SUBTERRANEAN CITY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1925, Page 1

SUBTERRANEAN CITY

TOAYN BUILT ON TOP OF A TOAYN

(Mitcliell-Hedgcs in “Daily Afail.”) LUBAATUX, British Honduras. Tlio last thing in the world wo ever expected has happened. Having felled and burnt the whole of the jungle covering the main citadel, wo set to work to excavate, and to our astonishment we discovered that without the slightest doubt the present, ancient structures are actually built on a still more ancient subterranean city. At first, when we began our excavations, we discovered pyramids and terraces, as was to be cxpetced, but on going down deeper and through this we were amazed to find that Lubaatun as it appears on the surface is actually built on top of another city.

In every place we have excavated we have come upon beautifully cut stone walls of far filter construction than the present- pyramids, courtyards and terraces on top. The blocks oi stone, carefully tooled and fitting in perfect alignment without any mortar would not disgrace some of the best work of the present day in London or New York; while fragments of hard, fine stucco, both painted and plain, have been found in large quantities, indicating that this subterranean city must have contained temples and palaces whose walls were covered with this stucco, the whole of which on tbe surface has boon completely obliterated bv the present city. -AIAGNIFICENTLY BUILT. AYc have discovered that tlio greatpyramids have been enlarged and rebuilt in a remarkable fashion by a civilisation other than the original. The centre, or core, is the ancientpyramid, built by tbe original people who lived there. But the civilisation that occupied the site subsequently rendered these pyramids far larger and more imposing by building completely round and covering them with another skin or outer structure; so that actually there is one pyramid inside another.

Here beneath the surface ol Fubnantun, hidden through countless generations, lies a groat mystery. One thing is certain —there have been at least three definite periods of occupancy ; two before and one subsequent to the Spanish occupation (in the lfith century).

As an example of how unexpected our discoveries have been, tlio following will give an explanation. On the left of what we call‘the via sacra we began to excavate in a mound in a small courtyard. THE DECLINE AND FAFF.

AVithin 3ft of the surface we came upon a burial, unearthing shell beads, a serpentine stone chisel, and several figurines. AA'c shortly exposed the cutstone walls of a building. Driving downwards, in the expectation of finding a further burial, we were astonished to discover that the foundation of this building was none other than the solid roof of a subterranean structure magnificently built. And this was undoubtedly built during the most ancient civilisation of all. The very highest type of civilisation was the earliest. The second occupation. that erected the present buildings which remain visible, bad degenerated somewhat. The third occupation. sinking ever downwards, bad simply used the- city for their burials.

There is no doubt that to-day the world is on the threshold ol discoveries which will entirely change the preconceived ideas of the races.