The soundest method for attacking any archaeological problem is to con
duct a preliminary survey of the area concerned in order to determine the general distribution of its remains, to sense the broader aspects of historical trends, to identify the lines of evidence which will best repay close study, and finally to select for intensive excava
tion the key sites which will yield the fullest information upon the customs and the career of the people who are being studied.
Pursuing the above principles, Dr. Morley devoted approximately ten years to exploring the Maya area from end to end. He visited practically all previously known sites and discovered many new ones, the most important
being Uaxactun, Xultun and Naachtun. Accounts of his very difficult journeys may be found in the Year Books of Carnegie Institution.
The result was a much more definite knowledge than had hitherto existed of the territory occupied by the Maya at different periods of their career; and an evaluation, based on the abundance and quality of remains, of the signifi
cance of each of those periods. In other words, a definite historical out
line was achieved. Dates, hieroglyphi
eally inscribed, formed the primary evidence for Dr. Morley’s determinations. At the same time, by decipher
ing cryptic inscriptions and by finding and reading many new ones, he much more than doubled the known number
North side of Pyramid after Excavation showing in situ portions of facing toward the west end. (a)
First sloping element (b) portion of first sculptured bank (c) second sloping element.