Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 109, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1911 — FIND ANCIENT RUINS [ARTICLE]

FIND ANCIENT RUINS

Clay Diggers Unearth Steps of Temple of Sacrifice. Discovery of Aztec Temple, Antedating Invasion of Mexico by Spanish Under Hernando Cortez, by Possibly Centuries. San Antonio, Texas.—ls Indian <?lay diggers and potters are to be believed mysterious lights at night, and strange sounds during the day, at a site near San Miguel Amaztla have led to the discovery of an Aztec tern-, pie antedating the invasion of Mexico by the Spanish under Hernando Cortez by possibly centuries. Since time Immemorial the Indians In the vicinity have claimed that both the lights and the noise had been observed by many and it has been impossible to get any of them to approach the scene of the alleged phenomenon—a mound located to one side of a narrow lane leading from the Atzcapotzalco-San-tlago Ahuixotli road to the village of San Miguel. Recently, however, some of them were Induced to dig clay near the base of the mound and In the progress of their work they came across the steps of a teocalll, one-of the pyramid temples of the Aztecs. When first found the ruins were thought to be those of an old ranch house or granary, but soon unmistakable signs of their prehistoric character were met. So far little excavation work has been done. Above the temple, says the Mexican Dally Record, early Spanish farmers had erected a low circular wall, the Inclosure being used for the thrashing of grain. This wall was torn down a few weeks ago and under it and at the base of the temple wall were found Idol statuettes, broken pottery, ashes and bones thought to originate with human sacrifices made to appease the wrath of Hultzlopochitli, the great god of the Aztec system of religion. At a depth of ten feet below the present soil surface a cement floor was found and under it more Aztec statuettes, pottery and human bones. Here also the remains of an older wall were discovered. In view of the fact that the base of the temple is ten feet below the present surface of the ground, there is little doubt that the structure is a very old one. Possibly the surface of the mound represents the platform of the teocalll. The fact that ashes and bones were found on it is ample proof that such is the sase. The Mexican teocalll, or temple, was a pyramid of earth faced with stone, and on its summit stood the sacrificial stone on

which the victims were killed by having their hearts torn from their living bodies, certain portions of the body being then made burnt offerings to the deity to whom the. temple .was dedicated. The remainder of thecorpse was then thrown down the steep sides of the teacalli and left there. A feature of the temple at San Miguel is that around Its present base grows a druidlike circle of large trees. In its vicinity are many other mounds, mostly small, and it is therefore quite possible that here at one time stood an Aztec city. Clay diggers and potters living near by have found tremendous quantities of small stone idols, jade beads, earthenware, with Aztec decorations and itzll knives, such as used by priests in opening the breasts of the victims of their creed. According to , present calculations, Aztec civilization in Mexico is not over 700 years old, but it would seem that this period will have to be added to considerably, for the reason that it must have taken centuries to bury the structure at Ban Miguel Amaztla.