74 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS 



\'0L. 66 



architectural remains have been studied and described by numerous 

 explorers, among whom are Stevens, Maudslay, and Hewett. Much 

 of interest, however, still remains hidden away in tfie dense tropical 

 forest. The sculptures found here are among the most important 

 known products of aboriginal American genius, the most remarkable 

 example being the " Great Turtle " or Dragon which will l)e described 



Fig. 78. — Temples 20 and 22, Copan, showing the vast magnitude of the 

 substructures. Courtesy of the Peabody Museum. 



in detail in an article by Prof. Holmes in the general appendix of the 

 Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution for 191 6. 



From the city of Zacapa in (iuatemala an excvtrsion was made 

 across ranges of rugged mountains into Honduras where the ancient 

 city of Copan was visited and studied in as much detail as the limited 

 duration of the visit permitted. The vastness of the pyramids, 

 terraces, and courts, the grandeur of the temples and the marvelotis 



