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1885.] Iconoclasm by the Conquerors of Mexico, 1033 
the first place it must be described in detail. In beginning an 
edifice or apartment on the face of the hill, it was necessary first 
to prepare a floor by cutting a niche into the rock and filling out 
the level with masonry and cement! until a proper platform was 
secured. The back wall was formed entirely of the living rock 
and afforded the opportunity of carving out the deity who was to 
preside over the place. The side walls are partially of the rock 
in place, and were completed by the addition of heavy masonry, 
portions of which are still to be seen. 
Fic. 2.—Sketch of fragment of idol. 
On the floor of this recess I came upon a large fragment of 
rock that exhibited evidence of having been elaborately sculp- 
tured, and which at first suggested the figures peculiar to the 
calendar stones of the museum at Mexico. The fragment is 
nearly four feet long, by about three wide and half that thick. 
e sculpture is confined to one face, the sides and back showing 
rather fresh irregular fracture. 
In making a sketch of the block I observed first that the fig- 
ures were not symmetrically arranged and not truly radiate, and 
1A common lime-sand cement, as determined by Professor F. W, Clark, 
