May 20 2000 WORLD NEWSFEATURES Burnt forest reveals lost Mayan city FROM DAVID ADAMS IN MIAMI Tikal, a Mayan site similar to El Pajaral ARCHAEOLOGISTS in Guatemala say they have rediscovered the lost ruins of a Mayan city. If so, it will end a mystery that has baffled researchers for decades. The city, which they call El Pajaral, may be an important ceremonial site dating back 700-800 years. "Nothing like this has been seen in Mayan culture," said Luis de Leon, a spokesman for Basic Resources, a multinational oil company that has underwritten the search for the city in the remote forests of Peten province, about 300 miles north of the capital, Guatemala City. El Pajaral is thought to be the same city discovered in 1970 by Ian Graham, a Harvard archaeologist. His work was frustrated by a lack of co-operation from Guatemalan authorities at the time and missing data. Owing to poor mapping, political instability and an intensifying guerrilla war, access to the remote, unpopulated region became virtually impossible in later years. For years experts have debated the mysterious origin of looted Mayan hieroglyphics that have turned up in art markets but have never been linked to any Mayan site. Experts now wonder if El Pajaral may contain the answer to the search for "Site Q", as it has been called. El Pajaral was found earlier this year after two Guatemalan archaeologists on contract to Basic Resources began exploring the area, hoping to pick up the Graham trail. They came across the hamlet of Los Cerritos, a community of 75 Keq'chi Indian families who had settled there five years ago. The villagers directed them to ruins in the forest, an hour's walk away. The archeologists were shocked to find the ruins smouldering in a clearing where villagers had slashed and burnt to make way for bean fields. But their dismay turned to awe as they observed the structures there. Se�or de Leon, who recently visited the site, said it consists of two major ceremonial plazas joined by a steep stone staircase 150ft wide and 100ft long, with more than a dozen buildings and five temple mounds. The site is dotted with altars and 10ft-tall carved limestone monuments, known as stelae, that have been likened to the totem poles associated with North American Indian culture. Many seem to have been smashed by robbers. Se�or de Leon compared the site to Tikal, the majestic Mayan city popular with tourists about 50 miles north east of El Pajaral. Although smaller, El Pajaral, may provide a link with other important cities, such as Copan in northern Honduras. "The thing that is really striking about El Pajaral is the mix of architectural styles," he said. "Some things are built with the style of Mexican Mayan sites, but others look more like the ruins at Copan. People may have come from all over to help build it." "Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything." Communist Tyrant Josef Stalin (Listen anytime to Votefraud vs Honest Elections "crash course" radio show over the internet at www.sightings.com in the archives, April 3rd, 2000 show, Jeff Rense host, Jim Condit Jr. guest) <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html <A HREF="http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
