The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-07-16

I'm HUNDREDS of places through
out the state of Oaxaca, Next
co, are to be found what they
call "Pueblos Viejos" (old vii
lages), some close to the site of the
new villages and others in the wild
country, far away from all habitations.
In these ruins traces can be seen of
houses, temples, fortresses and tombs.
In some places graves only are seen
to mark the place of former civiii-
cation, and these consist of mounds,
Some of which are built to consider
able height, writes correspondent of
the Christian Science Monitor.
Among the ruins well known on
account of their state of preservation
and Importance can be- mentioned the
ruins of Militia, those at Monte Alban,
at Guiengula and at Achiutla.
The famous ruins of Militia are the
best preserved on account of the dry
climate of the country in which they
are situated. They are among the
most deliberately ornamented ruins in
Mexico, and on the walls are found
uDouG hllCCh 'uIiIClChJ uCSiSho AiipuN
with mosaics known as grecques. The
figures are all geometrical and are
found mostly in panels on both inside
and outside of the walls of the rooms.
Features of Militia Ruins.
The original name Of these ruins
called by the Mexicans 'Mictlan"
which means "the place of the dead"
The place is now in the center of the
Zapotec country, and the ZapOtec lam
guage is spoken by the inhabitants
of the village close to the ruins. One
monoliths, each being about II feet
high and feet in circumference,
which have no carvings. The most
beautiful room is known as the Hall
of MOsaics. Its four sides are covered
with designs. Paintings were found
on some Of the walls, but these have
mostly disappeared. Close to the
ruins pyramidal mound is to be
seen and about two miles distant is a
fort of great interest.
The grecques or arabesques found
at Militia give it distinctive charac-
ter, and in no other part of the re-
public are there any ruins like them.
When the Spaniards conquered Mexi-
co, Militia was still an important place.
!, The ruins of Monte Alban are situ-
ated on the outskirts of the city of
Oaxaca and seem to belong to much
Ill MS ,f
In fact, Monte Alban was in ruins
when Militia was at it's height of pros
perity. The ruins cover an area of
about two miles in length by third
of mile in width. On every side are
remains of temples, foundations, ter
races, walls, and graves, but these
places have not been explored and are
covered with debris. Some fine stones
with carvings are still standing and
many have been removed to the Ma
tional Museum of Mexico City. The
sculptures indicate that the Maya civil
lization must have extended to this
part of the country.
Fort at GuIengula.
The ruins of Guiengula on the 18th
mus of Tehuantepec show the exist
ence of big fort which was used
in the battles between the Mexicans
and the ZapOtecs. This fort was built
on the top of mountain, and contains
two pyramids of stones, having stair
ways leading up to the tops. Remains
of temples, chambers, trenches, and
terraces can also be distinguished.
The ruins at Achiutla consist of
courts, walls, mounds, and terraces.
Achiutla was the sacred city of the
great Mixtec nation, their country be-
ing called Mixtecapam before the
Spaniards arrived in Mexico An ex-
traordinary number of pieces of pot
terry Is found everywhere in this vii
lage, which is still Inhabited by the
Mixtec Indians, or Mixtecos.
In the graves that have been opened
In these different ruins have been
found great variety of stone and
,lov ;1ale, o,paropfc roodo Of oo1d