In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

p R E F A c E Of the journey of archaeological study and research, the more important results of which are dealt with in the following, the initiative was taken by Sweden's envoy to Mexico, Minister C. G. G. Anderberg. By the Royal Swedish Academy of Science I was granted, for the purpose of carrying out this expedition, leave of absence for eight months, as from January 15th, 1932. Minister Anderberg also succeeded in interesting the two most important Swedish industrial concerns in Mexico, The Mexican Match Company Ltd. (Compania Mexicana de Cerillos y Fosforos, S. A.) and the L. M. Ericsson Telephone Company Ltd. (Empresa de Telefonos Ericsson, S. A.), who generously placed funds at my disposal. The then directors of these firms, Mr. Holger Graffman and Mr. C. E. Lindeberg, subsequently lent their valuable support to the work in many ways. The original working plan did not include any independent excavation operations on an extensive scale. Before long, however, it became apparent that the most important result of the expedition would accrue from the carrying out of a comparatively costly excavation project. This was made possible by a grant from the J. A. Wahlberg Foundation, awarded me by The Swedish Society for Anthropology and Geography. By donations from Dr. Sven Hedin and Dr. Gosta Montell a first-class photographic equipment was secured. This included, as a present from Dr. Hedin, a standard guage film camera with the requisite film material. Thanks to the kind courtesy of Mr. Ch. Strand, of Oslo, Director of the Wilhelmsen Mexico Line, we obtained a substantial rebate on the ocean fares in the ships in which we travelled both out and back. To all those who made my expedition possible and lent me their support I herewith wish to express my hearty and respectful thanks. While waiting to receive my excavation licence, I began by making excursions to interesting ruin sites in the Valley of Mexico. Then, as well as later, great kindness was shown me by Dr. Manuel Gamio. Thereupon I went to Yucatan, by way of the air-line from Tejeria to Merida. From Merida I made trips of study to Chichen Itza, where I had the pleasure and privilege of enjoying the generous hospitality of the research station of the Carnegie Institution. To its director, Dr. S. G. Morley, to Mr. Gustav Stromsvik, as well as to the other members of the Institution, lowe a heavy debt of gratitude. 9 I was also given an opportunity of visiting the ruin cities of Labna, Kabah and Zayi, having been invited by Sr. Eduardo Martinez Canton, Inspector of the Ancient Monuments of Yucatan, and Sr. Emilio Cuevas, architect to the Direccion de Monumentos Prehispanicos, to accompany them on a tour of inspection. Lastly I had the privilege of studying the vast deserted city of Uxmal in the company of Dr. Frans Blom, head of the Department of Middle American Research at the Tulane University of Louisiana, New Orleans. On my return to the capital I received, through the kind offices of Sr. Jose Reygadas Vertiz, director of Direccion de Monumentos Prehispanicos, permission to engage in archaeological excavation at Teotihuacan. Under supervision by him, as well as by Sr. Ignacio Marquina and Sr. Eduardo Noguera, the excavation work was in course of time carried out. In the middle of April my wife and I - she having at her own expense travelled out from Sweden, and arrived a few days earlier - began our work at Teotihuacan. In this connection it is with great pleasure I feel it laid upon me to give expression to my gratitude to Dr. George C. Vaillant, of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, for all the advice and guidance he unstintingly gave me. It may not be saying too much that it is largely due to him that my field work turned out so successful. He not only turned my attention to Teotihuacan, but our initial digging operations were in direct continuation of his own work. By July we had finished our digging at Teotihuacan, and on August 2 the clearingupwork - packing up the collections, etc. - was completed. By way of much-needed intermission in the excavation work we had made minor excursions to ruin sites in the Valley of Mexico. We also visited other archaeologically important places, such as Xochicalco and Teopanzolco in the State of Morelos, Calixtlahuaca in Tuluca, and Tula in Hidalgo. As however our vessel for Sweden was belated and only...

Share