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Contributions to South American Archeology
Volume I
IKVINO PRESS NEW YORK
5
Contribxitions to South American Archeology
The George G. Heye Expedition
The Antiquities of Manabi, Ecuador A Preliminary Report
BY
MAKSHALL H. SAYILLE
Loubat Professor of American Archeology
Colmnbia University O^-OO''"^
NEW YOKK 1907
This edition is limited to 300 copies, of wMch tliis is No. ev /
PREFACE
The archeological researches in the northwestern part of South America, described in this monograph, were undertaken by the writer with the financial support and co-operation of George Gr. Heye, Esq., of New York City. The plan of the work is to collect and publish data relating to the precolumbian inhabitants of the entire region lying between Peru and Panama.
CONTENTS
Page
Preface vii
Introduction 1
Geography and Description of the Province - . . 5
Historical Accounts of the Spanish Conquest and of the Natives 8
Archeology 16
Wells 16
Euins 19
Stone Seats 23
Human Figures 49
Animal Fignires - 56
Column on Animal's Back 57
Animal on Column 58
Columns 59
Quadrangular Sculptures 61
Bas-Eeliefs 61
Eesonant Stone ----- 67
Metates 68
Emeralds 69
Gold, Silver, and Copper 70
Ceramics 73
Pottery Vessels 74
Moulds 75
Stamps 76
Spindle-Whorls 76
Whistles 77
Human Figures 80
Human Heads 81
Animal Heads 82
Appendix 83
Notes 85
Bibliography 121
LIST OE ILLUSTKATIOIS^S
FIGURES
Fig. Page
1 39
2 56
3 57
4 60
5 60
6 - - - - - - 62
7 63
8 - 63
9 75
Plate I
II
III
IV
Y
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
XIII
XIV
XV
XVI
XVII
XVIII
XTX
PLATES
House in Monte Cristi: Cerro Bravo in the background.
Hotel in Monte Cristi: Hill of Monte Cristi in the background.
House in Monte Cristi.
Town of Picoaza.
Euins of Houses in the Cerro de Hojas where stone seats are found.
Seat from Cerro Jaboncillo.
Seat from Cerro Jaboncillo,
Seat from Cerro Jaboncillo.
Seat from Cerro Jaboncillo.
Seat from Cerro de Hojas.
Seats from Cerro de Hojas.
Seats from Cerro de Hojas.
Seats from Cerro Jaboncillo.
Seats from Cerro Jupa and Cerro Jaboncillo.
Seats from Cerro de Hojas and Cerro Jaboncillo.
Broken Seats from Cerro de Hojas.
Seat from Cerro Agua Nuevo.
Seat from Cerro de Hojas.
Small Seats from Cerro de Hojas and Cerro Jaboncillo.
Seats from Cerro JabonciUo.
Seats from Cerro JabonciUo and Cerro de Hojas.
Plate
XX Seats from Cerro Jupa.
XXI Seats from Cerro Jupa and Cerro Agua Nuevo.
XXII Seats from Cerro de Hojas.
XXIII Seat from Cerro de Hojas.
XXIV Seat from Cerro de Hojas. XXV Seat from Cerro Agua Nuevo.
XXVI Seat from Cerro Jupa.
XXVII Seats from Cerro Jaboncillo and Cerro Agua Nuevo.
XXVIII Human Figures from Cerro de Hojas.
XXIX Human Figures from Cerro de Hojas.
XXX Human Figures from Cerro de Hojas.
XXXI Animal Figure from Cerro de Hojas.
XXXII Animal Sculptures from Cerro de Hojas.
XXXIII Columns from Cerro de Hojas.
XXXIV Columns from Cerro de Hojas. XXXV Bas-reliefs from Cerro Jaboncillo.
XXXVI Bas-reliefs from Cerro Jaboncillo.
XXXVEI Fragments of Bas-reliefs from Cerro Jaboncillo.
XXXVIII Bas-relief from Cerro Jaboncillo.
XXXIX Bas-relief from Cerro Jaboncillo.
XL Metates and Hand-stones from Cerro de Hojas.
XLI Copper Discs from Manantial.
XLII Copper Objects, Pottery Vessels, and Stamps.
XLIII Designs on Spindle-whorls,
XLIV Designs on Spindle-whorls.
XLV Designs on Spindle-whorls.
XL VI Designs on Spindle-whorls.
XL VII Designs on Spindle-whorls.
XL VIII Designs on Spindle-whorls.
XLIX Whistles.
L Whistles.
LI Human Figures.
LII Human Heads.
LIII Human Heads.
LIV Human Heads and Fragment of Vessel.
LV Animal Heads.
The Antiquities of Manabi, Ecuador
INTRODUCTION
The western coast of South America, north of Peru, which includes the coast provinces of Ecuador and Colombia, is very little known arche- ologically, and but few collections have been made in this entire region : the same is true of the vast interior table-lands which run from south to north between the western and the eastern ranges of the Andes. In prehistoric times this great region was occupied by various tribes with different degrees of culture. To the north, in Colombia, we find the remains of the Chibchas, whose territory was well to the east of the eastern range of mountains (the city of Bogota is practically in the centre of this old-culture area) ; to the west, in the Oauca Yalley, are the remains of the Quimbayas ; a little to the north, in the state of Antioquia, are numerous evidences of another ancient culture ; in the southern part of the Cauca Yalley, around Call and the city of Popayan, are the remains of an equally independent culture. In the state of Antioquia the limits of the northern culture are not well defined. In the northwest, towards Darien and the Isthmus of Panama, are dense and humid forests, which probably never supported any great number of natives : this region inter- venes between the province of Chiriqui, now in the Republic of Panama, and the seat of ancient culture in Antioquia. It is a well-known fact that the il^ahuas of Mexico from time to time sent out various colonies, which settled along the west coast of Central America, in the interior of Costa Rica, and their southernmost settlement was on the Chiriqui lagoon. South of Popayan we come into the immediate confines of the Republic of Ecuador; and in this great region the Quichuas, or, as they are com- monly known, Incas, extended their influence from Peru northward during the middle of the fifteenth century, and established themselves in Quito. Thus we have the influence of the ancient Mexicans separated from that of the ancient Peruvians by the stretch of land extending from Quito northward to the Isthmus of Panama.
2 Contributions to South American Archeology
In Ecuador it is safe to assunie that before the Peruvians entered the country there were at least five different centres of culture. The people of the northernmost centre inhabited the province of Imbabura, which is between Quito and Popayan ; Quito itself was the centre of another ancient culture, — the Oaras. To the south we find, near Riobamba, the remains of the Puruhas; still farther to the south, in the mountains of Azuay (around Ouenca, Canar, Ohordeleg, and Sigsig), are the remains of the Canaris. This latter centre of culture was presumably much more influenced by Inca civilization than were the centres of the north, being much nearer to the northern frontier of Peru. On the coast we find the remains of two entirely different cultures. In the province of Manabi, in a dry and arid strip extending from the equator south towards Guayaquil, there developed a unique civilization which apparently suffered but little from Incasic influence: the limits of this culture are not well determined. In northern Manabi and along the coast of the province of Esmeraldas there are the remains of another distinct culture. In fact, this great region, extending north from the frontier of Peru to the Isthmus of Panama, has as yet been but imperfectly studied, and there are no adequate archeological collections illustrating the state of civilization reached in precolumbian times in this part of South America.
For the reasons mentioned above, it was planned to make a general trip through the entire region during the summer of 1906, visiting the coast region of Manabi, and thence journeying into the interior from Riobamba northward, — passing through Quito, Ibarra, Popayan, Oali, and Oartago in the Quimbaya region of the Cauca Yalley, — then penetrating into the state of Antioquia, in order to obtain such information and material as could be gathered in the short space of a four-months' trip, to be supplemented by photographs of various archeological objects and of ruins which might be found during the journey. This plan proved altogether too ambitious an undertaking for a single summer's work, and, on our arrival on the coast of Manabi, it was found advisable to limit our travels and observations to Ecuador : consequently we remained six weeks investigating the ruins and antiquities of the province of Manabi. Later a trip was made into the interior, taking the railroad from Guayaquil to Riobamba, where we remained six weeks, carrying on the same class of investigations, and visiting the outlying pueblos, where the remains of the Puruhas are to be
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 3
found. Later a trip was made from Riobamba to Mocha, Ambato, Lata- cunga, Quito, and Perucho. We succeeded in obtaining considerable information regarding the archeology of two centres of culture ; namely, Manabi, and the region of the Puruhas, in the vicinity of Riobamba.
Eoster H. Saville — who had previous experience in archeological work in Mexico, having been a member of three Loubat expeditions in the state of Oaxaca — was assistant on the present expedition. We left ^N'ew York early in May, which enabled us to reach Ecuador shortly after the end of the rainy season. After the trip of seven days from Kew York to Colon, and the two hours and a half trip by rail across the Isthmus to Panama, it was found that the boats southward from that port did not connect with any of the three lines arriving in Colon from the United States. Therefore we were obliged to remain five days on the Isthmus in order to make connections with the coast steamer, our objective point being Manta, the seaport of the province of Manabi and the second largest port in Ecuador.
On the evening of the second day after sailing from Panama, we arrived at the entrance of the Bay of Buenaventura. The next morning we pro- ceeded up the bay about eight miles to Buenaventura, the most important Colombian seaport on the Pacific coast. It is situated on an island near the mouth of the Rio Dagua, and is one of the most forlorn and desolate places we found in the tropics. The climate is extremely humid, and the narrow streets are usually ankle-deep in mud. During the three days we were obliged to remain in Buenaventura we rarely saw the sun, as it rained almost constantly. There is a cable station here, and a railroad, which runs inland as far as the small village of Cordova. The control of this railroad has passed into American hands, and vigorous work is being done to extend it to Call, which is between the western and central ranges of the Andes in the great Cauca Yalley. When this railroad is completed, it Avill open up perhaps the most fertile valley, and certainly one of the richest regions for agriculture and mining, to be found in any part of western South America. At present it extends about twenty-five miles, and has not yet reached the foothills of the western Andean range. It is to be standard gauge, and the engineers expect that in two years the city of Call will be reached.
A few hours after leaving Buenaventura, the Island of Gallo was passed. This island will be remembered in connection with the conquest
4 Contributions to Sotith American Archeology
of Pern by Pizarro. It is related tliat on this desolate spot the soldiers and sailors, becoming discouraged with the difficnlties of the voyage for- ward, wished to retreat, and that Pizarro, tracing a line on the sand from east to west, declared his intention to go forward, and stepping over the line was soon followed by others: thus the tide of discontent was turned, and the expedition proceeded on its way. In the afternoon we arrived at the port of Tumaco, the southernmost in Colombia, not far distant from the northern frontier of Ecuador. The entrance to this little town is one of the most picturesque imaginable. There is a high island, called El Morro, with steep wooded slopes, which we had to steam around before a glimpse of the town was obtained. The town itself differs but little from the ordi- nary west coast towns of South America.
Sailing all night, we arrived at Esmeraldas, the northernmost port in Ecuador, at eight o'clock in the morning, anchoring several miles from the shore. Esmeraldas lies on the southern bank of the Eio Esmeraldas, and the entrance and river itself are full of flats and reefs. This town was quite severely shaken by earthquakes in Pebruary, 1906, and a number of the houses were seen in total ruin. An important industry here is the making of cigars, the Esmeraldas tobacco being the best flavored and the most appreciated of any tobacco raised on the west coast of South America. A glimpse was obtained of several of the Oayapas Indians, who had come to Esmeraldas from their forest homes in the interior, near the Oayapas River. They are probably the descendants of the earliest inhabitants of this part of the country, and have never been Christianized, speaking their own language, preserving their own customs, and living in the forests, isolated and remote from white settlements.
At sunrise the next morning we crossed the equator, and arrived at Bahia a few hours later, where we remained all day, unloading cargo. This town is at the beginning of the arid zone of Manabi, and is but a short distance north of Manta. Leaving Bahia the following morning, shortly before noon, we arrived at Manta four hours later ; this being our point of destination. There are no piers or wharfs in Manta, and steamers come to anchor a mile or more from the shore. All baggage goes to the land in lighters, and passengers in small boats, which do not come to the beach, but from which baggage and freight have to be carried on men's backs to the shore, and passengers, in the arms of sailors, to the beach.
Saville: Antiquities of ManaM, Ecuador
GEOGRAPHY '
The proyince of Manabi, on the Ecuadorian coast, is crossed by the eqiiator near its northern frontier. It is bounded on the north by the province of Esmeraldas, on the east by the provinces of Pichincha and Guayas, on the south by Guayas, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean. It has an area of 20,442 square kilometres, and a population of less than a himdred thousand. Its territory is moderately mountainous, without any high peaks, l^ear the coast the greater part is covered with a light forest growth, and other portions by meadows. There are but few streams which cross Manabi; the principal rivers being the Porto Yiejo, Ohone, Jama, and Ouaque. In the interior mountains are the headwaters of the Daule and Quininde Rivers, which flow into the Pacific near Guayaquil. This province has the interesting feature of having an arid strip between the humid region, which extends along the Pacific coast of South America from Panama to the northern parts of Manabi, and its southern frontier, which is in a short humid belt extending nearly to Guayaquil. The land appears from the sea to be gray and desert-like, and glimpses are had of the low ranges of moimtains, running approximately north and south, which begin about twenty miles from the coast. Earther inland the moun- tains rise to a greater height: they are really the coast foothills of the great Andean range. While the greater part of the province is arid, yet the hills, like the Oerro de Hojas, which rise to the height of a thousand feet and upwards, are peculiar in having a dense tropical fauna and flora : this is due to the fact that they catch the moisture from the clouds, and their summits are covered nightly by dense fogs. The climate of the province is very agreeable. On the coast the prevailing winds are from the west, and at night the temperature seldom rises above 70 °E. There is but little humidity, and it is extraordinary to find directly on the equator, at sea-level, a region so entirely unlike what would naturally be expected.
The principal products are cacao, coffee, sugar-cane, tobacco, india- rubber, cotton, fine-grained and hard woods, various textile plants, and a great variety of vegetables. The chief product, however, is the tagua, or ivory-nut, which is the best and closest grained found anywhere in the world. These nuts are from the corozo-tree, PJiyteleplias. It resembles
6 Contributions to South American Archeology
the palm, with large, wide leaves spreading out from the top. The nuts come from the flowers, and grow on the tree just where the palm-like leaves spread from the trunk. They drop to the ground, and then are gathered by the natives for commerce. Hundreds of thousands of sacks are exported from Manabi yearly, and this vegetable ivory is used for making buttons. The greater part of this product is sent to Grermany.
The principal industries are agriculture, fishing, and the manufacture of saddle-bags, hammocks, mats, etc. Manabi is famous for the manufac- ture of Panama hats, those from Monte Oristi being the finest in the world: the most skilful workers often receive seventy-five dollars, gold, for their best hats. The grass from which these hats are made is called Toquilla, and the fibre is tougher than that from any other part of South America, This is, perhaps, due to the arid soil, as we find the same conditions in Yucatan, where the finest hemp from the agave-plant is obtained in the rather arid part of the peninsula. Salt and lime are found in the province; and there are, undoubtedly, valuable minerals, and possibly emeralds, no mines of which have been developed. In fact, the geography and geology of Manabi are but imperfectly known, less so, perhaps, than they are in any other coast province of South America, and the rich deposits of the region have not been worked.
The capital is Porto Yiejo, a city about twenty miles from the coast. It has five thousand inhabitants, two churches, a college for boys and a college for girls, a school of art, and various government buildings.
Manta, on account of its position as a seaport, is the most important town in the province, and has the first lighthouse on the South American coast south of Panama. It is a port of entry, and has a custom-house, a number of large business-houses, and a church, where services are held once a year. Pearl-fishing was formerly an important industry here, but it has been wholly abandoned. The water swarms with splendid food-fish, and there are many lobsters ; but the latter are seldom caught, the people apparently preferring the tinned article, which is sold in many shops. The name of Manta is supposed to have been given on account of the great number of mantas which abound in the sea off the coast. They belong to the ray or skate family, and are often of large size. The fish which are caught are rarely sent inland to Monte Oristi and Porto Yiejo. The fishermen live in a settlement by themselves, of about fifty houses, just east of the town.
Saville: Antiquities of llanabi, Ecuador 7
Monte Oristi is tliree leagues to the south of Manta, at the northern base of the hill of the same name, which rises about sixteen hundred feet. It has about two thousand inhabitants, and there is a college for boys and a church, where services are held only during the festival of San Pablo, the patron saint of the town. At that time (in the month of June) they have an interesting festival, quite spectacular in character, which has certain elements derived from Indian and ]N^egro sources.
The province is divided into seven cantons, as follows: Porto Vie jo, Monte Oristi, Jipijapa, Rocafuerte, Santa Ana, Sucre, and Ohone. Manabi has two principal seaports; namely, Manta and Bahia de Caraques, and two smaller ports, Cayo and Manglar Alto. The largest island off the coast is La Plata, about nine miles from the mainland and about fifteen miles southwest of Manta.
At the present time there are no Indians, so far as we know, in Manabi. Spanish is now universally spoken, and the people are a mixture of white, negro, and Indian ; the greater number being known as Oholos and Sambos. There are but few pure white-blood people in the whole region.
linearly all of the houses are raised on poles, as will be seen in Plates I, II, and III. They are made of bamboo, with thatched roofs. In the larger towns a few are plastered, and have corrugated iron roofs. The better class of houses are enclosed on the ground-floor, the lower story being used for storehouses and shops, with the living-rooms in the second story. There is but little wealth to be found in the whole province, the people generally being miserably poor, but contented; and they are found, as a rule, to be trustworthy, generous, and kind-hearted. There are but few carriage-roads, and transportation is generally on horseback, while many of the natives are porters. The llama is not known in the province. There is telegraph connection with the outer world in all of the larger towns. Connection with the interior of Ecuador is entirely by steamer from the seaports to Guayaquil. In all of the seaports there are German merchants, their establishments being principally for the exportation of the ivory-nut, Panama hats, and hides.
8 Contributions to South American Archeology
HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THE SPANISH CONQUEST AND OF THE NATIVES
The history of the provinces of Manabi and Esmeraldas has never been written ; yet, from a historical standpoint, it is one of the most impor- tant regions in South America. Here the Spaniards first received definite information of the so-called Peruvian Empire.
Prom the works of Oieza de Leon, Zarate,^ Garcilasso de la Yega, Xerez,^ Montesinos,* Benzoni, and the "2^* parte de la descripcion de Gruaya- quil en que se trata de la ciudad de Puerto Yiejo y su distrito,"^ we learn much concerning the precolumbian inhabitants of the region and their customs, which bears directly upon the archeology of the province. The narratives of Oieza de Leon,^ Grarcilasso de la Yega,^ and Benzoni,^ are given in full in the Appendix to this monograph. They are the most valu- able contemporary accounts which we have of the history and traditions of the natives.
