Ot MEMOIRS OF THE CARNEGIE MUSEUM 
traits. The limits of its extension are not as yet known, but it is probably 
restricted to the peninsula of Nicoya, the islands of the bay and the adjoining part 
of the Pacific slope of Nicaragua. ‘The archeology of the Atlantic side of Nicaragua 
unfortunately is still on the whole a terra incognita. 
Certain features of the art of the stone-cutter and the methods of work here in 
vogue, such as the extensive manufacture of stone amulets, and the employment of 
the tubular drill in the manufacture of ornamental and ceremonial objects of hard 
and precious stones, exactly as among the ancient inhabitants of Mexico, plainly 
point to a northern origin of the Nicoyan culture. Further south on the whole 
isthmus no similar art products are met with. In the superb collection of Chiri- 
quian art-products in the Yale University Museum there is only a single amulet of 
stone, a small celt-shaped object, undoubtedly of Nicoyan origin. The ‘“ Las 
Guacas”’ culture presumably represents the result of the blending of the artistic 
genius of the conquering Mexican colonies with that of peoples already previously 
located in these parts. Only through future long-continued detailed and systematic 
explorations in these regions as well as through much needed investigation of the 
treasures of the ancient burial-grounds of adjoining territories, as well as those of 
Chiapas and other South-Mexican states can this and other related archeological 
questions be ultimately settled. 
The striking similarity between the stone metates of these parts and the stools 
of the West Indian Islands as shown by Dr. O. 'T. Mason and Dr. W. J. Fewkes has 
been referred to above. 
The best preserved class of ancient artefacts of the Las Guacas culture are the 
stone objects, which have been described in these pages. 
Of ceramic material from Las Guacas there unfortunately exist no authentic 
specimens except the small number of objects obtained during my own work on the 
spot and a very large number of small and diminutive globular pots purchased from 
Velasco. According to Velasco as well as Carillo and other men, who had carried 
on former excavations, the great majority of the large clay vessels in this burial- 
ground had been crushed by the pressure of the soil or had fallen to pieces when 
unearthed. No effort was made to keep together the pieces of a vessel which had 
fallen apart. In consequence only a very few larger vessels were preserved from 
this place and these were later on mixed up with pottery from other localities. 
Many decorated vases, I was informed had been found here, but generally the paint- 
ings on account of the long contact with the soil were obliterated or scaled off after 
exposure to the air. 
During my archeological investigations covering seven months in the immediate 
