Diver Finds Ruins Of Submerged City In Bolivian Lake

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27576, 5 February 1955, Page 7

Diver Finds Ruins Of Submerged City In Bolivian Lake

(Rec. 9 p.m.) LA PAZ (Bolivia), February 3. Mr William Mardorf, aged 29, a Chicago deep sea diver, said today he had discovered the ruins of a submerged city in Lake Titicaca—the world’s highest large lake, situated on the border of Bolivia and Peru.

Mr Mardorf, who said he learned diving with the United States Marine Corps, explored the bottom of the lake mainly in search of fabled Inca gold and other treasures. So far he has found no gold, but his report on the ruins and stone implements he brought to the surface have excited Bolivian archaeologists. Mr Mardorf descended as far as 200 ft in the waters of the “sacred lake” as it was called by the Incas. He said the ruins and stone wall of the submerged city were discovered near tha mouth of the Escoma river,

near what is known as the Enchanted Island. The Island of the Sun, the largest on the lake, is believed to be the cradle of the Inca civilisation. But i archaeologists said the submerged • city might have been built by the • Aymaras, whose civilisation had dis- . appeared by the time the Incas ; emerged, an estimated five centuries I before the discovery of America. The Aymaras built a metropolis f known as Tiahuanaeo on the east shore I of Lake Titicaca. Some of its ruins , still exist.

Some archaeologists speculated that the submerged city of Lake Titicaca was originally built on a large island which disappeared below the surface during an earthquake. The ruins were found at a depth of 95ft, Mr Mardorf said. The diver said he would continue his exploration of the lake bottom. The, Government had given him exclusive exploration rights for 18 months with the understanding that it would receive a 25 per cent, share of any gold or other treasures found.