Regarding the earliest settlement of the Ecuadorian coast we know nothing. The first certain knowledge we have about the natives of this part of the country relates to the Oaras. On this point. Wolf writes as fol- lows : " Among the natives of the maritime coast we may distinguish one from all the rest by many signs, the Oara nation. If the others are con- sidered as natives from time immemorial, the Oara nation were strangers, coming by sea in an epoch not very far distant, perhaps during the sixth or seventh centuries of our era. They were a bellicose and conquering people, and in all of their culture very superior to the barbarous tribes over whose lands they extended little by little. The first theatre of action of the Oaras after their arrival was Manabi from the Bay of Oaraques to Manta, and it is said that here they founded a city. The history of their exploits, migrations, and conquests on the coast, remains involved in the most complete obscurity, and we only know that little by little they com- pletely abandoned the coast of Manabi, extending towards the north by Atacames and Esmeraldas, and penetrating by rivers to the territory of Quito. As a most plausible motive for these constant migrations, Yelasco and other historians present the circumstances of their first territory being unhealthy, but we are not able to agree in this, because they migrated
SavilJe: AntiquiHes of 3Ianahi, Ecuador' 9
from coasts very healthy, to humid and unhealthy forests ; before all, it seems that we should hunt for the motive in the character of the race, which is presented as nomadic, unstable, adventurous, and conquering. !N^either do wc know if all the nation took part in these migrations, or only a part, the rest remaining in Manabi in their first settlements. Yelasco , affirms that the other surrounding tribes occupied later the abandoned ter- ritory, and they were also called, improperly, Oaras ; but the most sure signs may be searched for in the geographic names which remain."^
This desert-like country was at the beginning of the Christian era, according to Yelasco, invaded by giants. This date is of no historical value, and is apparently a mere conjecture on the part of Yelasco. Bandelier quotes from the unpublished work of Gutierrez, who places this invasion during the fifteenth century.^*^ This is improbable from the very ^ T~
nature of the tradition itself, and is not borne out by the statements of the most reliable authorities. Tradition states that these giants landed on the coast at the point of Santa Elena, coming in large boats or balsas." It is related that their coming was during the time when the Caras were in this region. The tradition of the landing of the giants was universal among the Indians at the time of the conquest, and is mentioned by all writers. Zarate says that but little credit was given to these reports, until the year 1543, when the Grovernor of Porto Yiejo, Captain Juan de Olmos, caused excavations to be made, and great ribs and other bones were found, which convinced them of the truth of these stories.^^ Concerning this early settlement of the coast by giants, Bandelier, in his recently published paper, " Traditions of Precolumbian Earthquakes and Yolcanic Eruptions in Western South America," has brought together many notices about this landing.^^ Zarate's statement — that the Spaniards saw in Porto Yiejo massive sculptured figures of these giants, one of a man, the other of a woman — is referred to by Bandelier, who conjectures that there is a possi- bility that the " stone seats or benches, of which there are several in various museums, representing usually a human figure on all-fours bearing on the back a seat of some form, are perhaps related to the 'bulto destos gigantes' alluded to by Zarate. These seats come from the same region." In view of the number of sculptures brought together in this collection, it does not seem necessary to connect the stone idols and figures with the seats. At the same time, it is strange and almost incredible, that, had the Spaniards visited the
10 Contributions to South American Archeology
various hills Avhere the seats are found, they should not have mentioned them, as they are so different from any other sculptures in South America. They did mention figures of men and women, hence it is probable that they saw sculptures of the type in the collection herein described. It has long been known that the Indians, finding large bones, supposed them to be those of giants. The existence of mastodon-bones in this region, and their bearing on this tradition, have been shown by Bollaert, Cevallos, Suarez, and Wolf in their studies, and we found many opportunities to obtain portions of mastodon-skeletons during the summer of 1906.
It is probable that these stories about the giants refer to the landing of some barbarous and warlike people Avho came at a remote time in the past. ^rArcheological remains shoAV that there formerly lived in this region a sedentary people who were well advanced in culture. These remains are treated in the archeological section of this monograph. Whether they are to be attributed to the Oaras, or to those who remained in the country after being under their influence, it is impossible to aflirm.>
Juan and Ulloa, and others, state that during the reign of Tupac Inca Tupanqui, who was the ruler of the Quichuas from 1439 to 1475, there arrived messengers from the province of Porto Viejo and adjacent provinces, supplicating that they be received as vassals, and that he send governors and persons who would give instruction and cultivation to the ^rvrwvsV country which they inhabited. The Inca sent masters to civilize these
people in order to give them the same standing that the other states had : as soon as these messengers arrived, it is said that the natives armed them- selves against them, and killed them."
Prom the account of Cieza de Leon in the second part of the Chron- icle of Peru, we learn that the son of Tupac Inca Yupanqui, Huayna Capac, who reigned from 1475 to 1525,^^ before he accomplished the subjugation of Quito, " sent captains with a sufficient force to explore the seacoast in a northerly direction and to bring under the Inca's domin- ion the natives of Guayaquil and Porto Yiejo. The captains marched into this district, where they waged war and fought some battles, sometimes being victorious and at others sustaining reverses; thus they advanced as far as Oollique, where they met with people who went about naked, and fed on human flesh, having the customs which are now practised and used by the dwellers on the river of San Juan: from this point they returned, not
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador ii
wishing to penetrate farther, but to report what they had done to the king." Oieza de Leon states that Huayna Capac, after he had completed the conquest of Quito, heard from his principal chiefs who had served in that war, and, " feeling that all was peacefully settled in the mountainous provinces, he thought it would be well to take a journey to the province of Porto Yiejo, to that which we call Gruayaquil, and to the Yalleys of the Yuncas; the captains and the principal men of his council approved the thought, and advised that it should be put into execution. Many troops remained in Quito; the Inca set forth, with a considerable force, and entered these lands, where he had some skirmishes with the natives, but eventually one after another siibmitted, and governments, with mitimaes [colonists], were established."^^
Yelasco states, regarding the subjugation of Manabi by HuajTia Capac, that " among the numerous factions in the province of Manta was one of the Pichunsis, who were absolutely dissolute, having inherited their vices from the giants. It appears that Huayna Capac subjugated this territory as far as Cuaques along the coast and a great number of the 'nations' of the interior of the land. He arrived personally as far as Colima [Cojime ?], where he commanded that a fortress should be made, and left some people to carry out his orders and to instruct the Indians." " It is thus evident that the Peruvians came very late into this region, and consequently exercised but little influence on the culture of the people of ' ^uylju-v^*^-'''^ the coast. It is safe to assume that the material in the collection now to y ^/ 3 f ^'^
be described pertained to a people almost untouched by Inca ideas. As Suarez remarks, " The Incas touched the province of Manabi, but their dominion over the people was short, and without any considerable in- fluence."^^ Whether the comparatively high culture which is evidenced by the sculptures is indigenous to this region, or whether the people came with their civilization already well advanced, are questions difficult to answer. The unique features seen in the sculptures seem to point to a development of the culture on the soil. With one or two exceptions, which will be pointed out later, the characteristic sculptures are not found elsewhere, nor are there any others in ancient America at all approach- ing them in concept.
Spanish influence dates from the year 1526, when Francisco Pizarro, on his second expedition from Panama, sent the pilot, Bartolome Ruiz,
12 Contributions to South American Archeology
southward from the Rio de San Juan to explore the unknown coast. He reached what is now the province of Esmeraldas, and discovered three large towns at the mouth of the Rio Esmeraldas, where he was received in a friendly manner. He saw Indians wearing jewels of gold; and three who came to receive him wore gold diadems on their heads. Ruiz remained here two days, then sailed southward, following the coast by the province of Manabi; he crossed the equator, and rounded Cape Pasado just above Bahia de Oaraques. He then returned northward, and joined Pizarro. In 1527 Pizarro, on his third expedition, skirted the coast of Manabi en route to Tumbez in northern Peru. He apparently did not make any landing in Manabi on this voyage. In 1531 Pizarro was again on the coast of Manabi. He cast anchor in the Bay of San Mateo, where he disembarked his forces, and started on a march down the coast to Tumbez.^^ Herrera tells us that the Spaniards were well received in the province, and that, while they were there, Atahualpa, who had taken the crown in Tomebamba, Avas advised of the progress of the expedition.^ When they arrived in the vicinity of Manta, the soldiers and sailors, fatigued by the long journey, wished to remain there and establish a colony ; but Pizarro would not consent to this, and resumed his march to Tumbez. In 1534 Pedro de Alvarado, who had been with Oortez in Mexico and was the conqueror of Guatemala, landed at Bahia de Oaraques in order to march to Quito. He remained there a number of months: Sancho says three,^^ while others state that he was in Manabi five months before beginning the march into the interior. He had with him a large ex- pedition, composed of soldiers, women, negroes, slaves, and many Indians, some brought from Guatemala, and others taken from the Manabi towns.
In 1535 Diego de Almagro sent Prancisco Pacheco from San Miguel Piura in Peru to Manabi, in order to establish a town. Cieza de Leon states that he started from a village called Piquasa (Picoaza), and founded the city of Porto Vie jo in the locality which appeared to him most suitable, on the 12th of March, the Day of St. Gregory. It was not far from the sea, and in one of the best parts of the province.*^^ In all the early accounts concerning the discovery and colonization of Manabi, the name of Manabi does not appear, but it is usually called the province of Porto Yiejo. Other titles were Gobierno de Oara, Tenencia de Porto Yiejo, Gobierno de Guayaquil, and Provincia de Manta. In "A General
SaviUe: Antiquities of ManaM, Ecuador 13
Relation of the Spanish Populations of Peru," made for Salazar de Villasante by an anonymous author (written, probably, during the years 1573 and 1574), is some interesting information regarding the city of Porto Vie jo at that time. Prom this report it seems that an unsuccessful attempt was made by Santillan in 1565 to remove the city, and consolidate it with Manta.^ About 1628 both Manta and Porto Yiejo were sacked and destroyed by English pirates. The town of Porto Yiejo was removed from its former site, which is now not definitely known, to its present location. Monte Oristi was settled at this time by inhabitants of Manta, who retired to the foot of the hill of Monte Oristi, and established the present town.'^ At the time of the conquest of the province, and for many years later, there were a number of Indian towns which have now disappeared. At the present time the province cannot be said to be very thickly settled. In a report written in 1591 is a list of towns with the i number of Indians who paid tribute each year to the Spanish crown: they nearly all bear Indian names, and but few exist at the present time. The names on this list, of towns still inhabited, are Picoacan (Picoaza), Xipexapa (Jipijapa), Tocaguas (Tosagua), Toal (Toalla), Manta, Monte Ohristo (Monte Oristi), and Oharapoto.^
A few names of precolumbian tribes in Manabi have been handed down to us. Yelasco writes, that the giants ate a part of the natives who had previously been inhabitants of that country, and caused the rest to retire. After the disappearance of the giants, those Avho had retired came back. They were divided into nine tribes, composed of the residuum of various nations. They united into a single tribe, although preserving their proper names, which were Apichiquies, Oancebis, Oharapotes, Pichotes, \ Pichoasaes, Pichunsis, Manabies, Jarahusas, Jipijapas, and Mantas.^ UUoa gives us other names, taken from Garcilasso de la Vega, in the following statement : " Among the nations living on this coast region may be distinguished those with the names of Apichiqui, Pichunsi, Sava, Pecllansimiqui, and Pampahuaci, and there were others, more savage than any who had been up to that time conquered by the Incas, Avho were named Saramissu and Pampahuaci ; so savage were these last two named peoples, that the Inca did not deem them worthy of conquest." ^^
It is difficult to gain an adequate idea of the appearance of Manabi towns, and the customs of the natives, in precolumbian times. In the
14 Contributions to South American Archeology
extracts from the early Spanish writers given in the notes of this report, we have brought together all of importance which has been printed up to the present time. There may be unedited manuscripts in the libraries and archives of Spain which may throw more light on the condition of this region before the fifteenth century. The accounts of Manabi generally are interwoven with that which relates to the province of Esmeraldas, where the archeological material indicates a different culture in many respects. The material obtained by Dorsey from the Island of La Plata, immediately off the coast of Manabi, resembles but little the objects from the adjacent coast.
Some observations concerning the natives may be cited here. It is said that they worshipped the sea, fishes, tigers, lions, snakes, and a great emerald. Their temples or places of worship, where they had their idols, were called Guacas. The entrances faced the east, the doors being covered with white cotton cloth. Yelasco has an interesting notice about the temples : " The province of Manta had two temples, which remained from the earliest times down to the coming of the Spaniards. One was on the continent and the other on the island, called to-day La Plata. The one on the continent was the most famous and celebrated of all, and but little less rich than that of Pachacamac in Peru, and as much frequented by pilgrims from all parts. It was dedicated to the god of health, called Umina, for its idol was made, with the figure half human, of a great stone of very fine emerald, whose value must have exceeded that of the combined treasures of many temples. To this celebrated temple the sick from all parts were accustomed to journey, coming in person or in the arms of persons. Directly the high priest received the offerings of gold, silver, and precious stones which they had brought, the pilgrims prostrated themselves on the earth, and the priest then, taking the idol in a very white and clean cloth, with great reverence applied it to the head or to the infirm part of the sufferer. It is said that many were healed. On the island the idol was dedicated to the Sun, and was also known as well, and no less celebrated and rich. The inhabitants of the coast went there by boats, and celebrated the winter solstice with a great festival of many days' duration. The sacrifices were of gold, silver, precious stones, very fine woven cloths, skins, and a certain number of children, which abuse the Incas entirely wiped out." _
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 15
They sacrificed liuman victims, selecting tliem from the children and women, as well as from prisoners of war. The war captives who were killed for these sacrifices were flayed, and the skins were filled Avith ashes and hung in the doors of the temples and in their feasting and dancing places. The priests looked for favorahle or unfavorable signs in the entrails of animals. The idols, of various shapes, were made of clay, stone, gold, or silver, and at Manta Avas also the great emerald, about which we shall speak later.
In the description of Porto Yiejo,^ reference is made to a present given to a Spaniard. This Avas a great piece of gold in the form of a board, which appeared to have been cut from a larger piece. The Indian who presented this gold object was said to have had in his possession a gold plate upon Avhich rested another i)iece like a platform, forming a kind of throne, upon which to sit during certain sacrifices and ceremonies which they had throughout the year.
Regarding the morality of the natives, Oieza de Leon says that it was notorious among all the inhabitants of the kingdom of Peru, that, in some of the villages of the district of Pueblo Yiejo, sodomy was practised. This assertion regarding the low moral standard of the inhabitants of this part of South America is as explicit as the frequent statements concerning the common practice of cannibalism by the inhabitants of the Oauca Yalley. The burial-customs of the natives of this part of Ecuador are mentioned by Cieza de Leon, who writes that " they made deep holes in the ground, Avhich looked more like wells than tombs, and they buried the most beautiful and beloved of his women with him, besides jcAvels, food, and jars of wine made from maize. They then placed over the hole those thick canes which grow in the country. As these canes are holloAV, they take care to fill them with that drink made of maize of roots, which they call aca, because they believe that the dead men drink of the liquors they put into the canes." They deformed the heads of their children, and were accustomed to paint their faces and bodies in various colors. They were fond of orna- ments of gold, silver, and emeralds.
The Indians of this land did not have a common language ; but nearly every town spoke a different dialect, which is said to have caused discord and wars among them. They kncAv the days of the week, and distinguished them with particular names. Sunday, being the most solemn, was called Tepipi- chinchi. Their sons were given the name of the day on Avhich they were born.
**.
16 Contributions to South American Archeology
ARCHEOLOGY
We have but little information concerning the antiquities of Manabi. Wiener and Gonzalez Suarez have visited the province, but they have not added much to our knowledge of this region. Gonzalez Suarez has illustrated and described a few specimens from there, and Wiener has written briefly about one of the stone seats for which that part of South America is noted. The only archeological work was done in 1892, when Dr. George A. Dorsey spent sixteen days on the Island of La Plata, The result of his investigations has been published by the Field Columbian Museum.^ The material which he found was generally of an entirely different character from the specimens found by us on the main- land during the summer of 1906. We were especially interested in the stone seats, and nearly all of the time spent in Manabi was devoted to researches bearing on that problem. In the results of this first trip, which are set forth in this preliminary report, we have not been able to settle definitely the question of racial affinities of the makers of those sculptures. It seems quite probable, however, that the people whose remains are found on the hills had little in common with the Quichuas of Peru, or with the other centres of culture in the Andes. We are inclined to believe that they came along the coast from the north, possibly from southern Central America. Gonzalez Suarez believes that they were related to the Mayans of Yucatan and Central America, and in the Appendix will be found translated his arguments for this belief.^° We were able to bring together a considerable amount of new material bearing on this ancient centre of culture.
WELLS. One of the first things which attracted the Spanish dis- coverers of Manabi was the deep wells found in great numbers in different parts of this arid region. Cieza de Leon states that the building of these wells was attributed by the natives to the giants. He writes particularly concerning the Avells near Santa Elena, as the giants were supposed to have landed at this point. He says, "As they found no water, in order to remedy the want they made some very deep wells, works which are truly worthy of remembrance ; for such is their magnitude that they certainly must have been executed by very strong men. They dug these wells in the
SavilJe: Antiquities of Manahiy Ecuador 17
living rock until they met with water, and then they lined them with masoniy from top to bottom in such sort that they would endure for many ages. The water in these wells is very good and wholesome, and always so cold that it is very pleasant to drink."
Zarate probably refers to the existence of wells as follows : " The land is very dry, although it rains a little. It has but little sweet, running water, and every one drinks from wells or from dammed waters (aguas rebalsadas), which they call jagueyes." This statement is not very clear; but the words translated as "dammed waters," or "pool of dammed waters," evidently refer to artificial cisterns or wells.
In the "Descripcion de la Gobernacion de Guayaquil " (p. 273) there is a notice of the wells of this region, which is as follows : " They drink water out of wells, one of which they call ' Of the Giants,' which, according to sayings of the ancient Indians, lived in that country, not as original inhabitants, but came from other parts."
Yillavicencio writes that there is a " hill called La Bolsa, two leagues distant from Monte Oristi to the southwest; here are some wells with covered stone, and artificial; that which is worthy of note in these wells is the depth and how they were constructed, as they appear not to have been for the object of taking water from them, as there is no water there at present. On the slope of this hill there is a spring of water which is con- tinually bubbling." ^* It is singular that Yillavicencio should have made this statement, as there are numerous ancient wells filled with water at the present time.
Gonzalez Suarez has called attention to a number of wells in different parts of Manabi. From his " Historia del Ecuador " we quote as follows : " The most notable of these artesian wells, mistakenly attributed to giants, are in the actual province of Manabi, about a league to the southeast of the town of Jipijapa, in a point called Ohoconcha. In this place are eight, some of which are now filled up, but it would be a very easy matter to clean them. A little above there is another, in a place called Gandil. Above Monte Cristi is a verj- large one which is still in good condition, and from this comes the potable water used not only by the people of Monte Oristi, but also of Manta. A small well is found between Jipijapa and Santa Ana, with the name of Ohade. In all the coast of Ecuador, from Manta to Puna, there is a great scarcity of water, and for this reason
18 Contributions to Soutli American Archeology
the ancient native tribes made these deep wells in order that they should not want for water. Without doubt they were guided by the verdure which the small herbs of the country preserved in the summer months, when all the rest of the vegetation was parched, in order to discover the concealed springs in the depths of the earth."^^
Most of the water used in Manta at the present time comes from wells in the little settlement of Colorado, and these wells also supply part of the water used in Monte Oristi. Not far from Monte Oristi, however, are ancient wells at a town called Toalla, which is probably the place referred to by Suarez.
In the ruins back of the town of Manta, which extend, a short distance from the beach, several miles into the country to the south, there is a cir- ciilar well cut through the solid rock, which was discovered a few j^ears ago. It was covered by a stone, and filled with earth and small stones. The owner of the land commenced cleaning it out, but discontinued the work before reaching the bottom, on account of the expense and the difficulty of removing the rubbish, but more especially because he found no water. At present it is 42 feet (12.8 m.) deep, but several feet of earth have washed in during the rainy seasons. The well is cut in a sort of spiral fashion through the solid rock. The top is 3 feet (91.4 cm.) from the present sur- face of the ground. It is only 2 feet 3 inches (68.6 cm.) in diameter at the top, and gradually diminishes in diameter towards the bottom. At the bottom it is almost impossible for a person to move about in order to clean out the earth. This is the only well known at present in the vicinity of Manta, but there are indications of the existence of others in the ruins. We saw another well, discovered a few months ago, in the Cerro de Hojas, which the owner of the land was engaged in clearing out during the month of June. He had already reached a depth of perhaps 25 feet (7.6 m.), and there was water in the bottom at that time. This well is much larger than the one seen at Manta, it being about 8 feet (2.4 m.) in diameter, and it is not cut through the solid rock. The sides are walled up with rough stones in the same manner as are those which have been referred to by Suarez. There is another ancient, very deep well, near the base of Oerro de Hojas, which is walled up in the same manner as the well on the hill. In this well there is an abundance of water, and it is used by the people living in the neighboring ranchos.
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 19
E,UI!N^S. Throughout the province of Manabi there still exist many remains of ancient houses of the precolumbian inhabitants of this region. Cieza de Leon mentions the sites of houses near Santa Elena which are connected with the m}i;h of the giants and believed by the natives to be the ruins of their first settlements.
