The Detroit times., 1911-04-21
TRACES ORIGIN OF J
FIRST PERUYIAhs
scientist With 3,400 Skulls Will
Prove Physical CHARACTERISTICS Of ,
An Exterminated Race.

WASHINGTON, April 21-Dr. Alex
Hrdlicka, OF the United States Ma
tional Museum, who made extensive
explorations among the ancient cities
OF Peru, last summer, and brought
back with him 3,40O skulls and thou
sands OF human bones gathered from
nearly forty ancient cemeteries, has
made a preliminary report to the
Smithsonian Institution OF the results
OF his investigations.
He announces that with this ma
terial, together with the collections
from kncon and other localities OF
Peru, already available. II Will be pos
sible now to learn definitely the ply
sical characteristics OF the population
Of the Peruvian coast for a distance
OF over 100 miles and TO establish (?
firm foundation for anthropological
comparisons for the rest OF the couL-
"A try.
His collections proceed mainly from
the ancient sacred city OF Pachaca-
mao
ut Is not yet possible" says Or.
Hrdicka Ia his report. Ito speak or
the full scientific value or the collec-
ton; however, this is not readily
oyerestimated. A number of the more
Important points which presented
themselves during the preliminary
work in the Pachamao ruin are as
follows: III was seen first of all that
the remains here were derived part
IL from mummies. which were espeCi-
ally numerous In the neighborhood Of
3 the Temple OF the great deity OF
Pachacamac. and in part from simple
burials; also that in rare instances
cremation had been practiced.
Made Mummies Of Their Dead.
"sThe mummies were not only ar
tiicial as TO their exterior, but there
appeared evidence that the bodies
themselves, or at least some of their
parts. had been specially treated;
thus number OF skulls, mostly such
as were damaged by wounds, were
s found filed with cotton.
".All the larger cemeteries about
\ the extensive ruins contained burials
OF males, females and even children.
but the last were nowhere very num-
y erous and were in a decided minority
near the temples. In one cemetery
Z Al persons Inferred were women, and
zone of these had died natural
Ueath, but were victims of strangula
ion All were adults and one OF the
Bkulls showed gray hair. II is prob
1ble that the victims were strangled
IS sacrifices to the deity of the tent
lie.
1.-THE people buried at Pachacamac
we're in general of moderate stature
Ind medium physical development.
Rith shorter and weaker individuals
Dot infrequent.'
n The investigation in the cemeteries
a the Valley of Chicama, the region
% the Chimu, emphasized the relative
6carcity of the remains of children
This Is not due to the earlier decay
u children's bones, for where such
we're found they were in just as good
condition as those OF the adults. II
indicates either scarcity of children,
IN DR.. Hrdlicka's opinion, separated
dnterments, or else low infant NOR
tality.
"a A Religious and Political Centre.
"Pachacamac was famous re.
ligious centre. comparable TO the
Egyptian Thebes or the Mohammedan
Mecca" says DR.. Hrdlicka 1T origin
lily contained the shrine of the 'crca-
tor god, Pachacamac, to which flock
ed pilgrims coming from all parts or
Peru, three hundred leagues or more,
and later after conquest of the place
by the Peruvians of the highlands, it
Rlso had famous temple OF the Sun
u was at the same time a political
centre, the seat of chief who ruled
over the neighboring populous val
Ueys. Its decline dates from the en-
france OF the Spaniards in 1888.
n The Inhabitants disappeared, leav.
Ing scarcely trace in history, but
they left behind a vast number OF
graves. II is estimated that the total
number of burials within and about
the ruins was between 10000 and So
1000. There are six or more aggrega-
.tions Of graves which may be regard
led as cemeteries, but burials often
1.-TWO deep, existed, apparently in every
available part of the ground, within
the temples, about and even within
THE dwellings.
Poems Scatter Bones Of Predecessors.
These cemeteries, with the ex-
fception of one smaller one, have been
Tor years the prey OF poems, engaged
I'm searching for pottery and precious
metals. which are carried to Lima for
sale. The result is the destruction Of
thousands of mummy bundles, and
often the mummies themselves, seal.
ltering the bones, damage to the walls
and foundations and destruction or
abandonment OF everything that could
not be sold.
THE skulls, bones, wrappings, dam.
aged fabrics, broken jars, etc,
fare left TO litter the surface of the
sands, or are but partly buried by the
learth thrown out from the excay a.
Itions. When ! arrived the place LOOK.
ed like veritable Golgotha, or some
great barbaric battlefield, with skulls
and bones whitening the ground and
ruins In every direction"