FINDING LOST CIVILIZATIONS This

destroyed, the memorial to his wife damaged, and the spiritof this place ruined.As I left the hilltop I remembered the ancient summitof Tel Megiddo in Israel. There, researchers have found evidencethat the city upon that mound had been destroyedand rebuilt about twenty-five times. The cycle of life continues,but I found the Chacala hilltop somewhat disturbing. Inone swoop, evidence of an ancient civilization—includinga present-day memorial to a loved one—had been simplyswept away.plaque and that it was partially damaged. I then climbedatop the hill and was dismayed to see that the site had beenleveled to make way for building sites. Nearby, a man satalone next to a boulder and appeared to be somewhat distressed.When I asked him if he was okay he nodded andwent on to say that since his childhood he had visited thissite, which he considered spiritual. After his wife passedaway two years ago and in accordance with her wishes, thefamily had placed a small memorial at this site to honor theplace she deeply cherished. But now it had all been desecrated.The land had been excavated, the ancient symbols133