Xear the present town of Manta are the ruins of a large pre- Columbian settlement. In the second part of the "Descripcion de la Gobernacion de Guayaquil" (pp. 302 and 303) is an interesting account of Manta, Avhich states that the Indian settlement was called Jocay, and that the natives had no knowledge of when it was founded. This account further states, that at a distance of from one to two leagues from Jocay were three other towns, called Jaramijo, Oamilloa, and Cama. The Spaniards forced the Indians to abandon these towns, and settle in Manta. The same language was spoken in all the towns. It appears that, at the time of discovery, Jocay was governed by a cacique, who was called Lligua Tohali, It was a town of considerable size; but by the cruelty of the Spaniards, who tortured the Indians in order to secure gold and emeralds, the population rapidly diminished.
The ruins of Jocay are to be seen south of the present town of Manta, J ^
and extend even into the village itself. Probably in former times they ^ \ '^^^
reached to the seashore, but the present modern town has obliterated all traces of the ancient houses. There are the remains of hundreds of house- sites and mounds, with here and there innumerable red potsherds scattered over the ground. These houses are often of one room ; but there are many with two or more, and even up to seven, rooms in one building. Little is left of the walls, the bases of which are of rough stones set edgewise in the ground. The average width of the walls is from 3 feet (91.4 cm.) to 4 feet (122 cm.), the inner and outer part being made in the same man- ner, and probably filled with rough stones and earth. The shapes of the rooms of many of these houses can still be traced ; but for generations the place has served as a quarry for the inhabitants of Manta, who are constantly prying out stones from the walls to be used in the town. Some of the buildings have been of enormous size. One was 190 feet (57.9 m.) in length, 39 feet (11.9 m.) in width at the southern end, and 37 feet (11.3 m.) at the northern end, these being inside measurements. The thickness of the side-walls was 4 feet 6 inches (137 cm.), and that of the southern wall,
20 Contributions to South American Archeology
2 feet 7 inches (78.7 cm.). In this building the inner and onter walls were of slabs set in the ground, the spaces between being filled in with rougher stones. The surface of the ground near the northern end of this large building sloped somewhat toAvards the sea, and a platform or graded way was built from the level of the building as an approach ; this was 35 feet (10.7 m.) long. There were no traces of stone steps in this graded way. The orientation of the building was, in general, from north to south; but the variation from the true north was much greater than that observed in the ancient places in Mexico and Central America, Many of these houses are covered by a scrub gro^vth, so that it is impossible to make accurate measurements of their dimensions without clearing this away. This has tended towards the preserA^ation of the walls, as, up to the present time, the natives have contented themselves with taking the stones from the ruined structures in the o^Dcn fields. Another house was measured which was 150 feet (45.7 m.) long, and 41 feet (12.5 m.) wide. The stones, set edgewise in the ground for the walls, Avere 2 feet (61 cm.) high. This building also had a sloping or graded way at one end.
Scattered here and there are many mounds, which are probably burial- places. In one group of rooms, towards the east, are a number of much disintegrated stone sculptures. One room has walls made of earth, probably the adobe bricks so commonly used in ancient America. In it is a group of five sculptures, only one of which is standing in place, close to the wall. This is a human figure, the head of which is broken off ; it is 4 feet 9i inches (146 cm.) high, and 2 feet 4 inches (71.1 cm.) across. There are among these sculptures several other human figures, and one single stone, 6 feet (183 cm.) in length, which has carving on it. These ^ sculptures are so much weathered and worn that they give but little
< c^^J'An.A***-^ evidence at present of any great degree of attainment in the art of carving
by the ancient people. Some of the stone is calcareous, while some thin slabs are of a gritty sandstone.
In the patio of the business-house knoAvn as the Casa Tagua, in Manta, are two extremely curious sculptures Avith animal figures, Avhich Avere taken from the Manta ruins. They are in a better state of preservation than the sculptures before mentioned. They are about 4 feet (122 cm.) in height, and represent animals Avith enormously long necks and part of a body. They may possibly be llamas, but they are so much conventionalized that it is not
tSaville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador
21
certain that this animal is intended to be represented. It was probably the only animal with a long neck with which these people were acquainted. On the ground in the vicinity of the ruined buildings, in addition to the red potsherds before mentioned, may be found hammer stones, broken hand stones for metates, broken metates, and the remains of pottery vessels of a brown ware, as well as fragments of clay figures. The natives say that the site of the ancient temple was where the modern cemetery of the town of Manta is now located, but at present there is absolutely no evidence of any such structure. Up to the present time there have been no excava- tions made in the ruins ; they cover several square miles, and it promises to be a most important field for future archeological work.
About six or seven miles northeast of Monte Oristi is the famous Cerro de Hojas, from which place have come the stone seats which from time to time have found their way into various museums in Europe and America. Midway between Monte Cristi and Cerro de Hojas is a series of hills, in some places very precipitous, none of them rising over five hundred feet (150 m.), which are locally known as Cerro Bravo. In these hills"^are very many house-sites of the same type as those found in the ruins at Manta ; they are known to the natives under the name of corrales, the Spanish word for " enclosure." Notwithstanding the existence of these house-sites in great numbers, so far as we were able to learn from the hunters, who are accustomed to traverse these hills in all directions in pursuit of game, no seats or sculptures have ever been found there.
Between the northern slopes of Cerro Bravo and the northwestern base of Cerro de Hojas is a small village, not on the map, called La Secita; here have been found house-sites, and thousands of clay spindle-whorls, and pot- tery fragments. The people in this little settlement cultivate the soil on the western slopes of Cerro de Hojas. It may be well to state, that the whole range of hills placed on the maps under the name of Cerro de Hojas is not locally so known. At the northern end of the mountain-ridge of Cerro de Hojas is a very deep ravine, separating it from another line of hills run- ning to the northwest, known as Cerro Jaboncillo, the general direction of Cerro de Hojas being north. Tliese hills are slightly higher than Cerro de Hojas. There are also two ranges of hills some leagues southeast of Monte Cristi ; namely, Cerro Jupa and Cerro Agua IS^uevo : and in the vicinity of Jipijapa, which lies well to the south of Monte Cristi, near
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22 Contributions to South American Archeology
the frontier of the province of Guayas, is a line of hills known as Ma- nantial. On all these hills, house-sites are found; but, as before stated, no seats exist in Oerro Bravo, and likewise none have been reported from Manantial. These remains of houses all pertain to the same culture. In Oerro de Hojas they are found on the level tops of the hills, and, on the slopes, level terraces have been made, each of which has a house containing one or more rooms. On many slopes the terraces are one below the other, resembling an enormous flight of huge steps. One house measured in Oerro de Hojas had the following dimensions: length, 37 feet (11.3 m.); width, 23 feet 6 inches (7.16 m.). The largest house which was measured was 161 feet (49 m.) long, and 41 feet (12.5 m.) wide ; there was no evidence of interior walls, it being a single room, with the northern end open. In these same houses were also found stone columns, figures of •JA^^vv^: men, and certain curious sculptures, which will be described later. 9 cw-^f ''^■^/^ In the houses on Oerro Jaboncillo numerous very interesting stone
bas-reliefs have been excavated, but none have been found, to our knowledge, on any other hill. In the upper parts of the hills which over- look the lower slopes, and where we should expect to find the remains of temples, there are at present no evidences of any large structures which would have served for this purpose. It is possible that the few large houses found in different parts of the hills, the measurements of one of which have been given, were the temples or council-houses, but this is merely conjecture. In no case do the walls rise more than 2 feet (61 cm.), and generally they were made of rough slabs of stone placed edgewise in the ground, as before described in dealing with the ruins at Manta. One house was observed with walls of a different construction. The rooms were not large, but the walls were made of squared stones, three courses of which remain, and they were laid so as to make a wall slanting at an angle of about seventy degrees on each side. As this ruined building is buried in the deep underbrush with which the greater part of the hill is covered, and no loose squared stones were observed in the vicinity, it seems probable that the upper part of the walls was made of a perishable material, very likely adobe or sun-dried bricks ; there is also a possibility that the walls were of cane or wood. This type of construction is entirely different from the hundreds of houses which were observed during the past summer, and may represent a later type of building.
Saville : Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 23
ST0:N^E seats. The most remarkable feature of the archeology of Manabi is the great number of stone seats or chairs which have been found on the summits of the hills not far distant from the sea. They are unique, being found only on the hills in a small area of about twenty miles in diameter ; and no objects of like character are known in any other part of either North or South America. They are not mentioned by any of the early writers or explorers. This would seem to indicate that they were not seen by Pizarro and his companions when they passed through this province, and possibly shows that the towns on the hills were in ruins, and covered by the forest, at that time. The first notice of their existence is given by Yillavicencio, who, in his "Geography of the Republic of Ecuador," published in New York in 1858, states that " two leagues north of Monte Cristi there are some hills, such as the Oerro de Hojas ; this is a low mountain with a flat summit; in this plain there is a circle of seats of stone, no less than thirty in number, each one of which is a sphinx, above which is the seat with two arms, all of stone, well worked, and of a single piece, which may be transported. This circle of seats appears to have lodged a congress of men who came together here for their con- ferences, which may have been those of the magnates of the Cara nation, who lived here before they had accomplished the conquest of the kingdom of Quito. We have taken two of these seats for our museum, and they are preserved in Guayaquil."
Bollaert quotes this statement from Yillavicencio in his "Antiquarian, Ethnological, and Other Researches in New Granada, Ecuador, Peru, and Chili." This statement regarding the placing of the seats in a circle has found credence among later writers, and we also hear of a stone table in the centre of this circle. Wiener visited these hills in July, 1882, and sent a seat to Europe, which is in the Trocadero Museum. He does not give any information concerning the arrangement of the seats,^ and simply writes that " there are some other broken chairs, four of which could be easily repaired, to be found on a stone rock eleven leagues and a half northeast of the small port of Manta." This is a mistake. The distance to the base of the hills is a little over five miles in a northeasterly direction. Gonzalez Suarez visited the region, and in his "Archeology of Ecuador " states that "these seats are found in the Oerro de Hojas, placed in a semi- circle, in each one of the platforms on the hill. This composes a group of
24 Contributions to Soiitli American Archeology
broken hills, and on the summit of each one of these were a number of these seats placed around with symmetry." In another part of his work, Suarez says that " in each of the summits or truncated surfaces [of the hills] are a number, more or less considerable, of seats and columns of stone placed in a circle."
During our visit to Manabi, careful examination was made of the summit of Oerro de Hojas, and it will be remembered that, in the descrip- tion of the ruins on the hill, mention is made of the numerous house-sites, locally known as corrales, which are found in great numbers. It was in the rooms of these houses that the stone seats were found; and in no case were they observed occupying any regular order, or placed in any way which would indicate their having been around stone tables or in a circle. In fact, no large stone slabs are found in any of the ruins, with the exception of small bas-reliefs, to be described later. In some rooms, only one seat was found; in others two; and sometimes three, four, and even five have been discovered in a single house. So far as the Oerro de Hojas is concerned, we must conclude that the story of the ceremonial placing of these seats is a myth ; but as Ave were unable to visit Oerro Jaboncillo and the two more distant hills, — Oerro Jupa and Oerro Agua !N^uevo, — there is a possibility that in these hills there may have been some regular arrange- ment of the seats. Repeated questioning of the natives leads us, however, to doubt that the conditions under which the seats are found in these hills are at all different from those in the Oerro de Hojas.
Some of the seats are of argillaceous, shaly sandstone; but the majoritj^ are of andesite. From the type of sculpture which serves as a support, they may be divided into two great classes ; namely, those which have human figures, and those which have animal figures. In general, the human figures are carved in very nearly the same manner, but there are greater differences in the carving of the animal forms. In the collection we have brought together, which is now in New York, the majority of the seats have the crouching human figure supports. In the animal or puma figures, we find considerable variation in the way in which the animal has been carved. In some, the ears are very prominent ; in others less so ; and in one specimen the ears are not represented at all. Some have a tail, while in others it is absent. In addition to these two general types into which we may divide the greater number of seats, we have examples of four other
Saville: Antiquities of 3Ianahi, Ecuador 25
classes ; namely, tlie bird or lizard, the bat, a monkey-like figure, and one with a circular design enframing a puma-face, apparently intended to repre- sent a copper disc, of wbich a number haye been found in Manabi and in other parts of Ecuador. Thus we have, forming the supports of the seats in this collection, six different motives: first, the crouching human figure; second, the crouching puma-like figure ; third, the bird or lizard ; fourth, the bat ; fifth, a monkey-like figure ; and, sixth, the representation of the copper disc. A seat was seen in Porto Yiejo which was different from any in the collection. On the front is a small standing human figure with a loin-cloth, the sides of the support being entirely plain. In Chicago there is a seat with an entirely plain quadrangular block for the support.
All of the seats from the Cerro de Hojas and Oerro Jaboncillo are made of andesite, with the possible exception of two specimens. It is inter- esting to find that the seats from Oerro Agua Nuevo (illustrated on Plates XX, XXI, and XXYI) are not of andesite, but of sandstone; a seat from the same hill (see Plate XXY) is of argillaceous, shaly sandstone ; while another seat (see Plate XV) is of andesite. It is impossible to state at present the locality of the quarries from which the stone used by the ancient sculptors was taken, as during our trip there was not sufficient time to search for them. In regard to the stone used by the ancient inhabitants of Manabi, a singular point is brought out by a study of the material used by the ancient builders of Manta. The stone used for the houses is oolitic limestone, while that used for the sculptures which are found in various parts of the ruins is a shell limestone similar to the coquina of Plorida. It is rather remarkable that, in selecting material for carving sculptures, they chose the coarsest stone to be found in Manabi, breaking it off from the cliffs and ledges which occur just above sea- level; and that for the houses they selected a finer one, found also in the vicinity. It is difficult to conjecture why they selected the coarsest, roughest, and least desirable material for their sculptures, and used the finer stone, better adapted for carving, in their houses. At all events, the stone iised by the builders of Manta was found in the immediate vicinity. It is probable that the andesite from which the seats were carved in the Oerro de Hojas and Oerro Jaboncillo, will be found in the immediate vicinity of the hill, and that the sandstone — which was not used, so far as our knowledge goes, in either of these two hills, but was confined to the
26 Contributions to South American Archeology
stone seats from Oerro Agua !N^uevo and Oerro Jupa — will be found also in their vicinity. Some of the seats have geometric designs or patterns carved on the borders: only three of these came from Oerro de Hojas and Oerro Jaboncillo, while six are from Oerro Jnpa and Oerro Agua ^N^uevo. All of these sculptured borders have practically the same design repeated with slight variation. The patterns on the seats from Oerro de Hojas are in a better state of preservation, as the andesite has not weathered so much as the sandstone.
It is doubtful if there are many types or variations of seats other than those contained in the present collection to be found in this region. Several hundred were seen ; and all the different types or variations from the two great classes — the crouching human figures and the puma figures — were obtained, and are here described and illustrated. There is not a single human or animal figure in which the proportions of the body are accurately brought out, as will be noted by examination of the plates. The arms and legs are generally entirely out of proportion to one another and to the body of the figure. As a rule, more attention has been paid to the face than to the rest of the figure. As will be seen by referring to the plates, there is great variation in the manner in which the seat itself is carved and the way in which it is placed upon the back of either the human or animal figure. It will be observed also that the greater number of the seats have arms of unequal length; and there is no set rule of placing the seat on the back of the body, some being placed well forward while others are back from the front of the figure, some having slanting arms while others have arms almost vertical from the base. Again, we have broad seats and extremely narrow seats. The greater number have outward extensions to the arms, and there are several in which this feature is absent. We will now proceed to a detailed description of the various examples brought together in the collection, and of which illustrations are given on Plates TV to XXYII inclusive. With but few exceptions, the front, side, and back views of the seat are given. The human figure type of support precedes that of the animal, as the class is numerically stronger.
Plate lY, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, crouching human figure. The face is of a different type from those seen on the other seats. The head-band is concaved and very high, being quite broad at the top. The lower
Saville: Antiquities of 3Ianahi, Ecuador 27
part of the face is rather pointed. The ears are yery large and have prominent ear-ornaments, and the nose is battered. Around the neck is a decorated band. The upper part of the chest is separated from the front upper surface of the pedestal. The hands, which are closed with the thumb resting on the forefinger at the top, project at an angle over the upper edge of the pedestal, which slopes downward at the same angle. The body is more realistically carved than most of the human figures in these seats. The toes project downward over the upper part of the back of the base; and the loin-cloth, which is shown at the back of the figure, going down between the legs, is also seen going forward around the abdomen of the figure. The seat rests on a slight support placed on the back of the human figure, and is massive : both back and front edges have an upward, inner slant. This is the largest seat in the collection and the second in size of any of the stone seats that have been reported from Manabi, the largest being the specimen in the town of Monte Oristi, belonging to the municipality. The dimensions of the specimen here described are as follows : Extreme height of seat, left side, 35 inches (88.9 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 25^ inches (64.8 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 13^ inches (33.7 cm.), back, 13 inches (33 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 18| inches (47.6 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 12| inches (32.4 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 3^ inches (8.9 cm.) ; extreme height of human figure, 14J inches (36.8 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 3^ inches (8.9 cm.) ; slant of front edge of seat, 60 degrees ; slant of arms of seat, 74 degrees ; overhang of arms of seat, 2^ inches (5.4 cm.). Erom Oerro Jaboncillo.
Plate Y, iN^os. 1, 2, and 3, crouching human figure. The head, which has a band over the forehead, is raised above the back of the figure ; the ears are prominent and flattened over the side of the head ; the hands are closed and rest on the pedestal, with the thumb on the forefinger at the top. The seat rests upon a high massive block resembling an inverted truncated pyramid with the four corners well defined ; the feet are placed upon the back of the base with the toes pointing inward, making right angles with the upper line of the pedestal. This is one of the highest seats, and both front and back are nearly vertical. The arms, in proportion to the height of the seat, are the highest of any of the seats from Manabi. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, left side, 33| inches
28 Contributions to South American Archeology
(84.8 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 25| inches (65.4 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 13| inches (35.2 cm.), back, 14 inches (35.6 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 15| inches (40 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 14J inches (36.8 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 3^ inches (9.8 cm.) ; extreme height of human figure, 11^ inches (29.2 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 3J inches (8.9 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, IJ inches (3.8 cm.). Trom Oerro Jaboncillo.
Plate YI, IS^os. 1, 2, and 3, crouching human figure. The stone is a light gray color and somewhat disintegrated. The upper part of the right arm of the seat is broken. The head of the human figure has a band over the forehead. The ears are prominent, and small ear-ornaments are shown. The face has a well-preserved aquiline nose. The hands are closed and rest on the pedestal, with the thumb upward. The toes project downward over the upper part of the back of the base. The loin-cloth is shown at the back of the figure. The front of the seat is slightly curved, and there is a considerable backward slant to the arms ; the pedestal on both the front and back is smaller at the base than at the top. This seat is one of the highest of the collection, and the pedestal is much smaller than in the other large seats. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, right side, 33^ inches (84.5 cm.); extreme breadth, 28J inches (72.4 cm.); breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 14 inches (35.6 cm.), back, 13J inches (35.2 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 15f inches (39.7 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 10 inches (25.4 cm.); extreme thickness of seat, 4 inches (10.2 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 70 degrees; extreme height of human figure, 13^ inches (33.7 cm.); average height of pedestal, 4^ inches (10.8 cm.); overhang of arms of seat, 2J inches (6.3 cm). Erom Oerro Jaboncillo.
Plate YII, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, crouching human figure. The head, which has a band over the forehead, is but slightly higher than the back of the figure. The figure itself is very high. The forearm is not repre- sented. The hands, which are closed and rest on the pedestal, with the thumb on the forefinger, are placed at the elbow. This shortening of the lower extremities of the arms is true of the legs, the leg below the knee being entirely out of proportion to the rest of the figure. The feet are close to the knees and the toes project downward over the upper part of the back of the base. The seat rests upon a low support placed on the back of the
Saville: Antiquities of 3Ianahi, Ecuador 29
figure ; the arms are of unequal lieiglit, the right arm being higher than the left ; both front and back edges of the seat are nearly vertical, with a slight rounding of each edge around the line of the seat. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, right side, 26^ inches (66.7 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 19| inches (50.5 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 12| inches (32.4 cm.), back, 11^ inches (29.2 cm.); extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 12 inches (30.5 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 10 inches (25.4 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 3^ inches (8.3 cm.) ; extreme height of human figure, 9^ inches (24.1 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 3^ inches (8.9 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, I of an inch (1.6 cm.). From Oerro Jaboncillo.
