64. Objects of flaked stone, British Honduras 305 65. Stone mask; British Honduras 306 66. Maya weavers (Troano-Cortesianus MS.) 307 67. Bat-design, from a vase; Uloa Valley 311 68. Pottery vase from Chama 312 69. Pottery vase from Ococingo 312 70. Pottery vase from Coban 313 71. Pottery censer from Nebaj 314 72. Pottery head from Nebaj 316 73. Examples of Maya terraces and pyramids 321 74. Section of typical Yucatec building 323 75. Examples of Maya buildings 325 76. Ground-plans and elevations of Maya temples 327 77. Section through the Temple of the Cross, Palenque 329 78. Plans of building at Santa Rosa Xlabpak 330 79. Detail of fresco at Santa Rita 335 80. Details of frescoes at Santa Rita and Mitla 336 81. Stone altar at Copan 339 82. Relief, Temple of the Sun, Palenque 344 83. The “Monjas,” Chichen Itza 347 84. Caryatid figure, Chichen Itza 348 85. Stone gargoyle, Copan 353 86. Details from various monuments, showing the interlaced head-ornament 357 87. Stone relief at Chichen Itza 367 MAPS Map of the Valley of Mexico (Fig. 1) 13 Linguistic Map of Maya Tribes (Fig. 45) 201 Mexico and Central America _Folder at end_ Mexican Archæology INTRODUCTION Ancient Mexico, the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan, built upon an island situated in a great highland lake, the scene of the almost incredible exploits of Cortés, has long been familiar as a name to the western world, chiefly owing to the wonderful account compiled by Prescott. The story of the fall of Aztec civilization before the Spanish invaders has deservedly won a great hold upon popular imagination, for every page is redolent of romance, and indeed few, if any, writers of fiction have conceived a tale so full of incident, or have brought their heroes to victory in the face of greater odds. Moreover, the existence of Aztec civilization, an organized empire with cities built of stone and rich in gold and gems, burst upon the Old World as a thing almost beyond belief.