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In 1928 the Mexican archaeologist Federico Mariscal published some drawings and plans of Edzná. Sylvanus G. Morley and Enrique Juan Palacios later deciphered some of the dates on the stelae. The first extensive exploration of the sitewasundertakenbyAlbertoRuzLhuillierandRaúlPavón Abreú in 1943. They identified the extent of the site core and the major features of the Temple of Five Stories and Ruz Lhuillier published an account in 1945. Pavón Abreú conducted further work in 1958 and 1962, and the Temple of the Five Stories was partially restored. In 1968 a survey of the site core and some peripheral areas was made by George F. Andrews. In 1970 additional excavation and restoration was undertaken by Pavón Abreú and Román Piña Chan for Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia de Mexico, and in 1983 the New World Archaeological Foundation archaeologists including Ray T. Matheny and Donald W. Forsyth reported on the hydraulic systems and ceramics at Edzná. From 1986 through 1989 major excavations and structural restorations were undertaken by Pavón Abreú and Luis Millet Camara of the Campeche Regional Center of Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia de Mexico, 17.0. Edzná 409 and it was reported by Benavides Castillo in 1989 and 1990. Guatemalan refugees formed part of the work force, and funds were provided by agencies of the United Nations and Mexico devoted to helping refugees. In 1991 additional excavation on the north side of the Main Acropolis and consolidation of the Temple of the Five Stories were undertaken. 17.1. SYLVANUS G. MORLEY Report on Edzná YB 26:263–266, 1927 On January 13, 1927, Mr. Nazario Quintana Bello, Inspector of Archaeological Monuments for the State of T H E C A R N E G I E M A Y A 410 EDZNÁ Campeche, discovered an important Old Empire city, some 40 miles [64.4 km] southeast of Campeche, the state capital, and 8 miles [12.9 km] east of the modern village of Tixmucuy. A temple, five stories high, was the principal object stressed in the press reports of the discovery and the name of Tixmucuy was incorrectly attached to the city. Early in March, Messrs. Reygadas, Palacios and Mariscal visited this site in behalf of the Direction of Archaeology of the Mexican Government, and made additional discoveries of even greater scientific importance . Several hieroglyphic monuments were found, and Mr. Palacios succeeded in deciphering on the front ofStela2anexceedinglydifficultandverymuchweathered text, recording the Initial Series date, 9.15.0.0.0, 4 Ahau 13 Yax (ca. 472 A.D.), which fixes the chronological position of the city. This new Initial Series makes the fourteenth to have been found inYucatán,1 and the third in the State of Campeche, the other two being the one from Holactún on the savanna of Xalumkin south of the railroad station of Dzitbalché [Chapters 1.6 and 1.12] and the other from the Island of Jaina on the northwest coast [Chapter 1.12]. OnMay15and16,Dr.MorleyandMessrs.Ruppert and Crandall visited this site in behalf of the Institution , discovering 15 additional monuments, bringing the total of sculptured stelae to 17, and a hieroglyphic step in front of the principal temple. At this time also, the true name of the site was ascertained from the inhabitants of the nearby village of Tixmucuy. The local name for this group of ruins is Etzná, meaning in Maya etz, a grimace, or a face, in the sense of to make a face and ná house, perhaps “The House of Grimaces,” would be a free translation. The Indians of the region have a tradition that if one is hungry, and leaves money on the stones at Edzná, returning later, a good meal will be found in its place. Finding the name Edzná so clearly attached to the site, and not that of Tixmucuy, the name of the modern village nearest there to and under which the first press notices thereof had gone forth, Dr. Morley asked permission of the Direction of Archaeology at Mexico City to make this change in nomenclature before such a misleading designation should become fixed. This was graciously granted, and the local name Edzná was accepted for the group. The ruins of Edzná indicate that it had been a place of considerable size, a large provincial Old Empire city, although not so large as Cobá [Chapter 34.1]. The large Acropolis is an enormous construction measuring more than 500 feet on a side and some 25...

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