Plate YIII, iNTos. 1 and 2, crouching human figure. The head, which has a band over the forehead, is raised above the body. The ears are prominent and flattened over the side of the face, and the nose is battered. The seat rests on a block over the back of the figure, the upper part of which is on a level with the top of the head. The hands are closed and are placed on the pedestal. The toes project downward over the upper part of the back of the base. Although not the highest, this seat is the broadest and most massive, of all the sculptures of this class from Manabi. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, left side, 28| inches (72.4 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 34^ inches (87.6 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 16^ inches (41.3 cm.), back, 14| inches (37.5 cm.); length of upper part of arms, 12^ inches (31.8 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 14f inches (36.5 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 4^ inches (10.5 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 80 degrees ; extreme height of pedestal, 3f inches (8.6 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, ^ of an inch (1.1 cm.). Erom Oerro Jaboncillo.
Plate IX, ]^os. 1, 2, and 3, crouching human figure. The head, which has a band over the forehead, is slightly higher than the back of the figure. The face is broad, the nose battered, and the mouth small. The eyes are represented. The ears and ear-ornaments are treated in a manner some- what similar to those of Is^os. 3, 4, and 5 (the human figures) of Plate XXIX. The body itself is high and the extremities are out of proportion to the rest of the figure. Neither the hands nor the feet are well repre- sented. The left arm of the seat is missing ; the front edge is much curved, with a backward slant to the arms ; the rear edge of the seat is almost ver-
30 Contributions to Soutli American Archeology
tical; and the bottom of the pedestal is hollowed out,— a feature not found in any other seat. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, right side, 22| inches (56.8 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 13| inches (34.3 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 10 inches (25.4 cm.); extreme thickness of seat, 2f inches (6.7 cm.); overhang of arms of seat, 1^ inches (4.8 cm.). Erom Oerro de Hojas.
Plate IX, [N^os. 4, 5, and 6, crouching human figure. The stone is much disintegrated. The head, which has a band over the forehead, is slightly higher than the back of the figure. The neck is round, with a prominent swelling, and the body hardly appears. The hands are closed and rest on the pedestal, with the thumb on the forefinger at the top. The toes project downward over the upper part of the back of the base. The height of the arms of the seat is unequal, the right side being higher than the left. The seat has a backward slant in front and back (the right arm, 70 degrees ; the left arm, 80 degrees) ; and the right side is placed farther back from the front of the pedestal than the left side. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, right side, 23^ inches (59.1 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 27| inches (70.5 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 15^ inches (39.4 cm.), back, 14f inches (37.5 cm.); extreme length of seat from front to back, — inside, 12 inches (30.5 cm.), at upper part of arms, 9 inches (22.9 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 3^ inches (8.3 cm.) ; right arm back from pedestal, 1^ inches (4 cm.) ; left arm back from pedestal, ^ of an inch (2.2 cm.) ; height of human figure above pedestal to seat, 11^ inches (28.6 cm.); average height of pedestal, 2| inches (7 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, 2 inches (5.1 cm.). Erom Oerro de Hojas.
Plate X, ;Nos. 1, 2, and 3, crouching human figure. The stone is much disintegrated. The head, which has a band over the forehead, is higher than the back of the figure. The nose is battered and the lower part of the face is quite pointed. The forearms are shortened. The left hand is closed and is placed on the pedestal, with the thumb on the fore- finger at the top. The right hand is broken off. The feet are close to the knees, and the toes project downward and toward each other, making a right angle with the base. A double loin-cloth is shown at the back. The seat rests on a support placed on the back of the figure ; the arms are of unequal height, the left arm being lower than the right ; the front and back borders have a decided slant inward ; the front and back edges
SavilJe: Antiquities of Man a bi, Ecuador 31
are curved, so that the tops of the arms are much shorter in length than the central part of the seat directly over the figure ; the length of the base from the front to the back is the same as the top of the arms. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, right side, 24f inclies (62.5 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 24f inches (61.9 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, front, 14^ inches (36.8 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 12| inches (32.1 cm.) ; length of upper part of arm, right side, 8f inches (21.3 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 2f inches (6.7 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 80 degrees ; slant of back, 74 degrees ; extreme height of human figure, llf inches (29.5 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 4 inches (10.2 cm.); overhang of arms of seat, 1^ inches (4.8 cm.). Erom Oerro de Hojas.
Plate X, ^os. 4, 5, and 6, crouching human figure. The head, which has a band over the forehead, is slightly higher than the back of the figure. The nose is battered, but the features of the face are quite well carved. The ears are set well back near the shoulders. The hands are closed and are placed upon the pedestal, with the thumb on the forefinger at the top. The body is not well carved. The pedestal is broken. The seat rests on a very low support placed on the back of the figure. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, right side, 18^ inches (47 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 20 inches (50.8 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, 13^ inches (33.7 cm.); extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 9 inches (22.9 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 6^ inches (15.9 cm.); extreme thickness of seat, 3 inches (7.6 cm.); extreme height of human figure, 8 inches (20.3 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 2^ inches (5.4 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, 1^ inches (3.2 cm.). Erom Oerro de Hojas.
Plate XI, ifos. 1, 2, and 3, crouching human figure. The head, which has a band over the forehead, is well carved and is slightly higher than the back of the figure. The nose is aquiline and perfectly preserved. The lower part of the face is pointed. The hands are closed and placed on the pedestal, with the thumb on the forefinger at the top. The shoulders are prominent. The toes project downward over the upper part of the back of the base. The seat is massive, and the front part, with the arms, has a backward slant ; the back part of the left arm is broken; the front border is decorated with a grecque design. A unique feature of this seat
32 Contributions to South American Archeology
will be noted in illustration No. 2, wliicli is of the right side. The front and back borders are separated from the side of the seat by a deep groove, giving the appearance of flanges. On the other side of the seat the flange is present on the front border, but is not nearly as prominent. The di- mensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, left side, 24f inches (62.5 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 23§ inches (60.6 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, front, 13^ inches (34.3 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 16| inches (41.9 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 16 inches (40.6 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 3^ inches (8.3 cm.) ; slant of front seat, 79 degrees ; extreme height of human figure, 10^ inches (26.7 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 3 inches (7.6 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, 1^ inches (3.2 cm.). From Oerro Jaboncillo.
Plate XI, l^os. 4, 5, and 6, crouching human figure. The head, which has a very high band over the forehead, is higher than the back of the figure. The well carved ears are placed down towards the lower part of the face. The upper lip, nose, and forehead are battered. Over the lips are seen lines which appear like a mustache. The hands are well carved and placed on the pedestal, with the thumb on the forefinger at the top. The feet are badly carved, and do not project downward over the pedestal. A broad loin-cloth is shown at the back. The seat rests on a support placed on the back of the figure, and both front and back borders have a decided slant backward, although the bottom of the seat is nearly level ; the upward extension of the arms is massive, and the seat itself is un- usually thick. The dimensions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, right side, 27| inches (70.8 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 27| inches (70.5 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 15f inches (39.1 cm.), back, 144 inches (36.2 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 14| inches (36.2 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 11^ inches (29.2 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 3| inches (9.5 cm.); slant of front of seat, 75 degrees ; extreme height of human figure, 10^ inches (26 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 3^ inches (8.3 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, 2^ inches (5.7 cm.). Erom Cerro Jaboncillo.
Plate XII, !N^os. 1, 2, and 3, crouching human figure. The stone is weathered in places and disintegrated. The head, which is very well carved, has a band over the forehead, and is slightly higher than the back of the figure. The nose is aquiline and perfectly preserved. The lower
Saville : Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 33
part of the face is pointed. The mouth and eyes are indifferently repre- sented. The forehead-band on each side ends in conventionalized ears with small ear-ornaments. The hands are closed and placed on the ped- estal, with the thumb on the forefinger at the top. The toes project down- ward on the upper part of the back of the base, and the front toes are placed close to each other at an angle from the foot. A double loin-cloth is shown over the back of the figure. The seat is well rounded in front ; the arms (front and back) have an upward, inner slant ; and the front part of the left arm is missing. The dimensions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, right side, 14^ inches (36.8 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 23^ inches (58.7 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, back, 13| inches (34.6 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 13J inches (34.3 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 9 J inches (24.1 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 2| inches (7.3 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 76 degrees ; extreme height of human figure, 10^ inches (26.7 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 2f inches (7 cm.); overhang of arms of seat, 1^ inches (3.8 cm.). From Cerro Jupa.
Plate XII, ^os. 4, 5, and 6, crouching human figure. The head has a band over the forehead. The face is much disintegrated, and is large and massive. The body of the figure is not so well carved as in most of the seats. The elbows do not rest on the pedestal, as is the case in the majority of this type, but are placed above the knees, making the shoulders prominent. The hands are represented closed, set well back from the front edge of the pedestal. The back of the figure is almost plain, the division of the buttocks, so prominent in most of the seats, not being represented ; nor are the feet carved over the back of the pedestal. The seat, which is broad and massive, rests almost directly on the back of the figure ; the upper part of both arms is missing. The dimensions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, left side, 27^ inches (68.9 cm.); extreme breadth, 27^ inches (68.9 cm.); extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, — left side, 16^ inches (41.3 cm.), right side, 14^ inches (36.8 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 3 inches (7.6 cm.) ; extreme height of human figure, 13 inches (33 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 3 inches (7.6 cm.). Erom Oerro Jaboncillo.
Plate XIII, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, crouching human figure. In this seat the figure is much smaller in proportion to the size of the seat than in
34 Contributions to South American Archeology
most of the other sculptures. The head, which has a band over the fore- head, is but slightly higher than the figure itself. The nose is battered. The eyes and mouth are but indistinctly seen. Part of the upper part of the head, and lines around the chest, are painted blue; but it is not certain that the painting is ancient. The arms are entirely out of propor- tion to the body, the hands being placed close to the elbows, on the ped- estal, with the thumb on the forefinger. The shoulders are prominent. The legs are flexed, the heels resting on the buttocks; and the pedestal projects outward from the back of the figure. The seat rests directly on the back of the figure, and the front part slants backward; there is a decided curvature on the interior surface of each arm ; the height of the arms is unequal, the right arm being higher than the left. The dimen- sions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, right side, 22^ inches (56.2 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 24 inches (61 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 16 inches (40.6 cm.), back, 15^ inches (38.7 cm.); extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 15| inches (40 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 13^ inches (33.7 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 1^ inches (3.8 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 76 degrees ; extreme height of human figure, 8^ inches (21.6 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 2 inches (5.1 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat. If inches (3.5 cm.). From Oerro de Hojas.
Plate XIII, Nos. 4, 5, and 6, crouching human figure. The head, which has a band over the forehead, is slightly higher than the back of the figure. The ears are well carved. The nose is aquiline and well preserved. The eyes and mouth are almost obliterated. The hands are closed and placed on the pedestal, with the thumb on the forefinger, and are not well carved. The body is well rounded generally. A double loin-cloth is shown at the back. The toes project downward over the upper part of the back of the base. The bottom of the seat, which rests directly on the back of the human figure, has a decided backward slant, the front edge being slightly rounded with a considerable slant, while the back is almost vertical. The ujDper part of the left arm of the seat is broken off. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, right side, 24| inches (62.9 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 27^ inches (68.9 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 18^ inches (46 cm.) ; length of upper part of right arm, 14| inches (37.1 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 3 inches
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 35
(7.6 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 66 degrees ; extreme height of human figure, 10| inches (27 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 2^ inches (7.3 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, 2| inches (7.3 cm,). From Cerro Jaboncillo.
Plate XIY, Nos. 1 and 2, crouching human figure. The head is placed in front of the body, which is not carved, being in the rough. The hands are apparently closed, resting on the knuckles on the pedestal, and placed against the elbows. There are nodes on the shoulders. The seat rests directly on the figure. The right arm of the seat is low, and the left arm is missing. There is a geometric design on the front edge of the seat and also on the outer edge of the extension of the arm. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, right side, 14| inches (37.1 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 9| inches (24.8 cm.) ; length of upper part of arm, right, 10^ inches (25.7 cm.) ; extreme thick- ness of seat, 3 inches (7.6 cm.) ; extreme height of human figure, 5^ inches (13.3 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, 3 inches (7.6 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, f of an inch (1 cm.). Erom Cerro de Hojas.
Plate XIY, No. 3, crouching human figure. The stone is very much disintegrated. The upper part of the head is flattened outward, forming a support for the seat. The nose is well preserved. The ears and orna- ments are treated in a manner similar to those shoAvn in No. 1, Plate IX. The arms are out of proportion to the rest of the body. The hands are in the same position as are those of the other seats. The body is placed against a slab which rises from the back of the pedestal, forming a support for the seat ; between this slab and the head is a support. Part of the pedestal is broken and the arms of the seat are missing ; on the front edge of the seat is an incised geometric design combining the patterns of seats Nos. 4 and 5 of Plate XIV, and Nos. 1, 2, and 3 of Plate XL The dimen- sions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, 12| inches (32.4 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 11 inches (27.9 cm.); extreme thickness of seat, 2 inches (5.1 cm.) ; extreme height of human figure, 74 inches (18.4 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 1-| inches (4.8 cm.). Erom Oerro de Hojas.
Plate XIY, Nos. 4 and 5, fragment of seat, crouching human figure. The head, which has been beautifully carved and shows a head-band, is very much higher than the back of the figure. The ears are well down toward the lower part of the back of the head and are similar to those
36 Contributions to South American Archeology
shown in No. 3 of this plate. The lower part of the face is entirely broken off. The eyes are well carved, and the fragment of the nose also shows the same feature. The right hand is missing ; but the left hand is small, and carved in a conventional manner. The legs are entirely out of pro- portion to the rest of the body, being slender; and the feet are very small. Against the back of the body is placed a thin slab which rises from the pedestal, forming a support for the back of the seat ; between the head and this slab is a support placed on the back of the body. The arms of the seat are entirely missing, but on the front edge are three sections of a deeply incised geometric pattern. The dimensions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, 16 inches (40.6 cm.); extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 12| inches (32.4 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 2^ inches (7.3 cm.) ; extreme height of human figure, 10 inches (25.4 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, 2 inches (5.1 cm.). From Cerro de Hojas.
Plate XIY, No. 6, upper part of the arm of a stone seat, with the representation on the upper surface of an animal carved in relief. The dimensions are as follows : Overhang of arms of seat, 1 inch (2.5 cm.) ; length from front to back of fragment of arm, 10^ inches (26.7 cm.) ; length of figure carved on top, 5| inches (14.6 cm.) ; height of arm, 2^ inches (6.3 cm.). Erom Oerro de Hojas.
Plate XIY, Nos. 7 and 8, fragment of seat, crouching human figure. The seat and the greater part of the base are missing. The head, which has a high band over the forehead, is as large as the body, and rests on the back of the shoulders, forming a right angle with the body. The ears are large and placed on the side of the head at the lower part of the head- band, and are similar to those shown in Nos. 3 and 4 of this plate. The features of the face are battered. The left hand is placed at the elbow, apparently closed, although in a battered condition, the right hand being entirely missing. The back of the body, including the legs, is poorly carved. The body is placed against a vertical slab which runs from the lower part of the base upwards, and forms the rear support for the seat. Between the back of the head and this slab is a high block. The dimen- sions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, 17^ inches (43.8 cm.); extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 11^ inches (28.6 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 3 inches (7.6 cm.) ; extreme height of human figure, 11^
Saville: Antiquities of Manabi, Ecuador 37
inches (28.3 cm.) ; extreme lieiglit of pedestal, 3^ inches (8.3 cm.). From Cerro de Hojas.
Plate XY, IN^os. 1, 2, 3, and 4, crouching human figure. The face is very much battered; a band is shown over the forehead. The head is placed directly in front of the figure, which is represented with the rear part higher than the chest. The arms are short and conventionalized. The rear of the figure shows the legs spread out with the feet under the hips. The figure itself is one of the smallest of any found in the Manabi seats. The pedestal has a considerable outward extension on either side of the figure ; the seat is broad and massive ; and the whole front appears to have suffered from fire : consequently it is impossible to determine whether the front border was decorated. The top of the arms, the outer extensions, and the entire surface of the back border, have geometric patterns. This decoration probably extended over the front border as well. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, left side, 19|^ inches (48.6 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 29 inches (73.7 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 17^ inches (44.5 cm.), back, 17 inches (43.2 cm.); extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 8f inches (21.3 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 3^ inches (8.9 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 82J degrees ; extreme height of human figure, 6^ inches (15.9 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 2 inches (5.1 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, 2f inches (6.7 cm.). From Cerro Agua [N^uevo.
Plate XYI, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, small unfinished seat, having a massive support, and showing marks of pecking. On the front part is a rude face, probably a puma. The arms are broken off, and the back is entirely plain. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, 15f inches (39.1 cm.); extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 11|^ inches (29.2 cm.) ; apparent thickness of seat, 3 inches (7.6 cm.) ; extreme height of supporting figure, 7 inches (17.8 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, 3 inches (7.6 cm.). Prom Cerro de Hojas.
Plate XYI, Nos. 4, 5, and 6, crouching human figure. The stone is much disintegrated. The head, which has a band over the forehead, is considerably higher than the back of the figure. The ears are set well back, and with the eyes are well carved. The nose is battered, and the mouth is almost imperceptible. The forehead is broad, and the lower part of the face is narrow. The hands project from the elbows on either
38 Contributions to South American Archeology
side, and are much destroyed. The toes project downward over the upper part of the base, and are placed close to each other at an angle from the feet. The seat rests on a support placed on the back of the figure : the arms are broken off. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, 20 inches (50.8 cm.) ; extreme breadth,- 23 inches (58.4 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 13^ inches (34.3 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 3^ inches (9.8 cm.) ; extreme height of human figure, 10 inches (25.4 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, 4^ inches (11.4 cm.). Erom Cerro de Hojas.
Plate XYII, IN^o. 1, crouching human figure, the smallest specimen known from Manabi. The base is broken, and the arms of the seat are entirely missing. The head, which has a band over the forehead, is higher than the back of the figure. The ears are large, the nose prominent, and the lower part of the face rather pointed. The hands are closed and are placed on the pedestal, with the thumb on the forefinger at the top. The feet are large and not well carved. A loin-cloth is shown between the legs at the rear. The seat rests on a support on the back of the figure. This specimen is of very great interest on account of its diminutive size. The dimensions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, 7^ inches (18.4 cm.); extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 8 inches (20.3 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 1 inch (2.5 cm.); extreme height of human figure, 4f inches (11.7 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, 1 inch (2.5 cm.). Erom Oerro de Hojas.
We now come to the series of the animal figure support type.
Plate XYII, Ifo. 2, small, broken seat. The sides and back are not carved. The head of an animal is carved in relief on the front, but no body is shown. The peck-marks of the tools used in carving this sculp- ture are more prominent than in the majority of the seats. The face of the animal has incised lines over the forehead and below the nose, pro- jecting down on either side of the cheek. The lips are very prominent. The arms of the seat are entirely missing. The dimensions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, 9^ inches (24.1 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 7 inches (17.8 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 1^ inches (3.2 cm.) ; extreme height of support of seat with animal head, 6| inches (17.1 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, 1 inch (2.5 cm.). Erom Cerro de Hojas.
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador
39
Fig, 1 is a head somewhat similar in character to the head on the seat just described. It has been broken off from a larger sculpture, undoubtedly a small seat. The mouth is highly conventionalized, and incised lines extend over each side of the face.
Plate XYII, 'J^o. 3, small, broken seat. The sides and back are not carved. An animal figure projects from the front of the base. The head is out of propor- tion to the rest of the bodv. The nose and eyes are prominent, and the mouth is represented by a serrated line. The fore legs of the animal are angular. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, 9^ inches (24.1 cm.) ; ex- pi^ ^
treme length of seat from front to back, inside, 6| inches (17.5 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 1^ inches (2.9 cm.) ; extreme height of animal figure, 6 inches (15.2 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, 1 inch (2.5 cm.). From Oerro Jaboncillo.
