The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-04
STORY OF GREAT
TOLTEC PYRAMID
Mexico's High Temple to Sun
Is Being Restored
tn TTC EOp MEp CmATTI
TO ITS FORMER STATE
Many Striking Discoveries Made In
Surrounding Territory Where GREAT
City Once StOod-Utensils of
Copper and Bronze.

From the New Orleans Times-Democrat.
San Juan Teotihuacan, Mexico-The
archaeological exploration of ancient
Toltec ruins that are scattered over the
country close to the little town of San
Juan Teotihuacan, has been going on
for several years under the direction of
Prof. Leopoldo Batres, the government
rrocurator general of archaeological
monuments.
The most remarkable part of the work
so far accomplished is the partial restor-
alton of the great Pyramid of the sun
to it's original appearance. With the
aid of large force of laborers PROFESSOR
Iiatres has wrought a wonderful trans
formation in the appearance of the pre-
historic ruin. The earth that had ac-
cumulated upon the sides of the pyra-
mid through the disintegration of the
first layed of stone is being cleared off,
and the symmetrical outline of the tow
ering monument is brought into view.
Its original grandeur is rapidly becom-
ing apparent.
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
ndlItS SHOW THAT lIt ny ldililei VI NiiF
sun, as it now stands, is really conf
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 stair
way leaving from the bottom to the
summit The huge stone stairways are
placed one over another, and at the
base of the last stairway is large en-
trance room that is supposed 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 pyramid of the
sun are situated only $50 feet from the
temple The house contains four rooms,
the floors of which are made of Iotec
cement This cement was composed OF
volcanic lava, gypsum and fine sand lt
made a material that has withstood the
ravages of centuries. A careful exami-
nation showed that the residence had
been destroyed by fire. Under the de-
Iris that came from the roof of this
building were found the charred bones
of 10 human beings. Some of these
skeletons were in a fair state of preser-
vation Around the bone of each neck
was a stone collar. Some of these col
lars were ornamental with stone beads.
Household Utensils of stone.
Close to this priests residence an
other room was uncovered, anu III tht9
were found the bones of a woman and
little child. In these rooms were found
a number of kitchen and other house
hold utensils, all. made of stone. re-
markable idol made of jade was also
found In the ruins of another build
ing near the pyramid of the sun was
unearthed the skeleton of a man sup
posed to have been one of the Toltec
kings. The skeleton was surrounded by
large quantities of sea shells, obsldlan
ir plements. polished stone masks and
beads. Many of the ancient implements
Ian. made of copper and bronze.
1t 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 archaeologlsts
who have investigated these ruins that
the city and the inhabitants thereof
were destroyed by some hostile tribe of
savages.
Next in size to the pyramid of the
sun is the pyramid of the moon, the
latter being 800 feet square at its base
and $50 feet high. Situated to the south
of the pyramid of the ssun is great
square which is inclosed by an earthen
wall so feet high and 260 feet thick,
This wall bears the weight of IA small
pyramids, located at regular 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 that were evidently burned
by the process now in common use. The
Toltecs never used adobe material for
building purposes. The brick walls were
plastered over with the cement which
was used In the erection of the pyramids.
Decorations stu Apparent.
The interior of many of the houses
was beautifully decorated with poly
chrome paintings, sometimes as many as
20 different tints being used. These dec
orations are still plainly apparent in
the rooms that have been opened by the
modern archaeological explorers. The
Toltecs were not a warlille race, and
no implements of warfare have been
found in the ruins. They were devoted
to religious teachings, as Is shown by
their numerous temples.
1t is claimed that these ruins at San
Juan Teotihuacan afford more of real in