14 MEMOIRS OF THE CARNEGIE MUSEUM 
made subsequently, being his fourth collection from Las Guacas, to which was 
added an extensive collection of pottery, belonging to him, gathered from various 
localities in the neighborhood of the pueblo of Nicoya, altogether two thousand one 
hundred and seventy-two specimens. 
This transfer having been accomplished and some time haying been devoted to 
a study of the collections from the Pacific Coast in the National Museum in San 
José, I proceeded to investigate the burial-ground of Las Guacas. It was high time 
to do some systematic work, if even on only a small scale, at this important place, 
which had yielded such rich treasures, before the very last corner of the territory 
had been exhausted. This work was carried on with a force of twelve men for 
about four weeks until the rains stopped us. The objects obtained during the 
excavations of Velasco and myself furnish a representative series of the art products 
in clay, stone, and metal, which are typical of the culture which apparently pre- 
dominated in the whole region even to the islands of the gulf. The discovery I 
made of other methods of burial and artefacts of different characters in certain other 
localities of the peninsula will receive due attention in later papers. 
IV. Excavations at Las Guacas. 
(See Map, Plate XLVIL.) 
The site of the burial-ground is almost level and was entirely covered with for- 
est-growth when Carillo settled at this place. There were no indications above the 
ground of the treasures hidden below. The numerous pieces of broken pottery 
and the metates met with close to the surface proved nothing, as similar accumula- 
tions are common enough in these regions near ancient settlements and do not 
necessarily indicate burials. The entire burial-ground does not seem to include 
more than a few acres, but is described as varying much in depth, containing, espe- 
cially in the central part, several burials one above the other. Close to the road 
leading up to Carillo’s house a corner was left, which had never before been touched 
and here my work was begun. 
tion is of extraordinary importance. It comes from a province of Central America most important from a historical 
point of view. It seems to me, with my knowledge of the richest European and other museums, to be unique in its 
wonderful implements of stone and according to my modest experience, as far as objects of jade and nephrite are con- 
cerned, unequalled by any collection in the world. We shall have to inquire more closely into the relations once exist- 
ing between the tribes of Central and South America in the near future and it would be difficult to find another 
collection as appropriate as this on which to base the investigation of the connecting links.’’ 
Professor D. G. Brinton wrote: ‘‘ No other collection of jade and other implements and utensils from Costa Rica 
equalling Velasco’s has been made from that area. It is well located and very typical of the culture of the natives from 
whose territory it comes. The abundance in it of jade or nephrite objects is remarkable, and renders it unique and 
valuable for this alone. Probably no equally fine line of specimens from those tribes will again be offered. Both from 
the ethnographic and artistic point of view, it has exceptional merit.’’ 
