A Ceremonial Cave in the Winchester Mountains
Creators: name: Fulton, William Shirley
Publisher: name: The Amerind Foundation, Inc.
Year: 1941
Subjects: subject: Arizona (State / Territory)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/335/arizona-state-territory
subject: Winchester Mountains
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/84584/winchester-mountains
subject: Cochise (County)
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/geographic-keyword/7354/cochise-county
subject: Resource Extraction / Production / Transportation Structure or Features
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/272/resource-extraction-production-transportation-structure-or-features
subject: Shrine
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/610/shrine
subject: Archaeological Feature
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/339/archaeological-feature
subject: Hearth
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/343/hearth
subject: Commercial or Industrial Structures
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/280/commercial-or-industrial-structures
subject: Factory / Workshop
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/site-type/281/factory-workshop
subject: Bark
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2989/bark
subject: Cordage
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2990/cordage
subject: Wood
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/15/wood
subject: Sandals
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2991/sandals
subject: Haft
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2994/haft
subject: Fire-stick
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2995/fire-stick
subject: Ceremonial Arrows
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2996/ceremonial-arrows
subject: Ceremonial Bows
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2997/ceremonial-bows
subject: Cane Tube
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2998/cane-tube
subject: Wrapped Discs
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2999/wrapped-discs
subject: Ladle
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/3000/ladle
subject: Bone Awl
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2650/bone-awl
subject: Ceramic
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/1/ceramic
subject: Chipped Stone
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/2/chipped-stone
subject: Fauna
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/4/fauna
subject: Ground Stone
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/7/ground-stone
subject: Macrobotanical
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/10/macrobotanical
subject: Mineral
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/material-type/12/mineral
subject: Data Recovery / Excavation
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/5/data-recovery-excavation
subject: Systematic Survey
valueUri: https://core.tdar.org/browse/investigation-type/12/systematic-survey

description: In the recent past bat droppings have been collected by guano hunters and it is probable that these were the first people, other than those of prehistoric times, to have used the cave for any definite purpose. While it is quite possible that the Apache Indians may have employed the cave as a camp site, there is no direct evidence of their having established it as a permanent abode. In the foothills are the remains of many mescal roasting pits presenting the characteristics of those used by the Apache. The records of visits to this cave are meagre. It was brought to the attention of the writer by Mrs. Jessica McMurray of nearby Mule Shoe Ranch, an enthusiastic archaeologist, who had made several visits to the cave and collected from the surface some of the material herein described. When Mrs. McMurray presented her collection to the Amerind Museum in 1940 it was apparent that work should be continued toward establishing further archaeological data from the cave. In the late spring of that year an inspection trip was made by Mr. William Hayden Fulton and the author who were fortunate in finding considerable additional material and it was then decided that the Amerind Foundation should try to obtain excavation privileges during the following season. In March 1941 Mr. Harry Saxon, owner of the property, granted us permission to undertake a thorough investigation.