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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing) 4 0 Browse Search
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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Antiquities, American. (search)
the ruins occasioned by the Spanish conquest. These are chiefly, in Central and South America, ruined temples, and, in North America, rude earthworks, now overgrown with venerable forest trees which attest their antiquity. In connection with those in the more southern regions, there are remains of elaborate carvings and ornamental pottery. There are many features in common between the temples and other works of art in Mexico, Central America, and Peru. The explorations of Stephens and Catherwood (1840-43) revealed to the world vast remains of cities in Central America, which were doubtless inhabited at the period of the conquest, 350 years ago. There they found carved monoliths and the remains of highly ornamented temples. The monoliths at Copan some antiquaries are disposed to rank, as to use, with those ruder ones at Stonchenge, in England, and older ones in Arabia. The remains of Aztee art in Mexico attest the existence of a high degree of civilization there at the period of
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Stephens, John Lloyd 1805-1852 (search)
ose countries. In 1839 he was appointed special ambassador to Central America, when he explored the ancient ruins in that country. On his return he published Incidents of travel in Central America, Chiapa, and Yucatan (2 volumes). In 1842 he again visited that region and made further investigations, and in 1843 he published Incidents of travel in Yucatan. All of his works were very popular, those on the antiquities of Yucatan having acquired an enormous sale. They are regarded as the richest contributions on the subject of American antiquities ever made by one man. Frederic Catherwood accompanied Mr. Stephens, and made numerous drawings for the books. Mr. Stephens was a director of the Ocean Steam Navigation Company. He was also president of the Panama Railroad Company, and was active in the construction of the road. In the constitutional convention of the State of New York (1846) Mr. Stephens was a delegate from the city of New York. He died in New York City, Oct. 12, 1852.