ANCIENT SCULPTURES OF GUATEMALA, 1] 
a few years ago, and who succeeded in penetrating far enough in the same to visit 
several hamlets or ranchos, brought from there several idols well made. The 
general form was a small dish, furnished at one side with a large head. These 
objects were both idols and sacrificiary places. In the hollow of the pots was 
placed incense or libation, and the god for which it was destined, was represented 
by the head attached to the dish. These heads, or faces, were in many regards 
exactly similar to those found on the Pacifie Coast, and bore also a remarkable 
resemblance to the faces and heads of the Peruvian pottery. The ground color of 
the pots was also a dark grayish-black, while the pottery from the Pacific Coast, as 
well as that from Copin and other places of Maya origin, is yellowish-red, and 
sometimes ornamented with painted glyphs. 
In the “Instituto Nacional” of Guatemala, is a fine and interesting collection 
of pottery from different places of that Republic; but like everything else in that 
country, it is in a deplorable state, the catalogue being missing, so that the nume- 
rals on the different objects cannot be referred to. Nobody has charge of the 
“museum,” or takes any interest inthe same. Mixed with the ancient Indian pottery 
are some Egyptian idols, as well as pieces of unburnt EHuropean pottery, most 
likely believed by the “authorities,” to be of the same origin, and having as 
much or as little interest. 
The sculptured stone heads found all over the coast are all furnished with a 
large conical projection, as can be seen by referring to the different figures appended. 
This projection was evidently formed for insertion into the adobe or stone walls of 
the respective temples, and served to keep the objects in position. They have no 
connection with phallic symbols or worship. Most likely, when the sculptures 
were in their original places, these projections were not seen, but were entirely 
hidden in the walls. 
In producing drawings of different sculptnres, my intention was not, neither 
did my time permit me, to again draw stones which had once been drawn and pho- 
tographed by former explorers. My intention was only to bring to notice what 
was not previously known, and thus, as much as I could, complete the work so ably 
begun by others. This especially refers to the sculptures of Santa Lucia, where 
Dr. Habel and Prof. Bastian have already done considerable work. In regard to 
the sculptures of the other places here referred to, I believe so far no accounts of 
the same have been published, and I drew there as many as I could find, within the 
limited time at my disposal. 
