The Ancient Cities of the New World / Being Travels and Explorations in Mexico and Central America From 1857-1882

The author recounts prolonged field expeditions through Mexico and Central America, combining a travel journal with archaeological analysis of ancient ruins and monuments. He documents sites with photographs and drawings, critiques earlier interpretations, and argues that disparate monuments belong to a single, relatively recent Toltec-derived civilization, tracing its development, dispersal, and artistic-technological influence across regions. The narrative discusses excavation methods, use of contemporary photographic techniques, the loss of indigenous documents, and comparative study of architectural and sculptural features to reconstruct chronology and cultural connections. Observations alternate between descriptive site reports and broader theoretical synthesis aimed at reconstituting the history of pre-Columbian societies.