1870.] Archaeology. 513 



the existence at one time in Peru of a population identical in the 

 degree and stage of their constructive development with the people 

 ■who raised corresponding lithic and megalithic structures in other 

 parts of the world, and who, if not the progenitors of the semi- 

 civilized nations found in Peru at the time of the conquest, certainly- 

 preceded them in the occupation of the country. Mr. Squier 

 suggests that, " if it should be found that there has been a gradual 

 development of any of the rude remains into elaborate and imposing 

 monuments, corresponding with them in their purpose or design, 

 or a gradual change from the rough burial-chamber of uncut stones 

 into the symmetrical sepulchral tower, built of hewn blocks ac- 

 curately fitted together, and in general workmanship coinciding 

 with the other and most advanced and admirable structures of the 

 country, then we may reasonably infer that the latter were con- 

 structed by the same people that built the first, and that, monument- 

 ally at least, the civilization of Peru was indigenous and gradually 

 developed, and not introduced." 



The first and simplest form of burial monument, and which the 

 author assumes to be the oldest, consists of flat unhewn stones of 

 various lengths set firmly in the ground, projecting above it from 

 1 to 2 feet, so as to form a circle, more or less regular, about 3 feet 

 in diameter. In this circle, the body was buried in a crouching 

 posture, with a vase of pottery or some other utensil or instrument 

 at its feet. Sometimes a few flat stones were laid across the upright 

 ones, so as to form a kind of roof. These rude tombs were some- 

 times placed side by side in long rows, and stones afterwards heaped 

 over them. A more advanced form of tomb consists of large slabs 

 of stone projecting 4 to 6 feet above ground, and set in a circle 

 from 6 to 1 6 feet in diameter. The top is roofed by blocks of stone 

 which lap over each other inwardly until they touch, forming a 

 rude arch or vault. At Quellenata, N.E. of Lake Titicaca in 

 Bolivia, and at many other places in the ancient Callao, these same 

 tombs occur, but they are enclosed in a circular wall, varying from 

 10 to 30 feet in height, the stones broken so as to conform to the 

 outer curve of the tower, and the whole cemented together with 

 clay. These round chulpas are of varying excellence in workman- 

 ship and design, and lead up to the square chulpas of Escoma, the 

 sides of which are vertical with a projecting cornice near the summit, 

 and divided internally into two stories or chambers. At Sillustani 

 the largest and best-built chulpas occur, constructed of great blocks 

 of trachyte and other hard stones fitted together with unsurpassable 

 accuracy, the structure nevertheless preserving some of the charac- 

 teristic features of the first and rudest form of chuljoa. The stones 

 forming the dome are not only cut on accurate radii, but the curve 

 of the dome is preserved in each, tending to give compactness and 

 strength to the whole structure. 



