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Show Uncover Mayan Cities Fifteen Centuries Old Carnegie institution scientists probing the dense jungles of Guatemala Guate-mala and Honduras have made new discoveries In connection with the ancient Mayan civilization which flourished in Central America when a few people still lived who could remember re-member the crucifixion of Christ. Under many feet of deposited silt and tangled vegetation they have found cities once populous and richly built with palaces and temples, but deserted now for 15 centuries. One ruined city in particular in northern Guatemala has attracted attention. It is surrounded by a moat very similar sim-ilar to those used extensively centuries cen-turies later in Europe. Originally the ditch was about ten feet deep and ten feet wide. It was spanned In different places by seven masonry bridges, and was connected with a nearby swamp so that during the rainy season it was filled with water. This Is the first moated city ever found in America and it is not certain cer-tain whether it was used as a means of protection against raiding tribes or whether it had a religious meaning. mean-ing. In Honduras an expedition has uncovered two stone altars and many monuments. All were ornately carved with the picture writing of the ancient an-cient Mayas which leaves us a record rec-ord of their empire. Pathfinder Magazine. |