Show mayan carved altars masterpieces of art two great carved altars masterpieces of pr prehistoric chistoria chi american art have been discovered at the ruins of Quiri quirigua Qui gila guatemala by earl eari H ri morris archaeologist archeologist arclie arche of the carnegie institution of washington tile the stone altars date back to a very ery early period of mayan history on each altar block an unknown indian rii idias sculptured the large form of a human being in distorted posture elaborately clad and wearing a large and complicated headdress with face mask the remaining surface of the stab slab was used to record a long and delicately wrought inscription in mayan cicro hieroglyphs lypps with serpent motifs around the marin gin both altars are very large one being 11 feet by 1213 and almost two feet thick the backwash of the montagna Mon tagua river liver nearby had deposited thick nud mud over the lower portions of the city ruins covering the altars and preserving them from centuries of weathering bering science service of the yew new york tork world telegram |