Plate XYIII, !N^os. 1, 2, and 3, crouching animal figure, probably a puma. The face is well carved. The ears are prominent. The lower part of the fore legs end in human hands placed on the pedestal, with the thumb on the forefinger at the top. The hind legs are small and conven- tionalized. The back of the figure is entirely plain, perhaps unfinished. The seat is broad and massive with heavy outer extensions to the upper part of the arms ; the left arm is higher than the right arm. The dimen- sions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, left side, 23| inches (60.3 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 29| inches (75.9 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 17 inches (43.2 cm.), back, 16^ inches (41.9 cm.); extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 14^ inches (35.9 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 2| inches (7 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 67 degrees; extreme height of animal figure, 10 inches (25.4 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 2| inches (7 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, 2J inches (6.3 cm.). From Oerro Jaboncillo.
Plate XVIII, Nos. 4, 5, and 6, crouching animal figure, probably a puma. The head projects forward on a level with the back. The ears are
40 Contributions to South American Archeology
prominent. The fore legs, which are carved in the same way as are those of the human figures, have human hands resting on the pedestal, with the thumb placed on the forefinger at the top. The hind feet are convention- alized, and placed in front of the hips. The tail is coiled around the right hind leg. The seat is placed directly on the back of the animal with a decided slant backward toward the upper part of the arms; the arms are of unequal height, the right arm being higher than the left, and longer from front to back; the pedestal is massive. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, right side, 25f inches (65.1 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 26f inches (67 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 17^ inches (44.5 cm.), back, 17| inches (44.1 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 15| inches (40 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 12^ inches (31.8 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 3 inches (7.6 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 78 degrees; extreme height of animal figure, 10 inches (25.4 cm.); average height of pedestal, 3| inches (8.3 cm.); overhang of arms of seat, 1 inch (2.5 cm.). Erom Oerro Jaboncillo.
Plate XIX, Nos 1, 2, and 3, crouching animal figure, probably a puma. The head projects outward in front of the pedestal on a level with the top of the back. The ears and teeth are prominent. The face is well carved. The fore legs end with human hands placed on the pedestal with the thumb on the forefinger at the top. The hind legs are small, convention- alized, and out of proportion to the rest of the figure, and are just back of the elbows. The rear part of the figure is plain, with slight indication of the buttocks at the bottom, and no tail is represented. The seat rests directly upon the back, and the bottom of the seat slopes backward towards the rear of the figure ; the arms are of unequal length, — the left arm being considerably higher than the right, — which gives the appearance of the whole seat being placed unevenly on the back of the animal. The dimensions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, left side, 25| inches (65.4cm.); extreme breadth, 24^ inches (61.6 cm.); breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 14| inches (37.5 cm.), back, 15^ inches (38.7 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 13^ inches (34.3 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 2f inches (6 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 79^ degrees; extreme height of animal figure, 10| inches (26.7 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 2| inches (7 cm.); overhang of arms of seat, 1 inch (2.5 cm.). Erom Oerro Jaboncillo.
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 41
Plate XIX, Nos. 4, 5, and 6, crouching animal figure, probably a puma. The head projects well outward in front of the base on a level with the back of the figure. The ears are large and prominent. The fore feet are human, resting on the pedestal with the thumb on the forefinger at the top. The hind legs are hardly represented ; and the back of the figure is almost plain, with the exception of a vertical groove in the centre, dividing the two rear parts of the figure. The seat projects over the front and back of the pedestal ; the left arm is higher than the right arm ; and there is a decided curve to the front border of the seat. The dimensions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, left side, 21 inches (53.3 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 24^ inches (61.3 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 15| inches (39.4 cm.), back, 14| inches (37.5 cm.); extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 16| inches (41.9 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 13^ inches (33.7 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, \^ inches (4.8 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 71 degrees ; extreme height of animal figure, 10^ inches (26.7 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 2 inches (5.1 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, 1 inch (2.5 cm,). From Oerro de Hojas.
Plate XX, ]N"os. 1, 2, and 3, crouching animal figure. The stone is much disintegrated. The ears are prominent. The pedestal is quite thick. The arms are of unequal height, the right arm being slightly higher than the left. The front border shows a very much defaced geometric design. The dimensions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, right side, 16^ inches (41.3 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 21^ inches (54.6 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 15^ inches (38.7 cm.), back, 14| inches (37.8 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 9| inches (24.8 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 9 inches (22.9 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 2 inches (5.1 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 75 degrees ; extreme height of animal figure, 8 inches (20.3 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, 2^ inches (6.3 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, ^ of an inch (1.3 cm.). Erom Oerro Jupa.
Plate XX, Nos. 4, 5, and 6, crouching animal figure, probably a puma. The carving of this seat is very much weathered ; but the figure is quite like that of I^os. 1, 2, and 3 of Plate XXI. The fore feet or hands are massive. The seat rests directly on the back of the figure ; the arms are of unequal height, the left arm being higher than the right. A
42 Contributions to South American Archeology
much defaced geometric pattern is carved on the front border. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, left side, 19^ inches (49.5 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 20^ inches (52.1 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 154 inches (38.7 cm.), back, 13^ inches (34.3 cm.); extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 11| inches (29.2 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 10^ inches (26 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 2f inches (6 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 80 degrees ; extreme height of animal figure, 7| inches (19.7 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, 2 inches (5.1 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, ^ of an inch (1.3 cm.). Erom Oerro Jupa.
Plate XXI, !N^os. 1, 2, and 3, crouching animal figure, probably a puma. This is one of the best specimens of carving from Manabi. The face of the animal is well represented. There are lines over the forehead, and the mouth with teeth is shown. The seat rests directly on the back of the figure, with the back part very much lower than the front; the arms are of unequal height, the left arm being slightly higher than the right. On the front border of this seat is a geometric design deeply cut, with patterns similar to those found on pottery stamps from this region (see Plate XLII, Nos. 12 and 13). The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, left side, 17f inches (45.1 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 19^ inches (48.9 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat, — centre, 16^ inches (41.3 cm.), back, 15 inches (38.1 cm.), extreme thickness of seat, 1| inches (4.8 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 74 degrees ; extreme height of animal figure, 7 inches (17.8 cm.); extreme height of pedestal. If inches (4.4 cm.); overhang of arms of seat, 4 of an inch (0.6 cm.). Erom Oerro Jupa.
Plate XXI, N^os. 4, 5, and 6, crouching animal figure, probably a puma. This seat is the most massive for its size of any seat from Manabi. It is of a soft, friable, argillaceous, shaly sandstone, and the surface is quite weathered. The head of the animal projects in front of the figure. The shoulders are prominent. The fore feet do not show traces of toes. The hind legs are not shown, the back of the figure being like a solid support for the seat, entirely plain except for a vertical groove, which divides it into two sections. The seat is broad, with large, rounded, globular-like swellings on either side below the arm-rests, which are unusually broad. The front edge of the seat is decorated with geometric designs similar to those in No. 1 of Plate XXYI. The swelling of the
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 43
body of the seat on either side about the arm-extensions or arm-rests is also a feature, but not in so pronounced a manner, in seats ^Nos. 1, 2, and 3 of Plate XXY, and in ]^o. 1 of Plate XXYI. The dimensions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, left side, 23^ inches (58.7 cm.); extreme breadth, 31 inches (78.7 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, 14 inches (35.6 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, — right side, 12^ inches (31.8 cm.), left side, 13 inches (33 cm.); average length of iipper part of arms, 12 inches (30.5 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 3 inches (7.6 cm.); extreme height of animal figure, 7^ inches (19 cm.); average height of pedestal, 1^ inches (3.8 cm.); over- hang of arms of seat, 5^ inches (14 cm.). From Oerro Agua Nuevo.
Plate XXII, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, crouching animal figure, probably a puma. The head projects well outward in front of the base, the upper part being slightly higher than the back of the body. The figure has been well carved, but the stone is quite disintegrated. The head is out of pro- portion to the rest of the body. The forearms have prominent shoulders, and the hands or feet project downward over the front of the pedestal. The tail has been coiled around the left hind leg, partly represented on the pedestal, which on both sides is broken off. The seat rests directly on the back of the animal, and is the only specimen from Manabi in which there are no outward extensions to the upper part of the arms. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, left side, 18 inches (45.7 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 12 inches (30.5 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 12 inches (30.5 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, IJ inches (3.8 cm.) ; extreme height of animal figure, 7^ inches (18.1 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, 2 inches (5.1 cm.). Prom Cerro de Hojas.
Plate XXII, jS^os. 4, 5, and 6, crouching animal figure, probably a puma. The head is slightly higher than the back of the body. The face is rather well carved ; the ears are shown ; the teeth are prominent ; the chest is rounded ; the shoulders are large ; the feet are small ; and the tail is coiled between the hind legs. The seat rests directly on the back of the animal, and is massive and thick ; the arms are very low and spreading. The dimensions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, 12 inches (30.5 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 9 inches (22.9 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, If inches (4.4 cm.) ; extreme height of
44 Contributions to South American Archeology
animal figure, 1\ inches (18.4 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, 2 inches (5.1 cm.). Erom Cerro de Hojas.
Plate XXIII, !Nos. 1 and 2, crouching animal figure, probably a puma. The whole rear part of the seat is missing. The head is round. The ears are not shown, and the teeth are prominent. The shoulders are rounded nodes like those in seats No. 1 of Plate XXII and I^o. 1 of Plate XIY with the human figures. The fore legs are much longer than in the majority of animal figures. The feet are represented by five lines, which rest with the tips of the toes on the pedestal. The left arm of the seat is lower than the right arm. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, right side, 21 inches (53.3 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 22 inches (55.9 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 2§ inches (7.3 cm.) ; extreme height of animal figure, 8| inches (21 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, If inches (4.4 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, ^ of an inch (1.3 cm.). Erom Oerro de Hojas.
Plate XXIY, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, crouching animal figure, probably a puma. The head, which is on a level with the back of the figure, projects well forward in front of the seat and pedestal. The breast is rounded and prominent. The shoulders are enormous nodes. The fore feet are much disintegrated, but apparently of human type. The hind legs are well carved, but the lower part is out of proportion to the rest of the figure, the feet being very small. The tail coils around the right hind leg, and the tip of the tail is slightly represented back of the right fore foot. This seat is different from those seen in the other examples from Manabi. The out- ward upper extension of the arms is missing, but instead, a rim is carved on either side. The left arm is higher than the right arm, and on the top are three slight pits. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, left side, 21^ inches (54 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 22^ inches (56.5 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 16| inches (42.5 cm.), back, 16 inches (40.6 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 14| inches (37.5 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 13^ inches (33.7 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 2^ inches (6.3 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 80 degrees ; extreme height of animal figure, 11 inches (27.9 cm.) ; average height of pedestal. If inches (4.4 cm.). Erom Oerro de Hojas.
Plate XXY, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, crouching animal figure, probably a puma. The stone is very much disintegrated, and the figure is rudely
Saville: Antiquities of Manabi, Ecuador 45
carved. The head is placed between the shoulders. The arms are very long, and extend full length from the shoulders downward, thus raising the front part of the body above the rear, which shows the hind legs low and crouching. The feet rest on the pedestal, back from the front edge. The seat rests directly on the arched body and head of the animal ; the arms are of unequal length, the right arm being higher than the left. The whole sculpture is unusually narroAV from front to back. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, right side, 28| inches (72.1 cm.); extreme breadth, 34^ inches (86.7 cm.); breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 19 inches (48.3 cm.), back, 18| inches (47.6 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 10 inches (25.4 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, 8 inches (20.3 cm.) ; extreme thick- ness of seat, 3^ inches (8.3 cm.) ; slant of front of seat, 78 degrees ; extreme height of animal figure, 12 inches (30.5 cm.); average height of pedestal, 2 inches (5.1 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, 3 inches (7.6 cm.). From Oerro Agua I^uevo.
Plate XXYI, Kos. 1, 2, and 3. Seat of an entirely different type from any other found in Manabi. Upon the pedestal, which is quite thin, near the back, is a slab-like support upon which rests the seat ; in front of this slab is carved a figure, now much defaced, which resembles a lizard, with the head resting on the front part of the pedestal. The seat is broad ; the left arm is higher than the right, and the front edge is decorated with geometric patterns. In the centre of this border a rectangular piece is cut out. On the outer part of the seat, near the front and back edge, is a raised band. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, both sides, 26| inches (68 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 26^ inches (67.3 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, — front, 19^ inches (48.9 cm.), back, 19^ inches (48.9 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 12^ inches (31.8 cm.) ; length of upper part of arms, lOf inches (27.3 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 2f inches (6.7 cm.) ; slant in front of seat, 80 degrees ; extreme height of supporting figure, 12^ inches (31.8 cm.) ; average height of pedestal, 2| inches (6.7 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, | of an inch (1.9 cm.). From Oerro Jupa.
Plate XXYII, No. 1, fragment of a small stone seat. This small sculpture lacks the whole left side, and it is difficult to conjecture what was really the original shape. On the front part of the support, above the
46 Contributions to South American Archeology
pedestal, a disc is carved in relief, in the centre of whicli is an animal face resembling a puma. This design is identical with the copper discs on Plate XLI, from this region, which are also fonnd in various parts of the interior provinces of Ecuador. Descriptions of these copper objects will be found further on. The dimensions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, right side, 11 inches (27.9 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, \\ inches (3.2 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, 1^ inches (3.8 cm.) ; size of disc on front of seat, 6 inches (15.2 cm.). Erom Oerro Jaboncillo.
Plate XXYII, Ko. 2, small massive seat. The upper part of the arms is missing. The pedestal is only a little larger than the square block which serves as a support for the seat. The sides and back are not sculptured, and the front, which is carved in relief, has a rude figure resembling a monkey, which is too much disintegrated to determine accurately whether the hands support anything. The dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, right side, 14| inches (36.2 cm.) ; extreme breadth, 19J inches (49.5 cm.) ; breadth inside of seat at upper part, 15 inches (38.1 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 9| inches (24.8 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 2^ inches (5.7 cm.) ; extreme height of animal figure, 7f inches (18.7 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, 1^ inches (3.8 cm.) ; overhang of arms of seat, f of an inch (1 cm.). From Oerro Agua Nuevo.
Plate XXYII, No. 3, small, low seat. The arms are missing, and
the support is a solid, square block resting on a massive pedestal. The
sides and back are not carved ; on the front of this block is carved in relief
a very realistic representation of a bat with outspread wings. The
dimensions are as follows : Extreme height of seat, 11^ inches (28.6 cm.) ;
extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 8^ inches (21.6 cm.);
extreme thickness of seat. If inches (4.4 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal,
2 inches (5.1 cm.). Erom Oerro Jaboncillo.
The following is a description of broken seats not illustrated in this report.
Seat (gig), crouching human figure. The pedestal is broken off and the base has been restored with cement. The whole stone is somewhat dis- integrated. The face is battered, a band is shown over the forehead, and the eyes are quite prominent. The front and back edges of the seat are curved. Erom Oerro de Hojas.
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 47
Seat (sis), crouching human figure. The upper part of the head swells out, but there is no trace of a head-band. The ears are placed on the side of the face, the nose is battered, and the lower part of the chin is broken. The whole figure is much disintegrated. The forearms are short, the hands apparentlj^ closed and in the same position as in the other seats; the back of the figure is angular ; the toes are not represented. The broad loin-cloth is shown. The pedestal is massive, and the seat rests on a sup- port placed on the back of the figure; the arms are entirely broken off. The dimensions are as follows: Extreme height of seat, 18 inches (45.7 cm.) ; extreme length of seat from front to back, inside, 13 inches (33 cm.) ; extreme thickness of seat, 3 inches (7.6 cm.) ; extreme height of human figure, 10 inches (25.4 cm.) ; extreme height of pedestal, 3^ inches (8.9 cm.). From Oerro de Hojas.
Fragment of seat (g^j), head and shoulders of crouching animal figure with the remains of the front base of the seat on the head. This face is one of the best carved of any of the animal heads in the Manabi seats. The eyes, ears, and nose are prominent; the cheeks in this case are well shown ; and the mouth has two lines of teeth. The head is 6 inches (15.2 cm.) high. From Oerro de Hojas.
In the custom-house in Manta there are four broken seats of the ordinary types ; and in the same town there are said to be two or three others in the hands of private individuals: these are all from Cerro de Hojas. In Monte Oristi are many broken seats from the same hill, and a number of very fine perfect examples. The largest seat known belongs to the town of Monte Oristi, and it is now in front of the municipal building. It is in a very good state of preservation, and is 3 feet (91.4 cm.) in height, and 2^ feet (76.2 cm.) broad across the upper and outer ends of the arms. In the church in the town of Picoaza are nine seats, eight of which are perfect; one has the figure of a tiger, and the others are human figures. In front of the church are three other seats more or less imperfect. In Papagallo are several large, massive, splendidly preserved specimens in private hands. There is one interesting seat, which has been alluded to, in Porto Yiejo. It is in front of the police station. It is small, with a low, broad, expanding seat, and on the front is a small, standing human figure with a loin-cloth; the head is missing. It is the only one of this type which was seen in Manabi. There are many more or less imperfect
48 Contributions to South American Archeology
seats kept in the houses in Porto Yiejo. All of the seats in the villages of Picoaza and Papagallo and in the city of Porto Vie jo have been brought from the summit of Oerro Jaboncillo.^
The stone seats of the Ecuadorian coast are not unknown in the museums of America and Europe. In the United States there are at least seven examples. In the Yale University Museum, ^N^ew Haven, there is one specimen of the human figure type, made of andesite. It is 18 inches (45.7 cm.) high, 21 inches (53.3 cm.) broad across the top, and the pedestal has a breadth of 12 inches (30.5 cm.). On the back of the figure appears a loin-cloth. In the Field Museum of I^atural History, Chicago, there are two of these sculptures, one of which is of the human figure type, while the other has an entirely plain, quadrangular support. In Washington, the Smithsonian Institution has one specimen of the human figure type, which is 2 feet 4 inches (71.1 cm.) high. In the Pioneers Museum, San Prancisco, there were, before the fire, two speci- mens, and in the Natural History Societies Museum of Santa Barbara, California, there is another seat.
In the museums of Europe, fifteen seats are known to the writer. In the Musee Royal D'Antiquites of Brussels are two seats of the human figure type, which have been figured and described by Bamps.^ In the Royal Ethnological Museum at Dresden there is a single specimen of the human figure type, which has been figured and described by Dr. Uhle.^^ In the Trocadero Museum in Paris are two very fine examples, one of the animal type and the other of the human type. These have been figured and described by Dr. Hamy.^'^
Professor Holmes has kindly furnished copies of his notes regarding stone chairs which he saw in various museums in Europe. In the British Museum there is one rather small specimen of the animal type. In the Stuttgart Ethnographical Museum there are two low seats of the animal type. The larger is 24 inches (61 cm.) high, has an extreme breadth of 25 inches (63.5 cm.) across the top of the arms, and is 16 inches (40.6 cm.) wide across the seat. The face projects more than usual, while the other has a flat face. In the Ethnographical Museum in Berlin there are five of the animal type. The two largest are 25 inches (63.5 cm.) high; the smallest is 15^ inches (39.4 cm.) in height, 19 inches (48.3 cm.) broad across the top of the arms, and 10 inches (25.4 cm.) wide across the seat.
Samlle: Antiquities of 3fa7iabi, Ecuador 49
In the Kiinstgewerbe MuseiiDi in Berlin there is one of the animal type, of medium size, with low, wide, open seat. One is said to be in the Vienna Museum, and another in the Ethnological Museum of Elorence. Doubtless there are examples of the stone seats in a number of other museums in Europe, as well as in priyate hands in Germany, as we were informed in Manabi that many haye been sent out of the country by the German merchants established along this part of the coast.
HUMAN FIGUEES. The collection of stone sculptures includes a number of idols, or small statues of human J&gures, of seyeral types. Snarez has already figured two sculptures of this class, which he describes as follows : " They represent two men, standing aboye a broad base which seryed as a pedestal ; the extended arms are not separated from the body, and the legs are almost a part of the column, which constitutes the lower part of the body. They wear as a head-dress a kind of high, almost round, nightcap, and a belt which appears to keep down the garment to the waist : with this exception, they are completely naked, with only a loin-cloth around the waist, which appears to be yery marked."
