ANTIQUITIES OF MEXICO 
For Johnson's Cyclopedia 
By W. H.. Holmes, 1890. 
The Toltees, Aztecs and other well known Nahuan peoples 
followed one another in their occupation of Mexican territory, 
building and deserting their cities and monuments. Preced- 
ing and alternating with them were other nations and tribes of 
less note who built and deserted Aiista es nee varying 
cultures. As a result the whole country now presents a medley 
of art remains and withal a wealth of art remains not surpassed 
in any region in America and possibly in the world. It is 
impossible in a few pages to adequately characterize these varied 
and remarkable antiquities. The most striking of the many exist- 
ing features of pre-Columbian culture in Mexico are the ruins of 
cities, temples and monuments. The dismantled remnants of a 
Chain of collossal structures extends from Chihuahua on the 
north to Donduras on the south, the best preserved examples 
occurring south of the valley of Mexico. The degree of preservation 
is, however, not a reliable index of the original stability and 
perfection of the structures as some were in ruins when the con- 
querers landed and others were so situated that when the storm of 
European devastation swept the continent they received the brunt 
