FINDING LOST CIVILIZATIONS This

tribes. Consequently, various figures from Central Americaand further south could very well be found in the CentralCoastal regions, such as in Compostela. But, the mysteryremained about Luis’ archeological treasures and the onlyway for me to know for sure would be to accompany himduring his field expeditions.As I was walking through town later that day a ladynamed Erendira started talking to me after I had taken aphotograph of a Huichol Indian. She spoke English and webegan discussing ancient sites in the local area. She saidthe whole area was teeming with archeological artifacts andthat ancient pottery shards littered the ground in many locations.She indicated that just outside of Las Varas there wereseveral mineral springs, known as Jamurca, that she hadonce visited. While walking around the springs she foundmany ancient pottery fragments. She also said that behindthe springs there was a small hill where the owner had excavatedthree large, ancient figures. Erendira said many localpeople had found ancient figures that they sold to foreignvisitors. She explained that many people were just tryingto get by and essentially used the money to feed their families.When I mentioned that many reproductions were alsosold as originals she agreed, but said that in small, poor,and dusty villages like Las Varas the figures being sold wereoriginals found in the local vicinity. She went on to say thatmany of the locals do not speak English and had asked herseveral times if she knew of any foreigners who would wantto buy these figures. These items were not expensive shesaid; a poor farmer would be happy to accept fifty dollarsfor such an object.I believed Erendira for I too have walked upon groundlittered with the remnants of the past and had met peoplelike Luis and the Herb Man of Guadalajara.42