l66 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



After concluding explorations at the Monte Cristi sites, a visit was 

 made into the foothills of the central cordillera near the Haitian 

 border in the vicinity of the Chaquey River. The writer was ac- 

 companied by Sehor Andres Socias of Copey, who had discovered 

 petroglyphs on some large boulders on the banks of the Chaquey 

 River near the village of Mara. The writer also seized the opportunity 

 of studying the large collection of stone implements and ceremonial 

 objects assembled by Seiior Socias from northwestern Santo Domingo, 

 west of the valley of the Yaque River. This region apparently con- 

 stituted the eastern boundary of the aboriginal province of Marien, 

 whose chief, Goacanagaric, befriended Columbus during his first voy- 

 age. One of the striking dilTerences observed between Seiior Socias' 

 collection from Marien and the objects recovered by the writer from 

 Ciguayan sites east of the Yaque River has to do with stone imple- 

 ments associated with the growing of maize. The Ciguayans east of 

 the Yaque River apparently did not grow maize and no stone 

 implements for working maize kernels into flour were found by the 

 writer. In Senor Socias' collection from northwestern Hispaniola, 

 also in collections from village sites in the great central plain, east of 

 Santiago de los Caballeros, mealing stones similar tO' the Mexican 

 metate and mano are common. In either area, however, occur flat cir- 

 cular earthenware griddles showing the universal use of cassava bread. 



The ceremonial life of the culturally more advanced Arawak tribes 

 of central and western Santo Domingo is characterized by the pres- 

 ence of circular courts walled with stone slabs. The largest of these 

 courts is near the town of San Juan in the province of Azua. This 

 court was described by the great explorer Sir Robert Schomburgk in 

 185 1. A smaller circular court was discovered by the writer in the 

 hills near the headwaters of the Chaquey River. A circle of upright 

 stones, 300 feet in diameter, surrounds a flat space overlooking the 

 valley. Two entrances to the court are placed at opposite sides of the 

 circle. At the exact center stands a stone pillar uncarved except at the 

 top which has been shaped to represent the head of a god or " zemi " 

 in human form. Although the stone-walled court is after a fashion 

 monumental, it does not compare structurally with the more elaborate 

 ball courts of the Maya. 



Acknowledgment is hereby made to the many officials of the 

 Dominican government who have extended valuable aid in locating 

 archeological sites. Especial thanks are due to the Honorable Secre- 

 tary of the Interior, Doctor Alfonseca, for letters of introduction and 

 for obtaining the cooperation of many local officials. 



