ANTHROPOLOGY 



MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA 



Archaeology 



Through the interest and generous support of the Duke of Loubat, 

 and the expeditions and purchases of the Museum, the Museum has 

 gathered a collection of Mexican and Central American archaeology 

 which offers unrivaled opportunities for the study of the ancient 

 civilization of this portion of America. 



The exhibition material occupies an entire hall — named the Loubat 

 Hall, in honor of the Duke of Loubat. It is arranged to illustrate the 

 six different cultures — all pre-Columbian — the Mayan, the Nahuan 

 "Aztec," the Mixtecan-Zapotecan, the Tarascas, the Totonacan, and 

 the South Central American. 



The gifts of the Duke of Loubat include casts of prehistoric sculptures Loubat 

 from the Valley of Mexico, Chiapas, Yucatan, Guatemala, and Hon- Colectlon - 

 duras; pottery and other antiques from Mexico and Guatemala; 

 reproduction of books of ancient Mexican picture writing and hiero- 

 glyphics, among them a photographic copy of the " Codex Legislatif," 

 an ancient Aztec book preserved in the Library of the Chambers of 

 Deputies, Paris, and heretofore practically inaccessible for reference; 

 and the restoration of the Sanctuary of the Temple of the Cross, at 

 Palenque, Mexico. 



Among the collections which the Museum has acquired through 

 its expeditions and purchases, are terra-cotta figures and stone idols 

 from West Central Mexico; original stone sculptures, principally from Museum 

 the ruins of Copan, Honduras; pottery vessels, terra-cotta figures, 

 sculptured stones, weapons, and ornaments from Mexico and Central 

 America, and a collection of copper, gold, and carved jadeite objects 

 which surpasses that in any other museum. 



A concession was granted by the Mexican Government early in Mexican 

 1896 enabling the Museum to establish archaeological research in Concession. 

 Mexico and Yucatan. By the terms of the contract, the Museum 

 was permitted to retain all objects found which were duplicates. 

 The explorations under this concession were in charge of Mr. Marshall 



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