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Show Network Of By TRUMAN Pre-Columbi- BECKER Copley News Service A noted American explorer has discovered a network of lost cities in Perus northern jungle that resembles Mexicos Mayan culture. Gene Savoy, '40, of Portland, Ore., recently hacked his way through the jungle as leader of a group of explorers and uncovered 12 spiraling cities and a necropolis. Cities Found In Peru an fear of losing their souis. This explains why the area has remained isolated and undisturbed for centuries, Mr. Savoy said. Savoy Mr. Savoy also said that the 12 cities of the Condors were similar to the Monte Peruvia ruins, which he discovered in 1966. These ruins made up a huge city that covered an area of 60 square miles, making it the largest city in South America. Both the 12 cities of the Condors and the Monte Peruvia ruins are believed to have been built by the warriors conChachapoyas, a race of quered by the Incas after an extremely long war. History tells how Francisco Fizarro and his ruthless Conquistadores captured the Inca Atahualpa, held him for ransom, then butchered him when enough loot had come in. fair-skinn- The expedition named the urban system the 12 cities of the Condors. Nearby, they sighted a necropolis, perched high up in inaccessible cliffs, about 1,000 feet above a meandering river. With binoculars, we sighted tombs and burial chambers built into precipitous cliffs, Mr. Savoy said. How they were put up we couldn't figure out. "The face of the cliff was decorated with petrog-lyph- s depicting human forms and animals or carved in geometric designs. They were painted in vivid red colors. One depicted a man with a flaming red crown. Mr. Savoy said that the buildings comprising the 12 cities of the Condors are constructed of white, hewn stone. They are circular and ovaloid. Structural features are similar to the Mayan ruins in Mexico and Guatemala. The lost cities and the necropolis are believed enchanted by the local Indians, who shun them for To date, Savoys most significant discovery has been Vilcabamba, uncovered in 1963. The ruins of Vilcabamba stretch over three plateaus ranging from about 4,500 feet to 12,000 or 13,000 feet above sea level. Chronicles of Spanish explorers described Vilcabamba as the last great capital of the Incas, supposedly situated somewhere in the Andes of southern Peru. It was to this Inca Berchtesgaden that 4,000 Indians retreated before the conquering Spaniards, building huge palaces and temples and a military base used to harass the Conquistadores for almost 40 years. The Spaniards killed the last Inca chieftain in 1572. After that his followers evidently deserted their city for the jungle. The same early Spanish records that led Mr. to Vilcabamba also prompted three expeditions to what he believes to be the El Dorado region of the Peruvian Amazon jungle. But more Inca treasure was supposed been en route at the time of the murder. to have Only a small part of the Inca gold and jewels was ever recovered, Mr. Savoy said, and I have reason to believe that the Indians threw the rest of it into lakes and caves rather than have it fall into the hands of the Spaniards. On previous expeditions I found lakes that werent on any maps, and uncharted walled-u- p tunnels. If we get some skin divers to go along with us on future trips, I think they might be able to come up with something. Anything we find, though, will be turned over to the Peruvian government, to be put into museums. The Spaniards melted down the Inca jewels and altar pieces, so we have no idea what they looked like. Certainly their historical and archaeological value will be much greater than any monetary worth. Mr. Savoy, who describes himself as an archaelo-gicexplorer, writer and photographer, has spent the past 10 years roaming the backlands of Perus Andean and Amazonian wilderness. He is presently the president of the Andean Explorers Club. al New Touch To Tabernacle By GEORGE L. SCOTT rattle windows on Temcontractors excavate old as ple Square concrete walkways preparatory to surfactouch to ing that will give a new-ol- d Tabernacle footings at the start of the historic building's second century. Jack-hamme- rs Marble -- sized gravel has been mixed with concrete and carefully surfaced between the Tabernacle piers. It matches well with the rock supports that hold up the arched roof. Workmen say the gravel finish will be washed with acid to give it an attractive glow to match the stonework. Steps as well as flat surfaces between the piers are being surfaced with the gravel mix. More than half of the surfacing has been completed on the east, south and north sides of the Tabernacle. Workmen are hopeful that heavy snow storms and excessive cold weather will pass by and permit them to have the work completed without delay. This outside work is just part of a big remodeling program on buildings and landscape work which will take additional months to complete on Temple Square. Despite the extensive nature of the work, guides have been able to take groups of visitors on their daily tours of Hall comthe where Center new Visitors plex and the shown in is of Church the the history great detail. Sheets of plastic shield gravel-concre- te surfacing from frost around Tabernacle piers. WEEK ENDING FEBRUARY. 3, 1968 . CHURCH- -7 |