A Treasure Trove of Jade
odd: label: Local Number
content: HSFA 2017.10.1
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Stirling, Matthew Williams, 1896-1975
label: Collection Creator
content: Stewart, Richard H. (Richard Hewett), 1901-2004
setName: label: See more items in
content: Matthew Stirling collection
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1 Videocassette (36 minutes, color sound, 1/2 inch)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1942
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Human Studies Film Archives
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Videocassettes
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Edited film focuses on the National Geographic Society and Smithsonian Institution Expedition to Veracruz, Mexico lead by Matthew W. Stirlng, Smithsonian Institution archeologist. Shown is excavating Cerros de Las Mesas site near Piedras Negras. The various excavations filmed show clearing jungle to access earth mounds; uncovering, cleaning and documenting the large stone heads and stelae; a plaza where stones once stood; pottery vessels containing male skulls; uncovering clay artifacts from pots including masks and figurines; and on the last day in camp uncovering the, at the time, largest cache of Pre-Columbian jade artifacts including ear plugs, human figures and beads.  Additionally, excavating in trenches is explained and shown as the workers dig up to 20 feet into the ground including a burial find.  Also at Cerros de las Mesas, the film shows constructing the camp using local construction and thatched roofs; a fiesta hosted by local peoples including music and dance; tamale making; and agriculture and artifacts of pottery and parchment fragments.  Included with the archeology is traveling on unpaved roads in the station wagon; new grade school at Tapachula; Tehuantepec potters; market and making of palm fiber mats and hats in town near Tehuantepec; Acapulco; Mexico City Zocalo; and Aztec site Teotihuacan. Film was produced by the Office of Inter-American Affairs and narration was written by Matthew W. Stirling.