Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-09-07
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The sides and backs of these monuments are
usually covered with hieroglyphics, though this
latter is not a constant feature. Near each one
of them. usually Just in front, there is a smaller
block of stone, sometimes round and sometimes
square. These, because of their close connec'
ton with the larger monuments, have been
called affairs, and 1t is not unlikely that they
may have served some such a purpose. Ihey
are deliberately sculptured with grotesque ng'
ures and In some cases with hieroglyphlcs also
Leaving the Great Plaza and Its interesting
monuments behind, and proceeding southwark
about 100 yards, we enter a narrow court zSu
feet in length by 1876 feet in width. This in
closure has been named "The Court OF the
Hieroglyphic Stairway" because of its most re-
markable feature-an imposing flight OF stairs
ascending the pyramid at its southern end. This
stairway, including the deliberately sculpturec
balustrades on each side, measures 80 feet IL
width. Its steps, which average a foot in height,
have their vertical faces covered with hero
~glyphics.
This monumental stairway, rising steeply for
80 feet, its steps and balustrades elaborately
sculptured. and fullsize human figures occupy
ing its center at regular intervals clear to the
summit, must have presented in former times a
striking appearance and offered an effect but
little short of stupendous.
Ascending the steep slope which forms the
southeastern side of the court of the Hero
slyphic Stairway, we find ourselves on the sum
nit of a broad terrace overlooking the Eastern
Court. This Enclosure, though somewhat small
(about 1875 feet square,, originally must have
been one of the most beautiful parts OF the city,
Judging from the elaborate sculptures now
strewing it in great profusion. On Its south SIDE
rises the highest pyramid at Copan, the summit
112 feet above the level of the river. Across the
4 .,rt ~ tho waqtorn side extends a broad.
rather low stairway, fanked by two ~life-sized
romnant iaguars sculptured in high relief. This
eioht of steps leads to a broad terrace overlook.
inc another court. The remaining sides OF the
Eastern Court are occupied by high terraces
which support a number of ruined structures
One of these on the northern terrace was exca'
vated by Mr.. Maudslay, who found there a beau'
tiful interior doorway nine feet wide, over
which there is an elaborate frieze supported al
its ends by crouching human figures OF herole
size. the whole being carved in high relef al
most amounting to sculpture In the round.
The structures on the eastern and remaining
terrace have for the most part disappeared, the1l
destruction having been due to a change IN
the course of the Copan river, which now
washes the exterior base of this terrace. lhis
cutting away of the great substructure Oh the
main group Of buildings by the river is one
Of the most interesting and at the same TIM
deplorable features at Copan, since ultimately, Il
not checked, 1t can mean nothing more nor less
than the total destruction of the city.
But this wholesale demolition Is not being &C
complished without its accompanying lesson in
archaeology. This great vertical wall, cut by
the river all along the eastern side of the mali
group. 4. the largest crosssection OF an arcn
geological site In the world. Here, like an oper
book, one may read the successive periods Of
the city's growth. At different levels from the
hollows upward throughout the rubble heartine
OF the substructure there are horizontal strata
of cut paving stones. These are the pavements
Of different plazas dating from successive
epochs Of the city's history, and they clearly
demonstrate that the growth Of Copan has beer
gradual. AS time passed and the population In
creased, newer and larger structures and plazai
we're built to meet the needs of the growing
city. These constructions, as we see from tn
cross-section of the substructure, were built al
rectly above the older ones. When 1t became
necessary to build a new plaza Its rubble foun
dattons were laid on the paving of the old plazI
which 1t was to replace, and thus the highest o
the substructure slowly increased. A careful
study Of the floors Of these successive plaza
would doubtless teach much as to the diferen
epochs Of the city's occupancy, and might evel
reveal important facts relative to its history.
Before closing this description, 1t may not b
out Of place to explain here our reasons for hay
ing called Copan "The Mother City OF tn
Mayas." Briefly stated, it is because of tn
greater antiquity of its hieroglyphic inscription
as compared with those of every other May
city now known. This greater age of Copan !
indicated, not only by the actual dates recorde
in its earliest inscriptions, but also by a crude
technique in their execution. Later, in the bes
period of the southern Maya civilization, sculI
ture Is found to be in very high relief or even !
the round, and is characterized by a great prt
fusion and elaboration Of detail. Nothing {
this, however, appears In the earliest NOM
ments at Copan, where the relief Is so low ths
1t amounts to little more than incised lines, tn
sculptor apparently not feeling sure enough {
t his technique to attempt anything more amb
tious.
t Aside from this question Of technique, hoy
. ever, the dates themselves recorded on thes
: more crudely sculptured monuments are muc
I earlier than those on the more elaborate one
= The earliest historic date at Copan preceded tn
4 earliest historic dates of all the other gre'
Q Maya cities by intervals ranging from 20 to 81
Q years, or, expressed in terms Of Maya chrome
y ogy, from one to fifteen katuns, the Maya *
tun'' being approximately equal to 20 Of our ow
I years.
q For these two reasons, then, the more prin
9 tive character OF its earliest monuments al
9 the actual priority Of its earliest dates, we ha'
called Copan THE Mother City Of the Mayas