Old Tombs of Mexico

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 168, 17 July 1937, Page 7

Old Tombs of Mexico

. IND 3 OF GREAT VALUE Important discoveries, including peana and jade in ancient, tomus, aro being mace at Monto Aluan, the famous archaeo.ogicai mound in tne State of Oaxaca, Mexico. They are being unearthed by Jt’roiessor Caso, head or the Government Research Department, who has begun a new series of excavations there. Finds ot great value regarding the ancient history of the western hemisphere and the origin of the races which inhabit Mexico to-uay will, it is expected, result from his investigations. A vast citadel and 104 tombs have already been uncovered at Monte Alban. The discoveries can oe divided as follows: —Relics oi an epoch before the Teotihuacan influence (before 100 b 8.C.); relics of the first Teotihuacan period (1000 B.C. to AJD. 718); discoveries of the Teotihuacan “Golden Era.” The tomus now being unearthed are a continuation of those previously exposed beneath many acres of what once a vast citadel. This was probab . built during the Zapotecan perioc. when the Zapotecas, who migrated t Mexico from North-west America, we. forced to defend themselves fro marauding tribes. Giant Stiirca.be. In order io prevent the dcsec..*.. f j bunal places of their dead, t - cas built citadels, where the r xl .» might be immune from profa: ti«- .iud the treasure buried with t dead might be safe. The giaut sta. case leading to the citadel, now large! destroyed by time, still rivals in

grandeur similar structures of ancient Egypt. The numerous images of gods, made of earthenware, pottery, and oiher substances, found in the tombs go to prove the old Mexican legend that such images were intended to destroy robbers by spitting lire. The first tomus contained skeletons in a better state of preservation than those moro recently uncovered, many of the remains being encased in bone substances encrusted with pearls, some of which were as large as blackbirds eggs. Some skeletons had also masks of pure gold, and an abundance of jade was found surrounding the bodies. The more recent discoveries show a lack of gold, although pearls and jade have been found. This is taken to indicate that the date of the remains goes back to the time when the original inhabitants of Mexico had either not discovered gold or had not begun working it as an art. Wonderful frescoes decorate the tombs on which the authorities are now