Chapter XVII: Section I: Petroglyphs in Central America

NICARAGUA.

Dr. J. F. Bransford (_a_) gives the following account:

On a hillside on the southern end of the island of Ometepec,
Nicaragua, about 1-1/2 miles east of Point San Ramon, are many
irregular blocks of basalt with marks and figures cut on them. The
hillside faces east, and is about half a mile from the lake. There
were similar markings on many of the shore rocks, which, in May,
were partially covered with water, notwithstanding that that was
about the driest season. These markings were excavated about half
an inch in depth and a little more in width. Human faces and spiral
lines predominated. There was also a crown, a representation of a
monkey, and many irregular figures.

Several illustrations from these rocks are presented, infra, in Figs. 1102 and 1103, and one is reproduced in this connection as Fig. 104.

GUATEMALA.

The following extract is taken from the work of Dr. S. Habel (_a_):

Santa Lucia is a village in the Republic of Guatemala, in the
Department of Esquintla, near the base of the Volcano del Fuego,
at the commencement of the inclined plane which extends from the
mountain range to the coast of the Pacific Ocean. * * *

The sculptured slabs are in the vicinity of the village. The
greater number of them form an extended heap, rendering it probable
that there are others hidden from view that more extended researches
would reveal. * * * All the sculptures, with the exception of three
statues, are in low relief, nearly all being in cavo-relievo, that
is, surrounded by a raised border, the height of which indicates the
elevation of the relief. The same kind of relief was practiced by
the ancient Assyrians and Egyptians.

In seven instances the sculpture represents a person adoring
a deity of a different theological conception in each case. One
of these seems to represent the sun, another the moon, while in
the remaining five it is impossible to define their character. All
these deities are represented by a human figure, of which only the
head, arms, and breast are correctly portrayed, proving that the
religious conceptions had risen to anthropomorphism, while the idols
of the nations of Central America and Mexico, which have previously
come to our knowledge, are represented by disfigured human forms or
grotesque images.

Four of the other sculptures represent allegorical subjects; two
of them the myth of the griffin, the bird of the sun.

The slabs on which the low reliefs are sculptured are of various
sizes; the greater number of these, like those representing the
deities, are 12 feet in length, 3 feet in width, and 2 feet in
thickness. Nine feet of the upper part of these stones are occupied
by the sculptures, while the lower 3 feet appear to have served as a
base.

Several illustrations of these rock sculptures are presented, infra, as Figs. 1235 and 1236. It is evident that these very large slabs received their markings when they were in the locality in which they are now found so can be classed geographically.