FINDING LOST CIVILIZATIONS This

far surpassed the town’s own collection in scale and grandeur.I also remembered that in one room of the museum thecurator mentioned that the figures we were looking at wereactually reproductions from original statues maintained inother museums.I discussed what I had seen with my father that evening;he reminded me of some of the grand theatrics we hadobserved during our journey by those purporting to possessancient statues. Also, museums themselves displayed figuresthat appeared authentic, but were in fact reproductions. Andthat many a gringo had left Mexico convinced that the fivehundred dollars they paid for an “ancient statue” was spent73