TREASURE OF MEXICO

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3440, 8 March 1932, Page 8

TREASURE OF MEXICO

FIND BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS. Rich finds by Mexican archaeologists in some pre-Aztec ruins at Monte Alban, near Oaxaca, are regarded by archaeologists and ethnologists as comparable in significance with discoveries made in Pharaoh Tutankhamen's tomb in Egypt. Treasures of gold and precious stones are reported by Don Alfonso Caso, who directed the excavations, to be "worth millions," but quite apart from their intrinsic value they, have a great importance in throwing light on a Mexican culture about which little has hitherto been known. Several weeks ago the excavators were excited by the discovery that they were approaching, at the foot of a stairway 150 ft. wide, a central tomb. Working in their enthusiasm fourteen and sixteen hours a day to remove debris, they came at last to a flat carved tablet in the ceiling of the tomb. It proved to be not a doorway but an exit by which the builders had emerged after sealing the doorway from the inside (says "The Times.") The treasure inside the tomb exceeded all expectations. Entirely covering the mummies of ten Caciques of the Mixtee nation was a heap of cups, urns, vases, jars of onyx, jade, and rock crystal, together with numerous ornaments and utensils of gold inlaid with turquoises. The workmanship of these relics show a high degree of development, and this, with what little is known of the Mixtee civilisation, indicates that the Caciques were buried there at some time either in the fifteenth or sixteenth century. The obvious haste of the interment supports the belief that it was done—in this country of hostile Zapotecs—in time of war.

Reports aboutt he details of the discoveries are still meagre; but now that the treasures have been removed for safe keeping to the vaults of the Bank of Mexico it is expected that all facts about them will be published. It has already been announced, however, that the skulls of the mummies are encrusted with turquoise—brought probably from the mines of New Mexico. This gem was held sacred by the Mayas and Aztecs alike. With the mummies were found a finely-wrought mask of gold and a human skull penetrated by a stone knife. The fact that the tomb had never been entered before since it was sealed by the builders has caused Senor Caso and his fellow-workers to hope that there may be other treasures yet to be found in Monte Alban.