The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1910-05-19
TOLTEC RUINS YIELD TREASURES TO EXPLORERS.
Achaoogsts Unah Temples Dedicated to Planets Near San
Mexco--Have Partially Restored Great Pyramid of Sum-
Professor Bates Discovers 1t is Really Com
posed of Number of Pyramids ~r

The archaeological explorations Of
the ancient Toltec ruins that are scat
tered over the country close to the
little town of San Juan Teotihuacan,
Mexico, have been going on for sew
eral years under the direction of
Professor Leopold Batres, the gov
eminent procurator general of arch
geological monuments.
The most remarkable part of the
work so far accomplished is the par
tial restoration of the great Pyra-
mid of the Sun to it's original ap-
pearance.
With the aid of large force
OF laborers Professor Batres has
wrought wonderful transformation
in the appearance of the prehistori-
cal ruin.
The earth that had accumulated
upon the sides of the pyramid
through the ,disintegration of the
first layer of stone is being cleared
off and the symmetrical outline of
the towering monument is brought
into view. It's original grandeur is
IdplQIy USCOHInS dppdI rent
The Pyramid of the Sun is $40
feet square at the base and 2S3 feet
high In the days of the Toltecs a
magnificent temple is supposed to
have surmounted the squared, stone
paved surface that formed the top Of
the pyramid.
The excavations made by Professor
Batres show that the Pyramid of the
Sun as it now stands is really COM
posed of a number Of pyramids. one
built upon the other. Each of these
pyramids is as complete as the final
one, even to the stone paving and
stairway leading from the bottom to
the summit. The huge stone stair
ways are placed one over another
and at the base of the last stairway
is large entrance room that is sup
posed to have been used to guard
the approach.
The ruins of the residence which
was occupied by the priests who had
charge Of the temple upon the Pyra-
mid of the Sun are situated about $50
feet from the temple.
The house contains four rooms, the
floors of which are made of Toltec
cement. This cement was composed
of volcanic lava, gypsum and fine
sand. It made a material that has
withstood the ravages Of centuries.
A careful examination showed that
the residence had been destroyed
by fire. Under the debris that came
from the roof of this building were
found the charred bones of ten hui
man beings. Some of these skeletons
were in a fair state of preservation.
Around the bone of each neck was
a stone collar. Some Of these collars
were ornamented with stone beads.
Close to this priests residence an
other room was uncovered, and in
this were found the bones of a wo-
man and a little child. In these
rooms were found number of
kitchen and other household utensils,
all made of stone. A remarkable
idol made of jade was also found.
In the ruins Of another building
near the Pyramid of the Sun was I'M
earthed the skeleton of man sup
posed to have been one of the Toltee
Kings. The skeleton was surrounded
by large quantities of sea shells,
obsidian implements, polished stone
masks and beads. Many of the an
cient implements are made of copper
and bronze.
It is evident that a large Toltec
city surrounded the Pyramid of the
Sun and the several lesser pyramids
and mounds. 1t is the general theory
OF archaeologists who have investi-
gated these ruins that the city and
the inhabitants thereof we're de-
stroyed by some hostile tribe of saw
ages.
Next in size to the Pyramid of the
Sun is the Pyramid OF the Moon, the
latter being 500 feet square at its
base and $50 feet high. Situated to
the south of the Pyramid of the Sun
is great square, which is inclosed
In an earthen wall thirty-two feet
high and go feet thick.
This wall bears the weight of four
teen small pyramids, located at regu-
lar intervals. In this large Enclosure
were the larger residences of the city.
The excavations that have been made
show that these houses contained
from six to twelve rooms, rectangular
In form. They are built of brick