The present collection consists of eight entirely complete figures of males, standing erect on pedestals, the base of another figure, the heads of six others, two small sculptures which may be classed by themselyes, and two seated female figures ; making, of complete and fragmentary human figures, a total of nineteen. They are caryed from the same stone as the seats, some being of andesite, and some of sandstone ; and they vary in height from 9^ inches (23.5 cm.) to 24| inches (62.9 cm.).
Before describing these sculptures in detail we may remark here, that the ancient Spanish historians refer to the fact that, when the conquerors of Peru arriyed in the proyince of Porto Yiejo, they found there yarious statues of stone with flowing robes, and mitres on the head, and that some of these statues were of gigantic dimensions. 'No sculptures which would answer the descriptions of the ancient writers in regard to size are known in the proyince of Manabi; and this collection is the only one yet brought together from this region, with the exception of the two specimens before mentioned, described by Suarez, which he states are in priyate hands in Manabi.
No. 1, Plate XXYIII, is a human figure 24| inches (62.9 cm.) high.
50 Contrihiitions to South American Archeology
It is made of very much weathered andesite, and the features are hardly discernible. The body is erect, and presents almost a straight column in front, with the exception of a slight protuberance on the right side, representing the knee, and on the back of the figure, representing the buttocks. Vertical grooves show the division of the legs. The figure is entirely naked. The arms are represented close to the body, the hands placed close to the knees ; the fingers are slightly shown. The shoulders are broad, and the head rests almost directly upon the shoulders. The ears are well brought out on each side of the head, and ear-ornaments are shown. Traces are seen of an expanding cap-like covering of the head over the forehead, and coming down on either side of the face in front of the ears. The head has an outward expansion towards the top, upon which rests a ring with a depression in the upper surface. The sculpture has a thick pedestal upon which the figure stands. The feet and the division of the toes are slightly represented on the upper surface of the base.
The following is a description of the other specimens which have these cup-like depressions or bowls on the head.
^o. 2, Plate XXYIII, is a figure 22 inches (55.9 cm.) high, made of sandstone. It rests on a rectangular pedestal which has a height of 3 inches (7.6 cm.). The knees are slightlj^ bent; the body above the waist is flattened; the legs are massive, with the knees represented; the arms form a right angle with the shoulders, and are close to the body; the hands are shown. The feet are broadened at the sides and back of the ankle, giving somewhat the appearance of a sandal ; and this is a feature of ¥o. 5, Plate XXYIII, of ^o. 3, Plate XXIX, and j|-„ which is not illustrated. There is a band around the body, well above the waist, with two strips hanging from it on the front (coming down just above each knee), and two strips placed close together on the back. With this exception, the body is entirely naked. The face is small and badly carved. The ears are prominent, and are worked out in the same manner as are the ears of the animal figures in the stone seats; the loAver part of each ear is covered by an ear bob or ornament. The head has an outward expan- sion, being very considerable at the back. On the top of the head is a cupped depression, and there are traces of a cap-like covering of the head over the forehead, coming down on either side of the face in front of the ears, and extending around the back of the head just above the neck.
Saville: Antiquities of Jfanabif Ecuador 51
^o. 3, Plate XXYIII, is a human figure 14f inclies (36.5 cm.) liigh, on a pedestal which is broken, but shows traces of an enclosed serrated design on the front border. This figure is standing erect with the arms placed close to the sides, the hands resting on the hips. The legs are massive ; the knees are perhaps intended to be represented near the waist. A three-lined girdle is shown around the waist with a triangular-shaped apron going down between the legs, and there are traces of a decorated band around the neck. The face has been rather well carved, with an aquiline nose; the ears are shown, but without ornaments. There are traces of a cap-like covering of the head over the forehead, coming down on either side of the face in front of the ears. The head has an outward expansion towards the top, this expansion being greater at the back than at the forehead ; the top of the head, which is flat, has a deep conical depression.
No. 4, Plate XXYIII, is the head of a standing figure. It is 6^ inches (16.5 cm.) high. The features are very similar to those on the stone seat in No. 4, Plate XIII. The eyes and mouth are small, and out of proportion to the nose, which is large, aquiline, and perfectly preserved; the ears are not carved flat on the side of the head, as in the majority of the stone figures, but project outward, as in life; the forehead is covered by a band which ends in front of the upper part of the ears; the head has an outward expansion, more pronounced at the back than at the front, and is flat at the top, with a cup-shaped depression.
No. 5, Plate XXYIII, is a figure, resting on a massive pedestal, in character somewhat similar to that of Nos. 2 and 3 of Plate XXYIII. The height of the figure is 19| inches (50.2 cm.), and the height of the pedestal, 3^ inches (7.9 cm.). The figure is erect; the arms extend down along the side of the body; the hands, placed on the hips, are large, and give somewhat the appearance of being covered with thick gloves, but really the ^vrist is represented by the expansion ; the legs are short and massive ; the upper part of the body is flat in front and back. A double- banded girdle is around the waist, with a loin-cloth shown at the front and back of the figure between the legs. The head rests upon the broad shoulders, the right shoulder being much lower than the left. The face has been battered and cut by the natives who discovered the figure, so that little can be said of the features, which in a general way may be
52 Contributions to South American Archeology
described as being crudely represented. Tbe nose is broad and flat; the eyes are prominent; tlie ears are large, and show no traces of ear-orna- ments; the head has an outward expansion towards the top, which is flat and has no depression. The head-covering is shown over the forehead, coming down over the sides of the face, extending upwards over the ears and around the back of the head, slightly below the top of the ears.
The lower part of a figure resting on a thick, massive pedestal (■^), not illustrated here, is similar to 'No. 5, Plate XXVIII. It is possible that a head in the collection (5^), not illustrated, belongs to this figure; but the upper part of the body is missing.
^o. 1, Plate XXIX, is a curious sculpture 10 inches (25.4 cm.) high, a portion of the lower part being missing. It is really a stone cylinder with a human head carved on one side near the top. There is a band over the forehead ; the nose is aquiline ; the eyes and mouth are almost entirely obliterated; on either side of the face are ear-ornaments in place of the ears ; the arms are in relief, bent at the elbows with the closed fists nearly touching each other over the abdomen ; the legs are short, and the knees are apparently under the closed fists ; the feet are broken off. The whole sculpture is intended to represent a seated human figure.
No. 2, Plate XXIX, is one of the most singular sculptures from Manabi. It is 20| inches (52.7 cm.) high. It represents a human figure standing on a small, thin pedestal. The body is almost a square column, no parts of it being represented, with the exception of arms bent at the elbow; hands, coming to the front of the column, carved in relief on either side ; a depression in front to show the legs ; and a slight protuber- ance for the knees. With these exceptions, the body is entirely plain. The head, which is massive, rests upon the top of the column ; the chin is broken ; the nose is large and prominent ; the eyes are small ; the ears are large and conventionalized, and show ornaments in the lower lobe; the whole head generally is cylindrical with an expansion towards the top, and slight traces are shown of a cap-like covering over the forehead, coming down to the top of the ears in front. The top of this cylindrical column forming the head was expanded into a bowl or plate, of which the sides and rim are entirely broken off.
Kos. 3, 4, and 5, Plate XXIX, are of the same general type. No. 3 rests on a truncated, conical pedestal. The figure is 14^ inches (36.8 cm.)
Saville: Antiquities of 3fanahi, Ecuador 53
high; the pedestal is 3 inches (7.6 cm.) thick; and the diameter of the bowl, inside measurement, is 8^ inches (21.6 cm.). The figure is practically complete, with the exception of the edge of the bowl on the head. It stands erect with the hands placed on the hips, the arms being separated from the body below the shoulders. The fingers are not brought out ; the toes are not shown ; and the feet have the peculiarity before mentioned in connection with InTos. 2 and 5 of Plate XXYIII, The face projects well in front of the body ; it has a pointed chin, pronounced cheek-bones, and the nose, unfortunately, is almost entirely broken off. The ears in this figure show extreme conventionalization, the lower semicircular part probably representing ear-ornaments. The figure is entirely naked. The plate on the top of the head is broad, and the rim is missing. This is one of the most interesting figures from Manabi.
No. 4, Plate XXIX, is the head and upper part of the body, minus the left shoulder, of a very well carved figure. The figure is 9 inches (22.9 cm.) high, and the bowl has a diameter of 7| inches (20 cm.). The nose and mouth are battered, but the eyes are still to be seen ; the right shoulder is well carved, and shows the arm sej)arated from the body ; the ears are of the conventionalized type just referred to, and nearly all of the bowl or plate which was placed on the head is present, with the exception of the edge above the forehead and a piece broken ofE near the back of the head. There is a cap-like covering on the head, and traces of the same are seen on the back just above the neck. This plate is interesting, as it gives us the approximate type of the bowl on the nearly complete figure just described.
1^0. 5, Plate XXIX, is a very much defaced head and shoulders of a human figure. It is 7^ inches (19 cm.) high. The features are much battered. The arms are missing; the plate or bowl which was once represented on the head is almost entirely gone ; the cap-like covering of the head is shown ; and the ears are carved in the peculiar conventional manner which is a feature of the other two of this class.
iN'o. 1, Plate XXX, is an erect human figure standing on a thick pedestal. The treatment of the body is quite similar to that of ISo. 5, Plate XXYIII, with the exception that the chest and back are not flat. The loin-cloth in front is identical, but is not shown extending around the back of the figure. The divisions of the fingers and toes are not indicated.
54 Contributions to South American Archeology
The head is large, the top is flat, and there is but little indication of an outward expansion. Around the outer part of the top of the head, the surface of the stone is roughly pecked, in contradistinction to the rest of the figure, which is quite smooth ; this may be evidence of the former existence of a bowl or plate on top of the head, the edges of which were broken, and the rough surface smoothed off by pecking. The back of the neck is deeply pecked, forming at the upper part an arch-like rim suggesting the back of a head-covering; the nose is broken; the chin is pointed; the cheek-bones are prominent; the eyes and mouth are barely distinguishable; and the ears are rudely carved on the side of the head, without any division of the lobes. The figure is 17 inches (43.2 cm.) high, and the height of the pedestal is 2^ inches (6.3 cm.).
Nos. 2 and 3, Plate XXX, are front and side views of a human figure standing erect on a pedestal now partly broken. The figure is 15f inches (40 cm.) high. The arms are close to the sides, the left shoulder being higher than the right; the hands are short and broad, and, as in iifos. 3 and 4 of Plate XXYIII and l^o. 1 of Plate XXX, no elbows are indicated. Six fingers are shown on each hand, but the feet are so battered that it is impossible to determine whether there was any division of the toes. The figure is entirely nude. The head, the top of which is flat, is large ; the chin is raised ; there are slight traces over the forehead of a cap or head-band ; the eyes and mouth are obliterated ; the ears are represented at right angles with the side of the head ; and the nose, which is the most prominent feature of the face, is large, aquiline, and in a perfect state of preservation, having the septum pierced as if to hold an ornament. While in a general way the figure somewhat resembles 'No. 1, Plate XXX, the treatment is generally different from the others here- tofore described.
A head of the collection (^) is not illustrated. It is 9 inches (22.9 cm.) high, and broken off from a figure. The upper part is quite circular with a rounded surface. The face is considerably battered, the features being hardly distinguishable ; but the lines of the face generally are similar to those of No. 1, Plate XXX. The ears apparently have been carved in the manner of those in IS^os. 3, 4, and 5 of Plate XXIX. A line is shown over the forehead, probably indicating a head-band.
A small head not illustrated (~) is 4^ inches (11.4 cm.) high. It
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 55
is possibly part of a figure ; but there is now a cupped depression in the neck, which possibly was carved after the head was broken off. The nose and chin are battered ; but the forehead is well brought out, and is more prominent than in any other of the stone heads from Manabi. The ears are of the same type as in group ^os. 3, 4, and 5 of Plate XXIX. The whole head is covered by a cap, the line of which is clearly indicated over the forehead, down around each side of the face, in front of the ears, and around the lower part of the back of the head. The carving resembles quite closely some of the similar clay heads and parts of human figures from the same region.
A fragment of a stone head not illustrated {^q) is 3^ inches (8.9 cm.) high. It is probably part of a human figure. The upper part of the head at the forehead is missing, and only a very small part of the neck is shown below the chin ; the nose is large and aquiline ; the eyes are well brought out; the cheek-bones are prominent; and the mouth is shown to be somewhat prognathic. Traces of a head-band are shown on the lower part of each side of the forehead. In its approach to a genuine portrait of the ancient people, the workmanship in this specimen is superior to that of any other of the stone heads.
No. 4, Plate XXX, and Pig. 2, are the only two sculptures of women in this collection. IS^o. 4 is an extraordinary sculpture 14^ inches (36.8 cm.) high, and having an extreme width at the base of 12^ inches (31.8 cm.). It represents a seated woman entirely nude. The back is without any carving. The base is broad. The arrangement of the arms and legs is very peculiar, the feet being represented close to the hips, and the hands bent around and placed over the back of the shoulders. Each thumb is nearly twice the length of the fingers, which apparently are represented as closed, the thumb being curved around over the shoulder. The upper part of the face is missing. The mouth is represented by a deep cut. There are three lines curving down on either side of the face from the nose to the edge of the chin, and curved lines are represented in front of what are apparently the ears. The base of the figure is also carved. The illustration shows the peculiar features of this sculpture better than any description.
Pig. 2 is a very crude attempt at the representation of a woman. It is 94 inches (23.5 cm.) high. The head is thrown back; the face is flat;
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Contributions to South American Archeology
the eyes are mucli disintegrated ; the mouth is shoAvn with double rows of teeth ; and the neck is represented by a deep groove going entirely around the sculpture. On top of the head are two parallel lines running from the forehead to the back. The arms and hands are crude.
AOTMAL riGUKES. On Plate XXXI is a large, rudely carved animal figure 29^ inches (75 cm.) high. It is probably a puma resting on its haunches. The fore paws project from the body above the knees ; the head is thrown slightly back. Although the stone is quite disintegrated, the lines of the face are well preserved at the present time. This is the largest sculpture, with the exception of the seats, which has been found in the province, according to the statements made by the people of Monte Oristi, who were astonished when this large carving was brought into the town by some of the natives, who found it in the Oerro de Hojas.
:N^os. 1 and 2 of Plate XXXII represent the front and side of one of the most interesting pieces from this region. It is an animal 7 inches (17.8 cm.) high, probably a puma (recalling the animal figures of the seats), resting on an oval pedestal. The head is raised higher than the body; the tail is curled around the right hind leg; the fore feet are in front of the body ; and serrated teeth are shown in the large, prominent mouth.
Fig. 2.
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador
57
Eig. 3 is a small carving of sandstone, probably representing a lizard. It is 4| inches (12.3 cm.) long.
Fig. 3.
OOLUM:Nr 0¥ AOTMAL'S back. We now come to another class of sculptures. Suarez has given a very poor illustration of two examples of this type, which he describes as having the form of a quadrangular truncated pyramid without any adornment on the sides, but with figures in relief, representing animals or human bodies, near the base. In the collection brought together there are no examples of these more conven- tional forms of this class ; but Kos. 3 and 4 of Plate XXXII are the front and side of a sculpture worthy of careful examination, and of consideration in connection with the problem of the stone seats. It may be divided into three parts. The lower section is a crouching quadruped, probably a puma. The dimensions are : Extreme height of sculpture, 17^ inches (43.5 cm.) ; height of animal figure, 7 inches (17.8 cm.) ; average height of column on back of figure, 7f inches (19.3 cm.) ; height of bowl on top of column, 7| inches (19.7 cm.); height of pedestal, 1^ inches (3.8 cm.). The head is out of proportion to the body, and raised at an angle over the shoulders; the back of the figure is plain, and does not show the separation of the legs ; on each side, the body and hind legs are conventionally shown. This figure resembles ^N'os. 1 and 2 of Plate XXXII ; and the head resembles
58 Contributions to South American Archeology
that of tlie large sculpture on Plate XXXI, and also, in a general way, the animal figures in one of the groups of stone seats. Resting on the back of this figure is a short column, flattened on the sides an inch away from the back of the head ; and there is a slight rounded ridge connecting the same. This forms a supjjort for a bowl or receptacle, which is not, however, placed directly oyer the centre of the column, but forward, towards the head of the figure. The upper part of the receptacle has a rim, and the interior shows a blackened, burned surface. This is unquestionably an incense-burner, undoubtedly associated in some way with the ceremonial use of the stone seats. Several other sculptures of this class were seen in Manabi, but all too much broken to be of any use in the collection.
Nos. 5 and 6, Plate XXXII, of the same class, represent a massive quadrangular block with an animal head carved on the top, near the front. Its dimensions are: Extreme height of pedestal, 6 inches (15.2 cm.) ; height of head, 4| inches (12.3 cm.) ; height of column, 4f inches (11.7 cm.). The sides and front of this block are conventionally carved to represent the legs ; the back of the block is rough and plain. Back of the head, and joined to it, is a broken column. The upper part of the probable receptacle is missing.
^os. 7 and 8, Plate XXXII, of the same group, represent a very much disintegrated, massive quadrangular block. The average height of the pedestal is 4^ inches (10.8 cm.) ; height of animal figure, 3| inches (8.3 cm.). On the sides, the body and legs are shown, and also on the front ; but the back is plain. The head is on the upper part, near the front edge, and back of it is attached a ball-like body, which, however, cannot be the body of the animal, but rests on its back. In this sculpture the top of the head has a cup-like depression, which probably takes the place of the bowl which is on the top of the column of No. 3, Plate XXXII. It is possible, however, that this ball-like body is the base of a column, which, after it was accidentally broken off, was rudely carved in this shape, and, in order that the stone might be used for ceremonial purposes, the cupped depression was cut out on the top of the head to serve for an incense-burner.
A:^riMAL O^ C0LUM:N^. Kos. l and 2, Plate XXXIII, represent a sculpture which may be divided into three parts. The base is a mas-
\
SaviTle: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 59
sive, concaved cylinder npon wbicli rests a crouching figure too much disintegrated for one to state with certainty whether it is human or animal. The probabilities are, that it is animal on account of the presence on the back of two gi'ooves, between which is a raised ridge, probably the tail. The head is like the puma heads of the seats. On the back of the figure are the remains of a smaller cylindrical column broken off quite close to the base. Probably the missing part of the column was surmounted by a vessel to serve the purpose of an incense-burner, although there is again the possibility that simply the base of a column was represented on the back of this figure, and that an incense-burner or ceremonial vessel of clay was placed directly on this upper surface. Height of entire sculpture, 18 inches (45.7 cm.) ; height of animal figure, 5f inches (13.7 cm.) ; height of pedestal, 8^ inches (21.6 cm.) ; height of column on back of animal. If inches (4.4 cm.). From Oerro de Hojas. The sculpture just described seems to be transitional between the group of sculptures illustrated on Plate XXXII and the next group, which is of columns.
COLUMNS. :N^os. 3 and 4 of Plate XXXII are the only two deco- rated columns, out of several hundred, which were seen in Manabi. No. 3 is an hourglass-shaped column with a simple capital on the top ; below, on one face of the cylinder, is a design which is given in Pig. 4. It reminds us strongly of the conventional face of the animal on the bas-reliefs shown on Plates XXXYIII and XXXIX, which will be described later on. It is an inverted U, from the inside of which projects downward a band terminating in a sphere. This outer, U-shaped band probably represents the outer part of the head, while the other part of the design is the nose ; the eyes not being represented. In Pig. 5 is a carved column from the Nicoya peninsula, Oosta Rica. It is one of a number which have been found there, and is of very great interest in connection with the columns of Manabi. To our knowledge these Oosta Rican columns are the nearest approach to the Manabi specimens of any yet found in ancient America. Plain cylindrical columns have been found in the Mayan ruins of Honduras and Yucatan. They have also been found in Vera Oruz and Ohiapas, but none of the carved type are known to the writer. When we consider the comparatively short distance between Kicoya and Manabi,
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Contributions to South American Archeology
the significance of these somewhat analogous columns becomes apparent. The dimensions are as follows : Height of column, 16| inches (42.5 cm.) ; diameter of the top, 8f inches (22.2 cm.) ; diameter of the base, 8 inches (20.3 cm.). Erom Oerro de Hojas.
