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for Armstrong it would have been! But it's a two-edge sword produced any physical evidence for his claims, which may explain because, had it not been for Moricz, the story would never have why he wanted to live in the shadows of this story. come about like this. And today, Hall's biggest desire—if he were Hall did ask him why he never took photographs. "He said that able to turn back time—is to sit down at one table with both it would not prove anything." Other discoveries, such as the Moricz and Jaramillo. At the same time, he realises that Moricz infamous Burrows Cave in the United States, prove that seeing had been intent from the beginning that the Metal Library would actually isn't believing. Still, Jaramillo stated that he had left his be his legacy. When Hall showed Moricz a manuscript about the _ initials in these seven books so that, if the library were ever 1976 expedition, Moricz point-blank refused to return it. Itended —_ discovered, it could be proved that it was he who had entered it. their friendship, but Hall never understood why until 1991, when he realised that the manuscript mentioned Jaramillo. It was a Expedition plans and setbacks name Moricz did not want to see published—as he had confirmed Jaramillo and Hall wanted to combine forces to see whether the in the 1973 German newspaper interview. Moricz was incredibly Metal Library could be opened; one knew the location, the other stubborn and, equally, incredibly loyal, but obviously was the had a proven track record in organising proper expeditions. It wrong man and was sadly mistaken if he thought he could ever would be the "expedition of occupation". pull off the discovery of the century. First, contact with various ambassadors and politicians was 5 established; then the scientific community was brought in. The plan was for Jaramillo to lead the team to the site, where they would remain for a period of three to four months (during the dry season), cataloguing the contents of the site and guaranteeing that nothing went missing. Everything would remain in situ. A report with recommendations would be the only outcome of _ this expedition, which would involve UNESCO. But in 1995, Peruvian jets bombed an Ecuadorian military base and the project had its first setback. In 1997, Hall used a major anthropology conference to promote the idea. Six anthropologists came to meet him, interested in what he was trying to accomplish. But that same year, Ecuador's political Subterranean treasures Jaramillo and Hall became friends, though both agreed Jaramillo would not prematurely reveal the location of the site. Still, he was willing to talk in detail about its contents and any other aspect Hall wanted to discuss. From Jaramillo, Hall was able to learn the true story of the Tayos library—which was not in the Cueva de los Tayos at all! Jaramillo stated that he had entered the library in 1946, when he was 17 years old. He was shown it by an uncle, whose name has _ gone unrecorded but who was known as "Blanquito Pelado" (a loving description of the man's appearance). He was apparently on friendly terms with the local Shuar population, who invited him to see a secret regime changed (in Hall's in gratitude for the kindness and opinion, for the worse); Hall goodness he had shown towards the tribe. felt that his family could not live in the new political reality, so he Jaramillo entered the system at least once after that. On that moved back to Scotland with them. (Shortly afterwards, our paths occasion, he saw a library consisting of thousands of large, metal would cross anonymously). This was nevertheless not a setback; books stacked on shelves, each with an average weight of about _ planning for the expedition continued. sta, ‘i ee —— = Juan Moricz and Stan Hall, photographed in 1975 during preparations for the 1976 expedition that would have astronaut Neil Armstrong as honorary president. (Photo © Stan Hall) 20 kilograms, each page impressed from one side with However, it was in 1998 that the expedition had a major ideographs, geometric designs and written inscriptions. There setback. Hall received by telephone the sad news from the mother was a second library, consisting of small, hard, smooth, of Petronio Jaramillo that he had been assassinated. Was he translucent—what seemed to be crystal—tablets, grooved with murdered because of the plans that were afoot? Life in South parallel encrusted channels, stacked on sloping shelves of trestled America is cheap, as anyone who has visited or lived there knows. units covered in gold leaf. There were zoomorphic and human That day, Jaramillo was carrying a large amount of money on statues (some on heavy column plinths), metal bars of different him. It was a street robbery, close to his home. Random violence shapes, as well as sealed "doors"—possibly tombs—covered in stopped one of the world's biggest discoveries dead in its tracks. mixtures of coloured, semi-precious stones. There was a large It seems that fate only allowed for Jaramillo and Hall to meet, sarcophagus, sculpted from hard, translucent material, containing but never to work together—as if their combined efforts would the gold-leafed skeleton of a large human being. In short, an break the spell of the cave and turn a dream into a reality. incredible treasure, stored away as if hidden in preparation for some upcoming disaster. Location, location, location On one occasion, Jaramillo took down seven books from the Moricz and Jaramillo had both died. Hall was in his sixties. shelves to study them, but their weight prevented him from Would he go it alone and claim the Metal Library for himself? replacing them. It also meant that they were too heavy to remove Hall isn't a treasure-seeker. He emphasises that the region is a—if from the library and reveal to the world. Jaramillo never not the—veritable El Dorado. There is gold everywhere; the produced any physical evidence for his claims, which may explain why he wanted to live in the shadows of this story. Hall did ask him why he never took photographs. "He said that it would not prove anything." Other discoveries, such as the infamous Burrows Cave in the United States, prove that seeing actually isn't believing. Still, Jaramillo stated that he had left his initials in these seven books so that, if the library were ever discovered, it could be proved that it was he who had entered it. Location, location, location Moricz and Jaramillo had both died. Hall was in his sixties. Would he go it alone and claim the Metal Library for himself? Hall isn't a treasure-seeker. He emphasises that the region is a—if not the—veritable El Dorado. There is gold everywhere; the JUNE — JULY 2006 NEXUS +59 www.nexusmagazine.com