268 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



archaeological remains of the RepubHc, in the PalacioCentenario in the presence 

 of President Orellana, the cabinet, and diplomatic corps. He returned to 

 Mexico on May 26. 



The President of the Carnegie Institution arrived in Mexico City on June 2, 

 and at once began conferences with Dr. Manuel Gamio, the Director of 

 Anthropology of the Mexican Government, as to the nature of the project to 

 be undertaken at Chichen Itza. Conferences were also had with Seiior Don 

 Ramon P. De Negri, the Minister of Agriculture and Public Works, and with 

 General Obregon, President of Mexico, and on June 5 the formal proposition 

 of the Institution was presented to the Mexican Government. 



Dr. Morley spent the month of June in Mexico City arranging the details 

 of the agreement with Dr. Gamio, of the Direction of Anthropology. 



This contract (signed by the Minister of Agriculture and Public Works, 

 representing the Federal Government of Mexico) concedes to the Institution 

 "permission to carry out archseological explorations and excavations as well 

 as all such repairs and restorations as may be necessary in the ruins of Chichen 

 Itza, in the State of Yucatan, . . . for a term of 10 years beginning 

 January 1, 1924." 



Although the contract does not come into operation until January 1, 1924, 

 under article 20 the right was given to commence immediately certain pre- 

 liminary work, such as clearing away the forest growing over that part of the 

 city which it is planned to excavate first, and constructing field-quarters for 

 laborers and staff. 



In conformity with this clause. Dr. Morley left Mexico City for Yucatan on 

 July 12 and visited Chichen Itza in company with Dr. Gamio and Mr. Rey- 

 gadas of the Direction of Anthropology. The Group of the Thousand 

 Columns was selected as the first point for intensive operations, and early in 

 August the felling of the forest over this area was commenced, and the nature 

 of the work to be undertaken was fully discussed with the responsible officials 

 of the Mexican Government on the ground. 



In December Mr. J. O. Kilmartin, by arrangement with the United States 

 Geological Survey, went to Chichen Itza to survey the property which it is 

 proposed to rent for field-quarters and to make a preliminary map of the 

 Group of the Thousand Columns, as well as to supervise the construction of 

 additional quarters for members of the scientific staff and the Maya Indian 

 laborers. Dr. Morley returned to the United States on August 29 and spent 

 the autumn in organizing the Chichen Itza project. The members of the staff 

 are to take the field early in January 1924. 



During the course of the field season it was possible, from time to time, to 

 further the general work on the Maya inscriptions by the discovery of a few 

 new texts, of which three were found to have Initial Series. 



At Chichen Itza on March 6 a new stela was found in the niche between the 

 double stairway on the west side of the second terrace leading to the Caracol 

 or Round Tower. This monument has 132 hieroglyphs sculptured on its 

 front, sides, and top, and is the longest inscription yet found at this site. It 

 has not yet been possible to decipher the date, although its hieroglyphs are 

 well preserved. 



Underneath this stela was found a large circular stone with a projection for 

 tenoning it into a wall. On the front of the round part twelve human figures 

 are sculptured in two lines before an altar, arranged as if engaged in some 



