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 MAUDSLAY'S ARCHEOLOGICAL WORK IN CENTRAL

AMERICA

By CYRUS THOMAS

The object of the present paper is to note briefly some of the results of Maudslay's explorations in Central America, and to call attention to some of the questions suggested thereby. The paper, however, is not intended as a review of the archeological portion of his Biologia Centrali-Americana y being limited almost wholly to his work at Copan.

One gratifying result of Mr Maudslay's explorations is the testimony furnished thereby to the general correctness and value of the works of John L. Stephens and the drawings by Mr Catherwood. In regard to the portion relating to Copan, he says : " Almost all the sculptured monuments at Copan which were then to be seen above ground are described and figured in Stephens' work." He adds, however, " Like all other visitors to the ruins, he failed to understand the nature of the ruined struc- tures, mistaking houses for fallen city walls, and seeing no trace of stone roofed dwelling-houses or temples " (Pt. I, Text, p. 9). The personal narrative of Mr Maudslay in reference to his re- searches is very brief, in fact far too brief to satisfy the desire of his readers, especially as his descriptions are clear and readily understood. Those in regard to his work at Copan, to which our notes are mainly confined, relate chiefly to the difficulties he encountered.

The ancient city or pueblo of Copan was situated on Copan river, a tributary of Rio Motagua which flows into the Gulf of Honduras. It was situated just within what is now the western boundary of the Republic of Honduras (lat. 14 50' 30" N.), on

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