10 A STUDY OF CHIRIQUIAN ANTIQUITIES. 



measured frequently seven by four and a half feet. In these the relics were 

 usually found near the bottom, at the northern and southern extremities, and 

 more or less on the eastern side. The gold figures most frequently were located 

 about one fourth of the distance from the head to the foot of the grave-pit, and 

 in the medial line. In these Huacas, also, earthen vessels were encountered in 

 the stone package near the surface, and generally at either extremity. 



" The other variety of the quadrangular Huaca, although poor in relics, was 

 more artistically and carefully constructed, and in a better state of preservation ; 

 for in many of them everything was encountered ' in situ." 1 In these a vault existed, 

 which was formed of flat river stone, and was of the requisite size to contain a 

 human body in the supine position, so far as the length and breadth are considered, 

 but in the height giving ample space for the introduction of the earthen relics. 

 These Huacas were located mostly on the more elevated portion of the Huacal, 

 and in the southern and eastern sections. A grave-pit had been sunk about three 

 feet deep and six and a half by four feet in area ; and then a lesser pit, by eight 

 to ten inches on all sides, was farther sunk to the additional depth of about two 

 feet. This smaller pit was lined by flat stones placed edgewise, which were held 

 in position by other flat stones resting flatwise upon the upper edges of these 

 and the surface of the recess in the sides of the grave-pit. The floor of the vault 

 was not paved, but presented a hard, pebbly clay surface, with two depressions 

 frequently, one at either extremity, and corresponding with the probable positions 

 of the occiput and the heels of the body. The cover to the vault was composed 

 of flat stones, quite closely adjusted, and sufficiently overlapping the sides to be 

 firm, and not liable to cave in from the variations of position of the sides, consequent 

 upon subsequent settlings of the earth and stone from natural causes. From the 

 cover of the vault to the surface, the entire area of the grave-pit was closely 

 packed with river stone, somewhat larger than ordinary paving-stone. In these 

 Huacas the relics were also found mostly in the vault, at the head and foot, and 

 on the east side. So far as my experience goes, earthen-ware only was found in 

 these, although I was told that a few had contained the smaller gold figures. 

 Specimens of pottery were encountered also in these, at either extremity of the 

 stone package, immediately above the cover of the vault. The location of these 

 vaulted Huacas, being the more elevated section of the burial-ground, and the 

 vaults also preserving their outlines, the stone package of most of them was 

 slightly raised above the general surface. A black loamy earth occupied all the 

 graves proper, or the original position of the body in it. 



" It would seem, from the facts I have stated, that the gold-bearing graves were 

 those which were ruder in their construction, and which occupied, to some degree, 

 a particular section of the Huacal, although the limits of this were not well defined. 

 The golden ornaments were not found in many successive Huacas, even at the 

 richest points of the Huacal. Pottery, however, was encountered more or less in 

 every Huaca. It is reported that in other Huacals, in the vicinity of Bugaba, traces 

 of human hair have been discovered ; but in those of Bugaba, which I explored 

 carefully, no such evidence of the body was encountered. I have, however, 

 the enamel of a molar tooth, taken from a grave in a Huacal, near that of 

 Bugaba.'' 



