CENTRAL BANK BUILDING, RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN MUSEUM, BLESSING MUSEUM, VARIOUS EXHIBITS.




Initials RJ/VS/DW/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: SOME OF THE OLDEST RELICS OF ANCIENT CIVILISATION YET UNCOVERED BY MAN ARE ON SHOW IN A NEW MUSEUM OPENED IN GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR, LAST WEDNESDAY (DECEMBER 3).

THE MUSEUM HAS BEEN SPONSORED BY THE CENTRAL BANK OF ECUADOR. RELICS OF CIVILISATIONS DATING BACK TO HUNDREDS OF YEARS B.C. HAVE BEEN COLLECTED AND PUT ON SHOW IN THE SPECIALLY BUILT MUSEUM. MANY GOVERNMENT AND CHURCH DIGNITARIES WERE IN THE COASTAL TOWN OF GUAYAQUIL FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY. ABOUT 2,300 ITEMS INCLUDING ANCIENT CARVINGS, EARTHENWARE BOWLS AND IDOLS ARE IN THE MUSEUM.

THE EXHIBITS REPRESENT A CROSS SECTION OF ANCIENT CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN CIVILISATIONS AND HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTIONS YET COLLECTED IN ONE MUSEUM.