Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-06
DIAL IS EXCAVATED
IN SOUTH AMERICA
Gigantic Movement to Magyar
Civilization Unearthed by 8
Capital Men.
EN the Assnniateti NIwes.

By the Associated Press.
Excavation of the essential architcc-
tGral clements Of gigantic Suncial
which marked the time ot the cQui-
foxes and SolStlccS, 4 mighty monu-
mcnt to the ancient Mayan civilization
III Central America. has been COM
pletcd by arCharoloclSiS of The Carnegie
Institution of Washington.
The work has been III progress three
years under the direction OF DR.. Syl-
Vanus G Morley. whose account of the
third field season. recently completed.
CiSClcScS progress III the effort 10 re-
capture the LOST knowledge Of highly
civilized people who were thriving i'll
this hemisphere when Christ WAS b02n.
Complete Temple Works.
Ccntcring their activities at the old
empire city OF UaNaCtun i'll the north
CYL part OF the department Of Pctcn.
Guatemala, and at the new empire city
a Chichen liza. IN northwestern YucA-
tan. Mexico. Dr.. Morley and his ASSOC
GATES not only have completed exca-
walton Of the huge sundial AT the
former place but have finished work on
the magnificent Temple Of the Warriors
at the latter.
UaxaC;un is the oldest Magyar city
Yet discovered. its dated heir0glypfc
monuments establishing that il was in
habited as carly as bS AID, and as
late as go AID. Chicllen TIA was the
capital Of the MayaS during the
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
lis monuments GATE from 531 10 l443
A. ID. They include. in addition TO the
Temple of the Warriors and other CYL
Cence Of advanced architectural and
artistic development, an astronomical
observatory which does not differ great
y III design from those now III Use.
The huge sundial at UaXactun, by
means Of which the Maya priests
were able 10 regulate the agricultural
activities q the people by determining
The seasonal changes. was constructed
III the PRINCIPAL plaza Or court OF sec
ton Of the CITY which the investigators
have designated Group E. Three
temples. identified as E /. E II and E
III. and pyramid. VII, were the
principal elements Of this remarkable
architectural calendar.
Used for Observation.
1T would appear" says DR.. Morley.
that she ancient Maya priests used
the stairway ascending Pyramid VII
as g point of observation for sunr!seS,
and that Temples Z l. E II and f III
were SO located with reference TO
Pyramid E vi that the sun rose be-
hind the northern front corner Of
Temple E I, as seen from the point of
observation on the day of the Sum-
,ner solstice. June %; behind the mid
Gle point OF Temple E II on the days
of the vernal and Autumnal equinoXes.
March q and September %. respec-
lively. and behind the southern front
corner of Temple Z III on the day OF
the Winter solstice. December o."
The excavation Of Pyramid E VII
brought 10 light series Of enormous
human heads nodded in stucco,' each
6 feet wide and feet high. which for
merly decorated all four sides. Many
o. these heads. however. have been de-
stroyed b. the luxuriant tropical vege-
tation Of the last l3 centuries.
The archeo!ogistS also discovered,
buried beneath the sanctuary OF Tenn
pie z II covered pottery vase hold
ing a human fgurine. 5 inches high
and painted rec. so crudely executed
IN mud and stone that II appears TO
date from the clty's earliest period.