The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1911-05-20
FIND AZTEC RELICS
Gold MoIds Buried in Mexico Are
Unearthed.
One of Most Remarkable Discoveries
in Archaeology and Ethnoloay of
Prehistoric Tribes Made Re-
Gently Near AtzcapotzaIco.

City Of Mexico, Mex-One of the
most remarkable discoveries in the
archaeology and ethnology of the pre-,
historic tribes of Mexico was made re-
Gently when complete goldsmith s
outfit, primitive, yet much used, was
dug up from the gravel bed of small
stream near Atzcapotzalco. Found
near the site on which were unearthed
numbers Of finely carved idols, molds
from which clay artifects were made,
and complete factory for pottery,
this last discovery leads to the be-
lief that there was once a f1ourishing
city of the Aztecs or of some other
ancient Indian race on the land now
occupied by the suburb Of Atzcapot-
zalco.
This latest find, which is now In
the possession of Prof William Niven,
in this city, consists of furnace. re-
tort and the long clay tube of the
blower, the leather portion Of which
had, of course, long since rotted away.
All these article have metamorphosed
from clay into stone, so many years
had they lain underground. All are in
perfect condition, and easily recogniza-
BILE, even yet some of the crude ore
being found clinging to the sides of the
pan of the furnace They were buried
about fourteen feet beneath the sur
face, practically the same depth at
which the relics previously referred
to were found some days ago.
With the remains of the furnace
and retort were found a number OF
molds, evidently for silver and gold.
With each mold was small image,
apparently a pattern of the particular
ornament which the mold was de-
signed to reproduce. In every instance,
these small patterns, none more than
three or four inches in height, con-
sisted of the image of a man or
mans head, wearing the particular or
nament which was to be made.
One set of patterns is for head
dress. The largest pattern is for the
great double feather which the chiefs
of the time were accustomed to wear
lust over the forehead, while there
are patterns for earrings, noserings,
hair ornaments and a fillet of beautl-
full construction, with which to bind
up the hair. Among the hair orna-
ments are designs of the fieur de lis,
the first time such a pattern has been
found among any of the Indian tribes
of the new world, according to Pro-
lessor Niven, who is making an ex-
tensive study of the collection.
Among the most interesting patterns
discovered is one for a huge breast
plate. evidently of silver. rms is
rectangular in shape, Is by IL lnches'
with large number of places for the
inset of precious stones. This Is con-
sidered one of the finest artlIects
found, and Shows a high stage or art
in its making.
Wrist bands, thick and wide. and
made for the wrists of powerful men,
also appear in the molds, the interiors
of which show that the resultant gold
and silver castings must have had ele-
CANT decorations plentifully scattered
over their surfaces. 1t is commonly
understood that the gold and silver
used by these Indian artisans came
from the district of Zacatula in Guer-
zero, being carried on the backs OF
traders, from the far mining district,
but Professor Niven believes, from
the abundance and size of these molds.
that the two metals must have been
secured in greater quantity nearer TO
the home of the goldsmith. This opens
an interesting field of search for the
ancient gold and silver mines OF the
valley or the nearby mountains