Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, Volume 21

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. 1911. Excerpt: ... THE RUINS AT TIAHUANACO. BY ADOLPH FRANCIS BANDELIER. I cannot pretend to offer anything approximately comparable to the learned and elaborate works published on Tiahuanaco by Dr. Stuebel and Dr. Max Uhle1, or in any way analogous to E. J. Squier's brilliant descriptions.2 Our stay at Tiahuanaco was limited to nineteen days, during which time I found myself sorely tried by the effects of altitude3 and of the not over-salubrious climate. The prohibition, by the Bolivian Government, to excavate in or about the ruins, rendered all subsoil investigation impossible and our limited collections were obtained almost by way of contraband; through purchase from Indians, who mostly came at night to avoid the vigilance of the authorities. Hence surveying of the ruins, observations on the nature of the country and on Indian customs, fragments of folk-tales, and some data from ancient church-books, constituted the fruits of our activity there. A provisional Museum, destined to preserve the antiquities of Tiahuanaco, had been recently opened at that village, and we saw in the rudimentary collection a number of specimens illustrating the type of artefacts. The larger carved blocks which this little Museum contained, displayed the uncouth and angular style of sculpture peculiar to the well-known monoliths. The pottery found at Tiahuanaco shows three distinct types. One seems to be peculiar to the site, as nowhere else, as far as known, is it met with, except as intrusive specimens. It is supposed to be the work of the unknown people who built the edifices now in a condition of lamentable ruin, and who carved the famous monoliths. The style of ornamentation, as can readily be seen, is original and while there may be, as Dr. Uhle stated to the writer, a trace of Tiahuanaco ...