Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 172, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1911 — RELICS OF ANCIENTS [ARTICLE]

RELICS OF ANCIENTS

Central American Jungle is Being Cieared for Park. Greatest Wonder Excavated Thue Far la 20-Ton “Stone Turtle/A , Unique In History of Arohaeo- ■ -w? logical Discoveries. Los Angeles.—Charles F. Lummis has gathered his young son under his wing and sailed for Central America, to pursue Important Investigations for the Southwest museum, of Los Angeles, the creature of his untiring labor. The Southwest museum, for which material has been In course of accumulation for a number of years, is destined to be one of the greatest attractions In southern California, Its collection is made up of relics of prehistoric civilizations, mainly gathered from New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. Its officers are rejoicing in the opening of new fields of exploration and at the prospect of the acquisition of relics from Guatemala. A fund of about 170,000 is In hand for the construction of a suitable home. The departure of Lummis was delayed until he declared he must hurry away to get in his work "before the bottom of the sky falls out In that land of Quetzal, where the annual rainfall Is from eight to ten feet”

He was accompanied by his 11-year-old son Qulmu, who in coming years Is expected to make his. mark in the scientific world, through his explorations. Lummis Is also one of the board of managers of the American School of Archaeology, which holds annual “meetings” In different fields of research, and Qulmu, since a mere baby, has been his Inseparable companion at these gatherings. The boy Is a great pal with the Indians, and It is said that none surpass his skill and daring in scaling ticklish cliffs. The gathering is this year being held at Qulrigua. , . Qulrigua is in northwest Guatemala, where much of the country la owned by the United Fruit company, sometimes spoken of as the banana trust, and through his. company the archaeological association has secured concessions on the ruins of the most marvelous of ancient cities of Central America. Under the direction of Edgar L. Hewitt, of Washington, extensive excavations have been made. Mr. Lummis will soon be among the staff of experts and will have an Important part In the first Important examination ever made of these ruins. In a letter Professor Hewitt says: , “I only wish you could have seen

Qulrigua before we began to transform It from an Impenetrable jungle Into -a beautiful archaeological park. We have completed the survey, setting apart 80 acres, and have made a complete plan for landscaping the park. The work Is now half done.” A number of stelae, or monoliths, up to 30 feet high and 4 tq fl feet at the base, elaborately carved" In high' relief, have been uncovered. The greatest wonder excavated thus far is the 20-ton "stone turtle," unique In the history of archaeological discoveries. It Is not the idea of the explorers to bring away these mammoth relics, but to clear away the mass of vegetation, accumulated through ages, and make Qulrigua a wonder center for scientists of the world.