The Cairo bulletin., 1909-05-03
RELICS OF OLD PERU
important Discoveries Made by
English Scientist.
Mummies, Pottery ard Weapons
Which Date Back Perhaps 1000
Years Unearthed Under
Old Inca Cemetery.

New York.-One of the most not
able discoveries regarding the early
history OF Peru has recently been
made by Hewitt Myring. an English
antiquarian, who arrived in New York
recently on his way home He had
1000 specimens of pottery and wea-
| ponS OF the ancient Peruvians.
Remains and relies of the early in.
Labitants OF Peru. which are said by
! scientists to date from 1000 to 1000
B. G., were found by Mr.. Myrng un.
| der an old Inca burying ground when
he was exploring in the mountains
| about about 200 miles inland from
Lima The bodies in the burial ground
were found to be in an excellent state
OF preservation. the hair, skin and
clothing being preserved by the sill
cate on the soil
When the bodies We're exposed to
the air the bones and skulls crum.
bled into dust barely giving the ex.
plorer time to take photographs OF the
mummies Each grave contained the
remains of food and glazed clap Jugs
with two handles and cover with a
long, tapering spot. which were filed
with a liquid supposed to have been
a wine Of some kind.
The asst of the features OF these an
Client Peruvians resembled the Mon.
solians, with scattering OF Indian
and negro type, according to the dis
coVerer. The warriors could be cas-
lily distinguished by their great wood
en- war clubs resting on the left arm
or the huge. copper.headed battle
axes beaten out from the pure metal.
One chief had long copper needle
driven through his skull
Pottery plates with double bottoms
hidden in which We're ancient coins
of gold and silver, were found in some
of the graves. Mr.. Myring said
scientists could get an idea of the
great age of these by the corrosion OF
the metals. The bodies were all fully
clothed in embroidered garments of
fine texture. showing that the people
had the same belief AS the Incas in
the after life where the good were to
have all the Injuries and the wicked
to do all the work, SO the scientists
contend.
All the specimens of pottery were |
artistically designed in the shape of |
men or animals and the glaze was as
perfect as the day II was put on, prob |
ably about 5000 years ago. The an.
eient Peruvians, excelled in the art |
Of making pottery, especially in the |
firing and decorating. In addition 10 !
the pictures of men and animals. |
many of the specimens were decor |
lted with Chinese dragons and weird
looking fish resembling mermaida,
and sailing craft like junks.
The most valuable portion OF this 1
discovery of antiquities, according TO
Mr.. Myring, consisted OF the great !
rms. some OF them six feet long and
so heavy that 1t required three men
% carry them. They were found bur
ed beside mummies, and the majority
If them had the features OF the dead
nan or woman delicately carved on
either the upper part of the urn or
n a solid stand beneath. The faces
IN the urns were all OF dark brown
,olor and glazed as smooth and hard
IS a billiard ball. as If they had Just
eft the hands of the potter.
The discovery of the remains OF a
prehistoric people has created consid.
rable interest in Peru. Mr.. Myring
rave several specimens to the Ma.
ional museum in Lima. and, IL is
Understood, will donate other speci.
mems OF the pottery to the British
museum in Londcn. The rest he will
id to his private collection at his
ome in Park Lane. London. which
ontains rare objects from all parts OF
he world. collected by the owner ia
is wanderings in strange lands.
The specimens were shipped from
'allao direct to England by the long
ca rorte-via the Straits of Magel.
ln-in so crates. only one crate. con.
aiming the most valuable pieces OF
ottery, engraved in gold and silver
nd decorated with small emeraIds.
eing brought by Mr.. Myring.
The inscriptions on the urns were
II in hieroglyphics Of different col.
rs, each representing some object or
lea.