THE ANDEAN MEDAL. 97 



number is duplicated in the Andean Medal. Whether 

 this betokens more than a coincidence is a question for 

 those better versed in interpretations of these symbols. 

 In fig. 5, from a gravestone, the triangular enclosures are 

 sunken below the balance of the face, which from their 

 borders, within the circle, is rounded up in relief. Fig. 6, 

 is said by Mr. de Kay to have been from a "hammered 

 gold spangle with pagan sun cross." 



The occurrence of these sun symbols mixed in with 

 those of the church, on gravestones and crosses, and in 

 places of worship in Ireland, is suggestive of a possible 

 influence, through the emissaries of the church, upon the 

 art fashion in Peru at the time of the maker of the medal, 

 or earlier. The idea is only a suggestion but so far as it 

 has any weight it favors the opinion of Dr. Uhle that the 

 medal is of later date than the advent of Columbus or Pi- 

 zarro. As in Ireland, so in South America, pagan prac- 

 tices were woven in with those of the church, or at any 

 rate were indulged in long after the attempt at suppres- 

 sion. According to the Doctor, the medal derives additional 

 nterest from the fact that the circumstances of its discov- 

 ery, in connection with the date of its origin, indicate the 

 persistence of the custom of making mummies, and of put- 

 ting metal in their mouths, long after the commencement 

 of the bloody struggle for the displacement of the symbols 

 of sun-worship in the " land of the sun," by those of 

 Christianity. The following is quoted from the letter: 



"It is true that round pieces of metal have been inserted 

 between the lips of mummies by the ancient Peruvians. 

 M. Squier has described some, and I know others of gold 

 of round form with a round hole near the border. You 

 think that the medal may prove of some account in re- 

 searches concerning the metal workers of the lands of the 

 Incas." But there can be no doubt about that. The date 



