Researches in the Central Portion of the Usumatsintla Valley; Report of Explorations for the Museum, 1898-1900 Volume 2, No. 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ...There were no inscriptions on the narrow side faces. A mass of roots at the back of this exceedingly heavy stone proved an obstacle to placing it in a perfectly perpendicular position on one of its sides, and it therefore remained leaning forward a little. The sculptured surface could only be lighted up by the rays of the sun as they glanced through the clearing in the front very early in the morning. In order not to lose the favorable moment on the day on which I had arranged to take the photograph, I had my breakfast brought out to the stela, where I had set up my apparatus, deeply sunk in the earth, so that the middle of the lens should correspond as nearly as possible with the middle of the stone. Fortunately no clouds obstructed the sunlight, and the photograph turned out very well. The ornamental base of the deity side is executed in very high relief, and exhibits a richly adorned figure sitting Turkish fashion. The head has been broken off. On the right of the figure are certain symbolic signs, and on the left are the remains of three very much involved glyphs. Upon the top line of the ornamental base stands the beneficent divinity, executed quite in profile, and in much lower relief than that of the base. Before the god stands the chest of plaited work, from which he has taken the string of sweets ornamented with little bees' heads, which he holds out before himself with both hands. He wears buskins and leg-bands; cuffs on his wrists; on the upper part of the body a garment with a great mask in front at the neck; a scroll-work breast-plate, with a St. Andrew's cross; a loin-girdle; a large head attached to the back. The high head-dress consists of peculiar scroll-work. In front of the divinity I find nine large glyphs; behind him, in a...