GUATEMALA—KIDDER S506 
Even in those early days, influences from Mexico had begun to 
appear. It may even be that there were actual migrations from the 
north. At a later time movements of people from Mexico certainly 
took place. Evidence of this is found in such legendary accounts as 
the Popul Vuh, in the presence of groups of Nahua-speaking Pipil on 
the coast, on the Motagua, and in what is now Baja Verapaz. It has 
been suggested that warlike Mexicans may have been responsible for 
the disturbed conditions and intertribal strife that occurred throughout 
the highlands between the close of the Classic Period and the coming 
of Alvarado. That such conditions existed is indicated by the fact 
that sites of that period, such as Utatlan, Chuitinamit on Lake 
Atitlan, Iximche, Chutix Tiox near Sacapulas, and many others in 
the Departments of Quiche and Huehuetenango were situated with 
an obvious eye to protection from attack. Furthermore, the Popul 
Vuh and the Annals of the Cakchiquels are full of accounts of battles 
and sieges. 
What was going on in Alta Verapaz at this time is less understood. 
During the Classic Period that area received strong influence from the 
Lowland Maya, as is shown by the beautiful pottery found there. As 
to events of the later prehistoric era we know next to nothing. Queerly 
enough, there seem to be relatively few large ruin groups in Alta 
Verapaz; but almost no archeological work, even surface reconnais- 
sance, has been done. 
Although our knowledge of the highlands is scanty, we are in even 
worse case as regards the Pacific slope and coastal plain. That 
wonderfully fertile strip of country between the volcanic rampart and 
the ocean probably contains more ancient remains per square kilometer 
than any other part of the Republic. Sites, for the most part assem- 
blages of earth mounds—there seems to have been very little stone 
construction at any period—are everywhere; and, even more than the 
highlands, the coast was easily accessible to influences and migrations 
from without. There is evidence of a heavy population during Classic 
times, but little is known of Classic coastal culture, save for a rather 
late phase represented at Finca El Paraiso, in the Chuva district. <A 
little work has also been done at El Baul, where there occur most 
interesting sculptures, including a colossal stone head. Other sculp- 
tures, some showing strong Mexican traits, have been found at Santa 
Lucia Cotzumalhuapa. Elsewhere, carvings in Olmec style have come 
to light. It is certain that a stock taking of coastal remains, followed 
by excavations at sites which such a survey shows to be strategic, 
would yield a rich harvest of information, not only as to Guatemalan 
pre-history but also upon problems of continent-wide importance. 
