you will agree with me that
America. as well as Europe, has it's clas-
steal grounds, the heart of which is ancient
Mexico, and that the study of American
antiquities is capable of enrching the
scholarship of the world
What l most desire to impress in clos
ing is the fact that the heart of ancient
America had reached in places a plane of
sustained value. The architecture and
sculpture of Mitea, Copan, Quirgua.
Chichen. Uxmal and Palenque was no
mere child-like pling up of earth and
stone and its aimless establishment 1t
was the product of disciplined. directed
skill, sustained by a lively appreciation
of art values, and underlying it was
foundation in knowing human motives
and beliefs which promises rich reward
for painstaking Investigation
The next lecture before the society will
be given the latter part of January by
Prof. H. l.. Wilson on Recent Excava-
tons in Rome Prof. Wilson was during
the year 19O6-07 annual professor in the
Rome
Among the new members admitted last
night We're: Mrs. Alexander r. Shepherd
Senior Don Enrique Cortes. Colombian
minister to the United States; Senior
Goday, Cuban minister to the United
States, and l.. H. Wilder.