The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1910-05-28
NzCZI/YZ At CHOLLXA

in writing or in hieroglyphic sculp-
tures although such may have been in
evidence at the time of the Spanish
conquest. But if there were any they
certainly have been destroyed by the
fanatic Hidalgos, and it now looks as
if the secret of these pyramids would
forever remain undisclosed, for the lit
tie statuettes, implements and other
relics so far found in the excavations
do not contribute anything toward a
solution.
Passing by on railroad train or ap-
preaching them with an automobile,
the pyramids look rather squatty and
fail to make the impression one gets
when driving out to the pyramids of
Gizeh from Cairo. But after you have
entered the inclosure with the help Of
permit secured in Mexico City you
are surprised at the size of the Pyra-
mid of the Sun, which is the one the
government has been excavating. 1t
is built in three large terraces rising
one on top of the other. Its extreme
height Is ZIG feet. The base lines do
not form an exact regular square,
measuring 721 by Tel feet respective
ly. The top platform contains a
square water tank, reconstructed of
cement and fed by modern pipe. 1t
measures SO by 105 feet and is reached
by a flight of stairs on one side Of the
pyramid.
A guide, furnished by the excavation
authorities, accompanies the visitor
everywhere, and no cameras are al
lowed within the inclosure. This rule
is little graft" for the official pho
tographer, who sells views of the
pyramid and other interesting photo
graphs from a small office in the eX-
ecutive building. l had a letter Of IN
PRODUCTION to the director and was
shown the small collection of antiques
kept in locked room. According to
this gentleman the relics found on the
ground, consisting of small vessels,
figures and masks of obsidian and
other stone, while vaguely similar to
Egyptian relics of the same character
and supporting in a certain measure
the people Of the Nile valley, do not
tell story that would help to clear
the mystery of these monuments.
The Mound of the Moon is 151 feet
high with base of 426 by 511 feet,
1t is about ten minutes walk from
the Pyramid of the Sun and is so far
the only one to which an entrance has
been discovered This leads into
chamber of hewn stone the use of
which is unknown. All over the plain
are scattered small pyramids and
traces of an ancient city with walls
and Notifications. From one of these
a causeway named Street of the
Dead" leads to the two pyramids. II
is lined by a number Of ruined houses,
Ia which many relics and human re
mains have been found.
Some of the smaller mounds have
been opened, too, They seem to have
been priests dwellings or smaller
shrines attached to the greater sane.
tuaries of the sun and moon. In some
of these the walls were found to be
painted and frescoed. the colors still
being in good condition and showing
wide range Of tints. But, as have
pointed out before, no inscription, no
sculpture, no record of any kind has
so far been unearthed which would
give posterity clue as to the origin
and history of the Mexican pyramids.
and, with reasonable certainty, we are
only assured that they antedate tde
period of the Aztecs and Toltecs
SIGMI'ND KFACSz