Ko. 4, Plate XXXIII, is a square column, the diameter of the base being slightly smaller than that of the upper part. From the base upward, the di- ameter decreases towards the top, which is surrounded by a plain, square capital.
Fig. 4.
Fig
,.v*W^. ¥^&1N^
corresponding, in a way, to the upper part of the columns just described, with the exception that there are two bands, instead of three, below the upper section. The dimensions are as follows : Height of column, 17 inches (43.2 cm.) ; diameter at the base, 6 inches (15.2 cm.) ; diameter at the top, 7 inches (17.8 cm.). From Oerro de Hojas.
N^os. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Plate XXXIY, are cylindrical columns with sides somewhat resembling an hourglass, varying in height from 22^ inches (56.2 cm.) to 13^ inches (33.3 cm.), and having an average diameter of 7^ inches (19 cm.). There are hundreds of these columns to be found scattered throughout the ruins on the Oerro de Hojas and Oerro Jaboncillo.
No. 5, Plate XXXIY, is a short cylindrical column. The dimensions are: Height, 7f inches (18.7 cm.); diameter at the base, 7 inches (17.8 cm.); diameter at the top, 5| inches (14.6 cm.). The diameter at the base is slightly larger than at the top. A careful search was made in the ruins
Saville : Antiquities of Mandbi, Ecuador 61
to see if these columns were for architectural purposes, and used in con- nection with the walls of the houses. From a careful examination of the ruins as they are seen to-day, we may affirm with certainty that they were never used as parts of the buildings: possibly, excavations may reveal their exact use. We may, however, surmise, bearing in mind the crouching animal on the concaved column (!N^os. 1 and 2, Plate XXXIII), that they were used as supports for the statues or idols and animal figures ; or they may have served as pedestals for pottery incense-burners. In the Oerro de Hojas and other hills, excavations will undoubtedly throw much light on the use of these sculptures and columns.
QUADEA:N^GULAR sculptures, in the church at Picoaza is an interesting sculpture which has been described and figured by Suarez. His illustrations do not adequately show the carvings on the four sides of this interesting stone, which is now in the church of Picoaza, serving as a fountain for holy water. It is a quadrangular block with a rectangular basin on the top. It is about 22^ inches (56.5 cm.) high, 13 inches (33 cm.) wide at the top, and 13| inches (35.2 cm.) wide at the base. It weighs about two hundred pounds. This stone was found in Oerro de Hojas, and is one of several sculptures of this class which have been found in the hills. It is carved in relief on all four sides. On one side is a standing, nude human figure with a long nose, and arms outspread, bent at the elbows. At the back of the human figure, near the base, is a small animal resembling a dog ; in front is a conventionalized animal. Around the rim at the top is a decorated band which does not go entirely around the stone, but reappears on the opposite face of the stone, upon which, below, is another erect nude figure with the same long nose. On the third side is an iguana; and on the fourth, a seated human figure, entirely nude, which resembles, in a way, the figures on the bas-reliefs which will now be described.
BAS-EELIEPS. The last group of stone carvings, which are perhaps more interesting than even the stone seats, are fragments of bas- reliefs, of which a number have been brought together in this collection. They are all from Oerro Jaboncillo. "We know of but one example of the Manabi bas-reliefs which has been described at the present time:
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Contributions to South American Archeology
this is now in the Museum of the Trocadero in Paris.^ The illustration given by Hamy shows that the sculpture is probably complete (see Tig. 6). In this collection we have five portions of somewhat similar bas-reliefs, but there is in each considerable variation in the style of carving and in
Fig. 6.
the designs which are placed on the upper part enframing the head. They are broader at the top than at the base.
No. 1, Plate XXXY, is a fragment of the largest bas-relief secured in Manabi. It is 21^ inches (54,6 cm.) wide, and has an average thickness of 2| inches (6.3 cm.). It was found, with the reverse used as a grinding- stone, in a house in Picoaza. The native who owned it found it in the Oerro Jaboncillo while hunting for metates. It was complete and perfect when he excavated it, and, on account of its size, he broke it, and selected a piece a little larger than a metate, which he could use for that purpose. He stated that the other pieces were still in the mountain, and that he could find them ; but, as we had but two days to remain in Manabi before continuing our journey from Guayaquil to the interior, we were not able to obtain the other pieces. Probably in the future it will be possible to secure and bring together the remaining parts of this most interesting sculpture. On the upper part of the slab is carved a series of geometric figures in which the head is enframed : there is one motif (Pig. 7) which
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador
63
is repeated six times with practically no variation. On the sides around these designs are three lines ; the central line, below the geometric pat- terns and above the human head, is replaced by dots, as in the Trocadero specimen. The figure shows a hood-like covering of the head. The nose
Fig. 8.
is prominent and aquiline ; a four-strand necklace is around the neck ; the body is flat and angular, forming a straight line from shoulder to shoulder, and a line on the right side of the body at right angles with the shoulder. The arms are angular and bent, and the right hand shows the fingers clinched, holding some object which cannot be determined from the frag- ment which remains; but it is probably a bag or pouch similar to that seen in the Trocadero specimen. The design or motif in the enframing band is found with but little variation in !No. 2 of the same plate. The upper part recalls the seat part of the stone seats, resting on a terraced support ; and in 1^0. 1 practically the same design is found, having on either side single angular designs, perhaps representing the same thing (seat). Between the spreading " arms " in each bas-relief are two dots or eyes, and this feature strongly suggests a conventionalized face such as is seen in the copper discs and on bas-reliefs on Plates XXXYIII and XXXIX. The lower part of the bas-relief, including the left arm, is missing.
No. 2, Plate XXXY, as before noted, is a bas-relief of almost the same type as ISo. 1. It is 19 inches (48.3 cm.) wide, and 2^ inches (6.3 cm.) thick. The carving is not as well executed, and the lines are not as sharp.
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as in the other slab. Practically the same motif (I'ig. 8) is seen repeated six times above the figure, with the exception that, whereas in Ko. 1 the lower motif on each side of the head is placed on its side, in No. 2 all of the motifs are vertically arranged. The treatment of the human figure is not as angular as in the other specimen ; the lines of the shoulders, elbows, and hands, being rounded. Practically the same part of the bas-relief is missing as in the other specimen. Below and slightly in front of the right arm, which is partially opened with the clinched hand under the line which runs above the figure, is an animal, apparently a monkey, as the tail is coiled on the back, almost touching the elbow of the human figure. The features of the face appear somewhat different from the face in ^o. 1. It is impossible to state with certainty whether these are standing figures, or whether they are seated, as in the other two sculptures about to be described. If these fragments of bas-reliefs are of the same type as the Trocadero specimen, as they appear to be, they are probably standing figures. Notwithstanding the assumption of Hamy, that the figure repre- sented in the Trocadero bas-relief is a male, we should be more inclined to consider it a female, judging from the fragments in this collection. There are two horizontal lines cut on the abdomen of the Paris specimen, which appear in Nos. 1 and 2 of Plate XXXVI, which are female figures. These lines are not seen in the statues which have already been described, and their presence appears to be a good indication that, in all of these bas- reliefs where the human figure is represented, it is that of a female: on the other hand, we must admit that, in the three analogous reliefs, the hanging breast is not seen, as found on No. 2, Plate XXXYI, and the seated human figure No. 4, Plate XXX. We must also consider the garment (which is called a girdle by Hamy) which surrounds the waist and hangs dovni between the legs in the Trocadero relief. The two female bas-reliefs and the female figure do not show any traces of garments, the figures being absolutely nude : this point argues in favor of the assumption of Hamy, that the figure is a male. Until we get more material of this class from Manabi, it will be unsafe to try to reach exact conclusions concerning the sex of the three analogous bas-reliefs.
No. 1, Plate XXXYI, is part of a slab which has an incomplete female figure seated, with the legs outspread and bent, with the heels near the thighs. It has an extreme width of 20J inches (52.1 cm.), and an
Saville : Antiquities of 3Ianahi, Ecuador 65
average thickness of 2^ inclies (6.3cm.). The elbows rest on the knees; the left lower leg is missing; under the right thigh is represented some- thing which appears to be separated from the body, but, as the other side is missing, it is impossible to determine just what is represented. The j&gure is in relief against the background set in from the border, which surrounds the figure on each side and above the head. This border is very much weathered, but there appears to be a series of conventionalized faces, and in the centre of the upper band is apparently a seated figure. The female figure is very well carved. There is a head-band over the forehead; the ear is large and distended, possibly an ear-ornament is represented ; the nose is aquiline, but not excessively prominent; the openings of the eyes are shown by horizontal lines, which give the appearance of closed eyes; and the mouth, by a long horizontal line. A two-strand necklace is around the neck. The hands are carved in a very peculiar manner, out of proportion to the body, and do not appear like human hands, although five fingers are represented ; what appears to be the thumb is carved like a hook, and on the back of the hand is an oval incision. Altogether they appear more like birds' heads than human hands ; this is especially seen in the left hand.
Ifo. 2, Plate XXXYI, is a thick bas-relief which shows a serrated enframing band surrounding the head and the upper part of the slab, which is decorated with terraced geometric patterns. It is 13^ inches (33.7 cm.) wide, and has an average thickness of 3| inches (8.6 cm.). The bottom of the slab is broken off just below the figure. This bas-relief is smaller than any of the others. The human figure, a female, is complete, and is seated, with the knees bent up towards the body and the heels close to the thighs. In this fragment and in Ko. 1 of the same plate, the treatment of the feet is similar to that of the Trocadero slab, which is characterized by enormous heels, somewhat separated from the rest of the foot, forming a ball. The arms in the figure are bent, with the hands upward at a level with the shoulders ; and the fingers are shown closed. The treatment of the body generally is angular. There is a deep incision entirely across the abdomen, which, as represented in the carving, almost separates the upper and lower extremities. The breasts are well defined, and the neck is much more prominent and elongated than in any other figures or bas-reliefs from Manabi. The features of the face are rather
66 Contributions to South American Archeology
battered. The top of tlie liead has a hood-like covering. On either side of the figure, opposite the elbows, is a large disc.
On Plate XXXYII are six fragments of bas-reliefs. ]N"o. 2 is a fragment showing a human face. It has a prominent nose, which unfortu- nately is broken, prominent cheek-bones, and a straight horizontal incision for the mouth. The angular treatment of the figure is shown in the neck and shoulders and the clinched left hand, which is raised on a level with the shoulder. An enframing design is seen on the left side, with a large grecque above and a smaller grecque below. It belongs to the same type of sculptures as those just described. I^o. 5 is a fragment of the upper left-hand corner of another bas-relief, showing an enframing design with geometric patterns; and just a portion of the left side of the face is seen below, as Avell as what is apparently a clinched hand on a level with the shoulder. iJiTos. 1, 4, and 6 are three fragments of a bas-relief : the largest piece (^o. 6) is apparently the upper left-hand side, while the two smaller pieces evidently are parts of the lower section of the same. This largest piece shows a band with terraced geometric patterns and small discs enframing a flat disc resting in a crescent. On the large disc on either side is a vertical line. From this fragment it is impossible to determine whether a human figure was carved below this flattened disc and crescent. The other two fragments appear to be parts of the lower section of this same bas-relief, as the same designs appear which are found in the band in the largest piece. Xo. 3 is a small section of a thick bas-relief, but whether the top or the bottom it is impossible to state. Two birds are seen facing a triangular design with a dot in the centre; below this is a wide groove above a serrated design.
On Plates XXXYIII and XXXIX are illustrated the two most interesting bas-reliefs found in Ecuador. They were in fragmentary condition, and appear to represent a species of conventionalized animal, perhaps a lizard, or possibly an alligator.
Plate XXXYIII was in eight fragments, and the pieces brought together give all of the essential features of the carving. The body of the animal is diamond-shaped. In the centre of the back there is a series of connecting triangles representing the vertebrae, on each side of which is a series of nine dots sej)arated from the central design by a band. The rear extremity of the body resembles that of the female figure, ^o. 2,
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Plate XXXYI. The forearms are angular, and end in a series of curved, ribbon-like appendages, and tliis is also found on the ends of the rear part of tbe body. Tbe head is attached to the body by a band which connects with the top of the head, which in the illustration will appear to be upside down ; this would be the natural position of the head in swimming, if the illustration were reyersed. Attention has already been called to the main features of the head in describing the design on the column Ko. 3, Plate XXXIII, which is also illustrated in Pig. 4. Surrounding the head is a series of tentacles. The lizard does not have the tentacles, this being a feature of the octopus; and this, joined with the lizard-like body and the rear extremities (resembling those of the female figures), results in a composite creature which might better be described as a mythical monster. Between the two tentacles which reach out from the lower part of the face is a bat with outspread wings, on the upper part of which, on each side, may be seen a hook. The head is in profile with a "leaf" nose. On each side of the head of the monster, between ten- tacles, are two moderate-sized discs. The bas-relief is 31 inches (78.7 cm.) high, 17f inches (44.8 cm.) wide, and 2^ inches (5.7 cm.) thick.
Plate XXXIX represents the other bas-relief of a mythical monster. A greater part of the middle of the sculpture is missing, but in a general way the treatment of this sculpture is much more geometric and angular than that on the preceding plate. The vertebras are represented on the upper part of the back. The treatment of the rear extremities is similar to that in the other sculpture, with the exception of the ribbon-like append- ages and the separation of the thighs by a tail extending from the diamond- shaped body, and partly curved around the right thigh. The head of the animal is different from the other, but the salient features are brought out in the face. At the lower part of the head are six tentacles; the two nearest the face are grecques ; the two on each corner end in spirals; while the two at the base of the face are represented in the same manner as in the bas-reliefs on Plate XXXYIII. Between them is a large circular disc. On each side of the sculpture are terraced designs. It is 26^ inches (67.3 cm.) high, 17 inches (43.2 cm.) wide, and 1| inches (4.4 cm.) thick.
RESO:t;rANT ST0:N'E. Suarez states, that "in Picoaza there was preserved, until a little while ago, a bell of the aborigines of that locality.
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It was a stone slab of black slate, a metre (little more or less) in height, and some centimetres wide. When this stone was suspended from one of its ends, the striking of it with another stone or with the hand produced a metallic and pleasant sound, which vibrated like that of a bell." We failed to find any traces of this stone. It is probably being used as a metate in one of the houses in the village.
METATES. The metate or mealing-stone is found in many of the ruins. So far as we observed, the people to-day have no other hand-mills than those which they obtain from the ancient habitation-sites on the hills. The search for these stones resulted in bringing to light many small sculp- tures which were in their possession, and made it possible for us to collect the stone figures and bas-reliefs we have just described. The metates of Manabi are thin, slightly curved slabs of gritty sandstone, without legs or supports. Three examples are illustrated in ]^os. 1, 2, and 3 of Plate XL. i^o. 1 has an average length of 19^ inches (49.5 cm.), a width of 12^ inches (31.8 cm.), and a thickness of 1^ inches (3.8 cm.). No. 2 is 16| inches (42.5 cm.) in length, 10^ inches (26.7 cm.) in width, and 1^ inches (2.9 cm.) in thickness. ]^o. 3 is 18| inches (47.3 cm.) long, 11^ inches (28.6 cm.) wide, and 2 inches (5.1 cm.) thick. These specimens are typical of all the metates from this region. Those from Esmeraldas and Colombia are of a different type.
Characteristic hand-stones for the metates, of two kinds, are shown in Nos. 4 and 5 of Plate XL. !N^o. 4 of the same plate is 10| inches (27 cm.) long, and is of a massive dark-brown stone. INo. 5, which is 13 inches (33 cm.) long, is made of the same stone as are the metates, and the wearing-down of the stone is shown in the swellings at each end. It is slender, and is the usual form of hand-stone, many fragments being noticed in the ruins of Manta and on Cerro de Hojas. No. 6 is a small porphyritic stone somewhat resembling a broken hand-stone; but on the upper surface, which is shown in the illustration, there is a pitted depression. The under surface shows that it has been used as a grinding- stone. No. 7 is a typical hammer-stone of chalcedony, and from its type it might have been found at almost any place in western America. A hammer-stone of light-brown chert was obtained, but it is not illustrated. Hammer-stones are relatively common around the ruins in Manabi.
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 69
Stone axes or celts were not found in the region under consideration, althougli diligent search was made for them ; nor are chipped stone imple- ments (such as arrow and spear heads, knives, and scrapers) represented in the collection. This is a most unusual feature of the archeology of any well-defined culture-area. Implements of this class must have been used by the ancient people, and the fact that we were unable to find them would seem to indicate their relative scarcity in former times. In the interior of Ecuador, almost every type of axe is found, and several of the forms are unknown elsewhere.
EMERALDS. All ancient historians relate that the Spaniards, when they first entered the province of Manabi, received a large number of emeralds from the inhabitants of the country. As has been stated before, the Indians of Manta worshipped a large emerald, which they called Umina; and the offerings to this deity were preferably small emeralds, which were called the children of the deity. We learn from Acosta, that the emeralds of this region were superior in beauty, size, and hardness to those of IS^ew Granada ; and from Garcilasso de la Yega, that Alvarado and his companions obtained many, but that the Indians concealed the large emerald, and it was never found. Herrera relates that, at a town called Passao, Pizarro was presented with an emerald as large as a pigeon's q^^. The insignia of the kings of Wuito were reputed to be emeralds; and UUoa asserts that emeralds have been found in the tombs of Manta and Atacames. Diligent search was made by the Spanish conquerors to discover the mine or mines whence the Indians of Manabi obtained this precious stone, but without success. There can be no doubt that in this region many emeralds were in the possession of the inhabitants, but we know of no emeralds having been found in modern times in this part of Ecuador. In the province of Esmeraldas, where the natives have long been active in exploring ancient habitation-sites for gold, but few emeralds have been reported. This region actually takes its name from the gem.
Wolf believes that the emeralds found in Manabi came from the mines of Colombia, where they are still mined to-day. He remarks that " the Spanish conquerors, who found many emeralds in Manabi, supposed that they were the product of the same region; and, when hunting for
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tlieir origin, the Indians indicated a country more to the north, Colombia. Perhaps the Spaniards mistakenly understood the nearer province, which they called Esmeraldas, a name which has remained until now, although experience has not confirmed this supposition." Wolf further states, that " there does not exist a single formation or rock which might contain mines of emeralds in this region ; the only possibility being that we might find these stones, as we find gold, loosely in the ground, brought from a distance from other formations. In the first place, the rivers of the region do not pass, or in their upper waters cross, formations which we might consider as a place where emeralds might be found; and, secondly, we do not find a single emerald in the loess or in the placer- workings of gold." We are informed, however, notwithstanding the assertion of WoK, that the geological formation of Manabi does not preclude the finding of emeralds in that region. Although emeralds have been rarely found in Esmeraldas, there seems to be no reason why they should not occur in Manabi.
We have already called attention to the fact that the geology of this region has not been studied. So far as archeological evidence is concerned, we know of no instance of worked emeralds having been found in the ancient graves or tombs of Manabi ; but this does not add weight to the theory of their non-existence in the province. Un- doubtedly, when careful archeological excavations are made, they will be discovered in the graves. Belief in the tradition of the large emerald which was worshipped at Manta is still general among the natives. Detailed accounts of the early writers regarding this subject will be found in the various relations in the Notes at the end of this monograph.
GOLD, SILYEE, A:N^D OOPPEE. Gold and silver were com- monly used for ornaments, and the Spanish conquerors secured large quantities of these precious metals. Oieza de Leon relates that Pedro de Alvarado found many vases full of gold, silver, and precious stones, besides a great quantity of emeralds, in a village which was probably near the site of the present town of Bahia de Oaraques. Zarate says that the natives wore jewels of gold and silver in their noses and ears, and also had strings of gold, silver, and turquoise beads, wound around
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 71
tlieir legs and arms, but tliat tlie gold was of a low grade. It was believed by tlie Spaniards tliat tbere were rich deposits of gold in the southern part of the province, but they were never able to discover the mines. TTe were unable, during our visit to Ecuador, to learn of any ancient gold objects being found at present in Manabi. The only speci- mens of metal which we secured were of copper, although no mention of the use of copper or bronze is made by the early chroniclers.
