CEMETERIES AND TOMBS. 13 



In comparing the description of the graves as given by various observers, the 

 latter appear to agree in certain respects and differ in others. For example, all 

 agree that there were at least two generalized forms of graves — the oval and the 

 quadrangular. There is also agreement as to their dimensions and depth beneath 

 the surface. That one type of quadrangular grave was walled with flat stones 

 placed edgewise and covered with one or more fiat stones, there seems to be 

 common accord. The floor of all the graves, both oval and rectangular, was 

 simply earth or hard-pan. Any attempt to further harmonize the descriptions of 

 the various observers, however, results in the accentuation of numerous contra- 

 dictions and discrepancies. Merritt describes a quadrangular type of tomb, with 

 walls of rounded river stone, resembling in every respect the oval cist except in 

 horizontal section. The only other author who mentions this kind of lining for 

 any but the oval graves is de Zeltner, yet he adds features not noted by Merritt, 

 such as a pillar at each corner and a roofing of flag stones. Bateman was pres- 

 ent at the opening of a grave, at each corner of which was a round pillar and 

 a fifth pillar in the center. This may have been the grave on which de Zeltner 

 bases his class number three, but he speaks of the pillars as being square instead 

 of round. Curiously enough, de Zeltner's fifth class, the one he calls the largest 

 in point of numbers, is not mentioned by any other writer. McNiel could discover 

 no apparent attempt at orientation. On the other hand, Merritt says the universal 

 direction of the quadrangular graves at Bugaba (Bugavita) is north and south by 

 the polar star. Bateman, also, was satisfied that the bodies were all placed north 

 and south. 



Merritt says that, as a general rule, the circular graves at Bugavita yielded the 

 most figures of gold and the finest specimens of pottery ; and that the quadran- 

 gular cist lined with rounded stones contained more gold images and finer pottery 

 than the vaults built of fiat stones, the latter, although more artistically and care- 

 fully constructed and in a better state of preservation, being poor in relics. In 

 referring to the same cemetery Bateman states that gold is found in some of the 

 graves, " while others in close vicinity, although containing more pottery, and 

 that of a higher order, contained no gold, — the richest graves having the least 

 pottery." According to McNiel, the oval grave-pits had very few artifacts of any 

 kind. His workmen informed him that where stone images were found, " it was 

 looked upon as indicating a rich grave in pottery and probably gold." 



Mr. C. V. Hartman 1 gives a careful description of graves examined by him in 

 the highlands and on the east coast of Costa Rica where the same two generalized 

 types abound — the oval and the quadrangular, the latter being the more abundant. 

 Both classes were often found in the same group, as was the case at Bugavita. 

 The two kinds resemble those of Chiriqui except that Hartman mentions a floor 

 of cobble-stones for the oval pits and of fiat stones for some, at least, of the 

 quadrangular cists. The walls of the latter were either of flat stones set on end 

 or of cobble — stones, depending on nature's supply. As many of these rectangular 

 cists are shorter than the average human body reclining horizontally at full length, 

 the disposition of the remains in such graves points to the custom of interring 



1 Archaeological researches in Costa Rica, Stockholm, 1901. 



