BY ANCIENT INHABITANTS OF CHIRIQUI. 7 



into the ground, and thus, if any bard substance is present, discovers 

 tbe existence of a burial. It is mentioned by one or two writers tbat 

 tbe graves are in man}' cases marked by stones, eitber loose or set in 

 tbe ground in rectangular and circular arrangements. Tbe graves do 

 not often seem to bave bad a uniform position in relation to one anotber 

 or to tbe points of tbo compass. In some cases tbey are clustered about 

 a central tomb, and tbeu assume a somewbat radiate arrangement; 

 again, according to Mr. IVIcNiel, tbey were placed end to end, occupy- 

 ing long trencbes. He describes tbe pits as being oval and quadran- 

 gular and as baviug a depth ranging from a few feet to eighteen feet. 



MmJh/^MWjU. 



Fig. 1. Section of an ordinary grave, showing the surface pack of river atones and the positions of 

 the slabs and objects of art. 



Tbe i)aving or pack consists of eartli and water- worn stones ; the latter 

 are pitched in without order and form but a small x>ercentage of tbe 

 filling. He has never seen such stones used for facing up tbe walls of 

 tbe pit or in tbe construction of pillars. Tbe flat stones which cover 

 tbe cyst are often ten or fifteen feet below the surface, and are in some 

 cases very heavy, weighing three hundred pounds or more. A single 

 stone is iu some cases large enough to cover the entire space, but more 

 frequently two or more flat stones are laid side by side across the cavity. 

 Tbese are supported by river stones a foot or more iu length, set around 

 tbe margin of tbe cyst. He is of tbe opinion that both slabs and bowl- 

 ders were in many cases carried long distances. Kone of the pits ex- 

 amined were of the extraordinary forms described iu detail by A. de 

 Zeltuer and others. Tbe implements, pieces of pottery, and ornaments 

 were probably buried with the dead, pretty much as are similar objects 

 in all parts of America. Tbe almost total disappearance of tbe human 

 remains makes a determination of exact relative disposition imi^ossible. 

 The universal testimony however, is that all were not placed with the 

 body, but tbat some were added as tbe graves were filled, being placed 

 in crevices of the walls or pillars or thrown in upon tbe accumulating 

 earth or pebbles of tbe surface pavement. 



Tbe relics obtained from the tombs are confined almost exclusively 

 to the three least perishable materials: stone, clay, and metal. The 