A single axe — ISo. 1, Plate XLII — was obtained in the village of Papagallo, and is said to have been found in Oerro Jaboncillo. It is 3f inches (8.6 cm.) long, 2^ inches (5.4 cm.) broad at the cutting-edge, and \ of an inch (0.6 cm.) at the thickest part. There are ridges along the edges on both sides, and the cutting-edge has been ground sharp with a gritstone, as sho^vn by numerous striated lines ; this sharp- ness does not appear to be ancient. The form of the axe is not of the usual South American type, and is comparatively rare in western South America. It resembles quite closely the Mexican and Central American copper axes. Three bells from Oerro de Hojas are illustrated (natural size) in ifos. 2, 3, and 4 of Plate XLII. They were not suspended from loops at the top, but by a cord which was inserted through the two holes in the upper part. Ko. 4 still contains a small stone pellet for producing the tinkling sound. As in all bells of this class, there is a slit on the under side; but the slits in the Manabi bells extend around two-thirds of the circumference. IS'early all small copper bells from other sections of ancient America have the loop for suspension.
Metal discs worn as breast-ornaments were common, in pre- columbian times, from Florida to Argentine. They are often called masks of shields ; but numerous old illustrations show their use as ornaments, suspended from the neck, and hanging over the breast. Ambrosetti illustrates a mummy from the Oalchaqui country in Argen- tine, with a copper disc on the chest; and a number of gold discs have been found in various tombs in Mexico, in place, on the breast of the skeleton. The greater number of metal discs are but slightly embossed, the decoration being but little raised, and they are generally of about the same diameter. The Ecuador specimens are nearly all of the same general type, and are characterized by an embossed face in the centre, varying from ^ of an inch (1.3 cm.) to 2 inches (5.1 cm.) in height.
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The greater number of Ecuadorian discs are of copper. A disc of gold from Cuenca lias been figured and described by Bollaert. In the Museum of the University of Quito are six gold discs from Angel, in the province of Carchi. Discs have been found in the various culture- areas throughout Ecuador ; but the three copper ones from Manabi, about to be described, are the most massive of any of the objects of this class which we have seen. They were found, together with several others, in a cache in Manantial, and are illustrated on Plate XLI. Ko. 1 is the largest. It is 11^ inches (30.2 cm.) in diameter, and the head is raised 1| inches (4.4 cm.). Above the head are two perforations for suspension, and another perforation is on the line of the lower part of the mouth. The head unquestionably represents either a tiger or a puma, and may be compared with some of the animal heads on the seats. The disc has an average thickness of ^ of an inch (0.3 cm.). 'No. 2 is slightly smaller, and is not a perfect disc, being 10^ inches (26 cm.) high, and 9| inches (25.1 cm.) wide. The animal head has an extreme projection of If inches (4.4 cm.), and, as in the other specimen, there are two perforations above the head for suspension, and one in the mouth. The features of the puma-like face are better seen in this specimen than in the preceding one; and the mouth, as will be noted in the illustration, is carried around the entire lower part of the face. The thickness of the disc is slightly less than ^ of an inch (0.3 cm.). ]!^o. 3 is the smallest and most massive of any of the discs known from Ecuador. It has an average diameter of 8^ inches (22.5 cm.). The face has a projection of 1^ inches (3.8 cm.), and there are two perforations above the head for suspension, and two in the mouth. The rim of the disc, on both sides, is raised, and gives an average thickness of nearly i of an inch (0.6 cm.). The treatment of the face is somewhat different from that of the other two specimens. There appear to be bossed designs on the forehead. In studying the animal heads of these three discs, attention is called to a somewhat similar treat- ment of the nose and eyes on the bas-reliefs illustrated on Plates XXXYIII and XXXIX, and also to the design on the column, No. 3, Plate XXXIII. It may be remarked here, that these specimens may also have served as gongs ; for, when struck with the hand or a hard substance, they remind us strongly of the sounds produced by the bronze gongs used in the Philippine Islands, giving a clear, resonant, metallic sound. We
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are inclined strongly to the belief that these Manabi discs were nsed for that purpose, and that the holes in the mouth were for holding feathers or some object for decoration.
CERAMICS. Of the ceramic art of the province of Manabi we can say but little until excaTations are made in the ancient tombs. According to reports of the burial-customs of the ancient people of the coast provinces of Ecuador, it appears that urn burial was the customary method of interring the dead. As before stated, in the ruins of Manta great quantities of potsherds of a red ware are scattered over the ground. These fragments are thick and massive, showing that they are the remains of large urns; and they are especially numerous in the vicinity of the present Manta cemetery. It is common report in Manta, that this was the location of the ancient temple: at all events, we were told that the remains of many large jars were found while grading for the cemetery, and that they were thrown out. Great heaps of them are still to be seen near the western side of the burial enclosure. Bearing in mind the fact of urn burial, it seems probable that this place, in ancient times, was also used as a burial-place. Tradition states that the burials were made in deep holes excavated in the earth, which renders the accid.ental finding of pottery vessels very uncertain. The greater number of pottery objects are found in regions where the burials were rather near the surface, and they are brought to light by the plough and the frequent washouts which occur during the rainy season : thus, without excavating, we should expect to find, in a region where deep burials were made, but few pottery vessels. Of the smaller objects of pottery, many specimens have been found, especially in the ruins of Manta, and near the base and on the slopes of the Cerro de Hojas. These include small figures of both human and animal form, and heads of the same, whistles, heads which may belong either to figures or to whistles, innumerable spindle-whorls (nearly all of which bear interesting incised decorations), stamps, moulds, and fragments of vessels. Suarez has illustrated and described a few small figures, heads, and whistles from Manabi. These are the only specimens of this class which have been published, with the exception of a single head figured by Seler.
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POTTEEY YESSELS. Erom Manabi we know but four examples of pottery vessels, all of them of small size. Seler figures two pieces of pottery from Manabi, — one, a head of a figure or whistle, like the general type of heads found throughout the province ; the other, a vessel resting on an annular stand (^o. 5, Plate XLII). It is quite similar to ISo. 6 of the same plate, obtained in Monte Oristi. This vase lacks the raised rim around the lower part of the neck, which is a feature of the Berlin specimen. It is of a dark-gray color, resembling strongly the ware of Oaxaca, 4J inches (11.4 cm.) high ; and the rim of the orifice is 3| inches (8.3 cm.) in diameter. Only two other complete examples of pottery vessels were secured in Manabi. No. 7 is a small vessel of heavy brown ware in the shape of a double water-gourd, — a form common in the ancient ceramics of i^orth and South America. It was found in the vicinity of Porto Yiejo. The walls are massive, and the base is slightly concaved. It is smaller, however, than most of the vessels of this form, being only 3| inches (8.9 cm.) in height. The other specimen, from Monte Cristi (shown in 'No. 8), is likewise massive and of a brownish black, showing traces of disintegration on the upper surface. This piece is of a form generally found in various parts of ancient America, being especially numerous in Oaxaca and southern Central America. It is commonly called a " shoe form," but unquestionably it is derived from the body of an aquatic bird, often the duck. The rim is quite circular ; and below, surrounding the opening, is a decoration of incised lines, and nodes with a single vertical incised line, worked out with a blunt instru- ment. The length is 5^ inches (13 cm.), and the height, 3^ inches (8.9 cm.). A large fragment from Manta is part of an interesting vessel. The ware is of a brownish color with rather thin walls. The lower part of this olla is undecorated, and presents the natural surface of the clay. The upper part has been painted red, and highly polished. The neck, which is decorated with a human face similar in technique to the faces on the Riobamba vessels in the interior of Ecuador, is without paint, with the exception of the under part of the chin and the upper part of the head, over the forehead and well down over the ears. The inner surface of the rim is also painted red, and polished. On the polished red surface, which covers the greater part of the almost spherical vessel, is the incised design shown in Eig. 9. It reminds us strongly of somewhat
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75
analogous designs on the Mayan ware of Central America. In the general shape of the vessel, however, there is again a striking resemblance to the Riobamba pottery of the interior. No. 5 of Plate LIY is a
Fig. 9.
fragment of a small ladle-like vessel of dark slate-colored clay. It is about 3| inches (8.9 cm.) in length. The handle is short, and terminates with a clinched fist. Similar ladles, but of a different clay and technique and of various sizes, are found abundantly in Costa Rica. In Mexico, objects of this class are, as a rule, very much larger in size ; and they were employed as incense-burners. Undoubtedly this fragment was used for the same purpose. In the interior of Ecuador we have not seen any specimens of a like character.
MOULDS. But a single example of pottery moulds was found in Manabi, and it is figured in ISo. 9, Plate XLII, with a cast from mould ISo. 10 of the same plate. It is from Bahia de Caraques ; and the cast shows a puma-like figure with the head, shoulders, chest, and fore legs. It is of considerable interest, inasmuch as it is the only specimen we have from this locality, and the treatment of the figure is quite similar to that of some of the animal figures in the seats. Both the mould and cast are of natural size in the illustration. The mould has an extreme thickness of 1 inch (2.5 cm.). It was perhaps used in making the front of pottery whistles.
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STAMPS. Potteiy stamps are not common in Ecuador, and we found but four specimens, wliicli are figured on Plate XLII. l^o. 11 is a cylindrical, rounded disc, with a shank on the back part for holding in the hand, in order to press down upon the object to receive the impression. On the under surface, as seen in the cut, are a series of deeply incised, U-shaped incisions surrounding a circle. This is the only complete example we found, and the only one of the circular type. Nos. 12 and 13 are fragments of rectangular-shaped stamps which have designs almost identical with the pattern on the front of seat IS^o. 1, Plate XXXI. N^o. 14 is a fragment, less than a fourth of the original stamp. In the upper part will be seen a grecque-like design; below, the i)attern seems to indicate that probably the central part of the stamp had an animal figure. When complete, this specimen was one of the largest of this class of objects we have ever seen. The fragment has an extreme length of 2| inches (7 cm.), is 2^ inches (6.3 cm.) in width, and about J of an inch (1.3 cm.) in thickness. The illustration is figured two-thirds of its natural size. The other stamps are drawn in natural size. They are all from Oerro de Hojas, with the exception of No. 12, which is from Monte Oristi.
No. 8 of Plate L represents a curious object of clay resembling a pestle. The upper end is ornamented with a rude human face having a large nose. Below the head are seen two nodes, probably representing the breasts. The bottom of the object has deep incised lines, which are shown in No. 9 of the same plate. In general it very closely resembles the stone pestles of the West Indies. In Colombia, pestle-like objects in clay are known, and there are several in the collections of the American Museum of Natural History. These are also incised on the under surface. It is probable that they were used as stamps. The one just described is from Cerro de Hojas, and is figured two-thirds of its natural size.
SPINDLE-WHOKLS. Throughout ancient America, cotton and woollen thread was spun on wooden spindles weighted with whorls of baked clay, pottery, or stone. Spindle-whorls are found in great numbers in Mexico and Colombia; and many complete spindles with whorls have been discovered in baskets, associated with mummies, along the coast of Peru. Suarez, in his "Prehistoria Ecuatoriana," figures five spindle- whorls from the Island of Puna, in Gulf of Guayaquil. He describes
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 77
them as spheres of black clay, artificially hardened, and states that origi- nally they were entirely covered with a thin, delicate lamina of gold, which brought out in relief the designs cut out on their surfaces. He has reproduced the flattened designs of three of these whorls, which resemble somewhat the patterns on the collection from La Secita, near the Cerro de Hojas. We were unable either to obtain or learn of a single specimen in the Puruha region near Riobamba. Reference has already been made to the thousands of whorls found at La Secita. On Plates XLIII to XLYIII are the designs, in natural size, of a hundred and one specimens from this locality, selected from more than five hundred examples.
There is considerable variety in the shape of these whorls and in their size. The majority of them are of the conical type, but some are bead-shaped. The decorations are all incised, many of them being quite deeply cut. As will be seen in the plates, the greater number of the patterns are geometric. There is infinite variety in the treatment of the designs. With possibly a few exceptions, the designs on Plates XLIII to XLYI do not appear to be derived from life forms ; the exceptions noted being I^os. 4 to 6, and 8 of Plate XLIY, which may possibly be derived from bird motives. Nos. 1 to 6 of Plate XLYII are all gro- tesque faces. The remaining designs on this plate are birds, among which may be recognized the pelican. On Plate XLYIII are the animals, nearly all highly conventionalized in character. No. 10 is a very pretty representation of a lizard, !N^o. 17 is a serpent, and in some of the others the puma may be recognized. !N^os. 16 and 18 are conven- tionalized forms, which may be compared with the designs on Plate XLIY, to which special attention has already been called. No. 16 appears unquestionably to be derived from a bird. It may be said that, owing to the fact that there has been considerable abrasion on the surfaces of these whorls, in many cases the illustrations do not give a true idea of the care with which they have been decorated. In the majority of the specimens, however, the workmanship is rather crude, and as a collection they do not compare in beauty with the finer whorls from Colombia and from the valley of Mexico.
WHISTLES. The pottery whistles or musical instruments illus- trated on Plates XLIX and L are nearly all from the Oerro de Hojas.
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They are drawn in natural size, with the exception of Nos. 6 and 7 of Plate L, which are two-thirds of the natural size. In the interior of Ecuador, pottery whistles are not common. None were found in the region of the Puruhas, near Riobamba ; but they occur in the Imbabura district, north of Quito. Along the coast a number of them have been discovered in Esmeraldas. Dorsey has figured several bird-form whistles from the Island of La Plata, off the coast of Manabi ; and Suarez also figures several from the vicinity of Cerro de Hojas. In our collection the forms are varied, and they present several types not found elsewhere.
Nos. 1, 2, and 3 of Plate XLIX, are of the same type. The first two specimens represent an animal, probably an opossum. The tail is held under the lower jaw by the fore paws. In ISo. 3 the tail is curled in front of the body, while the fore paws are placed under the lower jaw. In all three specimens the mouth-piece is a hole in the back. No. 1 has three finger-holes, while Nos. 2 and 3 have only two, as seen in the illustrations. No. 2 is from the vicinity of Cape Santa Elena in the province of Guayas, which probably limits the Manabi culture. No. 4 is an animal which cannot be identified with certainty. There is a perforation through the neck for suspension, and on the right side are two finger-holes. No. 5 is an animal with incised designs on each side. On the side not shown in the illustration are two grecque patterns. The two finger-holes are on the right side, as in the three whistles above described. The bat figure (No. 6) is an interesting example, with an extension at the back for a mouth. It has no finger-holes. No. 7 represents a puma with slender arched body and upcurved tail. It rests on a hollow flattened sphere, which is the whistle. Through the back of the animal is a perforation directly oppo- site a small hole in the whistle. The mouth-hole is in the front, and there is a finger-hole on each side. No. 8 is broken. Possibly a bird's head was on the smaller section. There are two finger-holes and a perforation for suspension. Nos. 9 and 10 are birds. In No. 9 the mouth-piece is at the end of the tail, with a vent-hole below. It has no finger-holes. No. 10 appears broken at the end, and probably part of the mouth-piece extension is missing. The vent-hole is above, and on each side there is a finger-hole. Nos. ^11 and 12 are both common types. Each has a mouth-piece and vent-hole. Nos. 13 and 14 are intended to represent shells. On the first specimen is an incised spiral. On the upper edge are traces of two
Saville: Antiquities of Manahi, Ecuador 79
perforations for suspension. The mouth-hole is at the bottom. On one side are three iinger-holes, and on the opposite side a single hole. ^o. 14 is broken at the base, and has a perforated handle on one edge, near the upper part. It has three hollow tubular openings extending do^\Ti- ward, as shown by the dotted lines in the cut. This whistle is related in form to the pan-pipes of bamboo common throughout South America. !N^o. 15 is entirely plain, and is similar to No. 13, with the exception of having two finger-holes on the side, as shown in the drawing.
On Plate L are whistles of the human figure type. Nos. 1 and 2 are noteworthy specimens. In No. 1 the whistle is complete. It is a long, hollow tube, to which is attached a human figure with a swelling at the back, forming a second whistle. In the upper part of the breast is a single finger-hole. ISo. 2 is of the same type, but the tubular part is missing. The finger-hole is over the abdomen. The face of this figure is simian in character. Suarez figures a whistle of this type in his "Atlas Arqueo- logico Ecuatoriano," Plate XIX, Pig. 2. Like our i^o. 2, the tubular part is missing and the single finger-hole is in the abdomen. ISo. 3 is the head of a human figure, with the mouth-piece extending from the top of the head, and with a vent-hole at the back. It has no finger-holes, and emits a shrill, piercing note. The pottery is a brown ware. A similar whistle of black ware in the collection is not illustrated. Both specimens are incomplete, the bodies being missing. Ko. 4 is the head of a human figure with two distinct mouth-holes, as will be noted in the cut. Two corresponding vent-holes are in the back of the head. The resonators were in the body of the figure, which is missing. Three other examples (not illustrated) are in the collection, and show that the whistles are two hollow tubes in the figure, gradually diminishing in size at the lower end. Suarez has figured an example of this type, the lower part of the body being also missing. No. 5 represents a rudely made, seated human figure, with a globular expansion at the back. In this expansion is the mouth- hole. The vent-hole is at the back of the neck of the figure, the air being forced through the vent-hole into the head, which is hollow. Pinger-holes are in the front, placed on each side of the arms. No. 6 is the largest whistle obtained in Manabi. It was found in Bahia, and is 8 inches (20.3 cm.) high. It is a double whistle with a single mouth-hole at the top of the head. The two vent-holes are at the base of moderate-sized.
80 Contributions to South Ainerican Archeology
rounded, hollow expansions on the back of the head. It has no finger- holes. The entire figure is hollow. Traces of dull brick-red paint are on the front of the figure. A large whistle of this type was seen in Monte Oristi. It consisted of two human figures, a man and a woman, joined together at the side by a band. Each figure had a double whistle with a single mouth-hole and no finger-holes. The last whistle to be described is No. 7, 6| inches (17.1 cm.) high. The face is that of a monkey ; but the body is human, as shown by the loin-cloth. A projection on the chest is broken. The body is hollow, and on the back of the figure was formerly an expansion forming the mouth-piece. The vent-hole is at the back of the head, and there are no finger-holes. In general appearance, these whistles are unlike those from Peru, and may be considered as types of a purely local culture peculiar to Manabi.
HUMA:N^ EIGURES. On Plate LI are the human figures or idols. 1^0. 1, a rude standing figure, has a cylindrical hole in the top of the head, which extends downward nearly the length of the figure. There is also a small perforation in the front. It is possibly a whistle. Irregular incised lines are over the whole figure. !N^os. 2 and 3 are quite similar to a small image from La Plata illustrated by Dorsey (Plate XOY, op. cit.). ^o. 3 has traces of dark-red paint, and a perforation between the legs, like the La Plata specimen. No. 4 is the most interesting image in the collection. It is a seated figure, the legs being bent under the body, and the hands placed over a slyrt near the knees. There is a perforation at the top of the head, which is flattened. The entire front of the body is decorated with incised lines forming designs. The back is perfectly plain. No. 5 is the head and torso of a figure, but it is complete. The hands are raised, and placed on the chest. The head, which is flattened, shows ear-ornaments and a peculiar facial decoration. The clay is black, and like that of Peruvian figures ; but the general features are quite different. Nos. 6 and 7 are the bodies of larger figures, and are made of coarser clay. They are of rather crude workmanship. No. 6 resembles quite closely certain clay figures from the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. On the back is a small hollow expansion, probably a whistle. No. 7 recalls the pottery figures of Esmeraldas. No. 8 is the upper part of a whistle, and represents an animal with the fore paws grasping the mouth.
SavilJe: Antiquities ofManabi, Ecuador 81
HUMA:N^ heads. On Plates LIT, LIII, and LIY are the lieads of figures or idols, selected from a considerable number of specimens. ]N'os. 1 to 6 inclusive of Plate LII are characterized bv broad head-bands identical with the head-bands before described on the foreheads of the crouching human figures of the seats. No. 1 has a button-shaped ornament on each side of the forehead,