The Nevada journal., 1860-04-27
Ancient American Cffiss:

Evidences of an ancient civilization of a
high order are constantly accumulated as
adventure carries our people into the west
ern wilds. The remains of ruined cites and
vast piles of buildings are not confined to
the area of Central America but are found
in New Mexico, and perhaps may yet be
brought to light even further North.
An interesting article has recently been
published hy the Fort Smith Times, in regard
to the ancient remains of the city Quivera,
situated in a level plain some ninety miles
northeast of Fort Stanton, New Mexico, and
about seventy from the high isolated peak
which tbs aleSicans call "The Captain" that
We condense for our antiquarian readers.
The plain upon which lie the massive
relics Of once gorgeous temples and mag
nificent halls slopes gradually eastward
towards tho river Pecos, and is very fertile,
crossed by surgling stream of the purest
water, that not only sustains a rich vegeta-
ton. but perhaps furnished with this neces=
sary element the thousands who once in
habited this present wilderness.
The city was probably built by warlike
race, as it Is quadrangular, and arranged
with skill to afford the highest protection
against an exterior foe, many of the build
loopholes, as though calculated for the use
of weapons.
Several of the buildings are of vast size,
and built of dark granite rock, which
could only have been wrought to their pres
ent condition by vast amount of labor.
At the present time, the best tempered tools,
in the hands of the most skillful workmen,
could scarcely produce an impression on
/ Al .f. t.. -, IL ocr
appears to have been intended for three
separate buildings, each about three humid
red feet front, with the intervals between
them occupying one thousand feet.
The middle building is constructed with
great neatness and care, of ponderous blocks
of the material before mentioned, of nearly
| cuhioal form, which, allowing 800 ounces
As the weight of cubic foot, would be
found to weigh more than three tons each,
and could only have been transported from
the distant quarry and placed in their pres
ent elevated position with prodigious labor.
The walls of this building are at the present
time from 80 to 35 feet in height, while the
surface of the ground is strewn with huge
masses of fallen blocks, which have proba-
bly, been displaced from their former posi-
ton by the action of some great disturbing
/ agency, such as volcanic eruption, which
would lead to the conclusion that they once
rose to a great altitude. This temple las it
may properly be termed) is entirely desti-
tute of any partitions, or the appearance OF
their former existence, and appears to have
been designed by its architects as q vast
hall to be used for the performance of SOL
emn religious rites, or the celebration OF
| public feasts.
| The pavement is hid from view by a con
fused mass Of fallen building materials,
among which are to be found fragments OF
carving in bass-relief, and fresco work OF
superior design and execution, which would
! justify the conclusion that these silent ruins
could once boast of halls as gorgeously dec
GRATED by the artists hand as those of Thebes
or Palmyra.
This series of buildings are all loop-aolel
in each side, much resembling that found in
the old feudal castles of Europe designed
for the use of archers.
| The blocks of which these buildings are
composed are cemented together by spe-
| ces of mortar of bitumnous character
which has such tenacity that vast masses
of wall have fallen down without the blocks
being detached by the shock. The slight
examination which has been made by off
GERS Of the United States army indicate
the presence here of objects of rare Curl
osity
1t is impossible, in looking upon the eyi-
dences of the residence in North America,
in ages that are past, of a powerful and civ
ilized race, to regret that they utter no voice
/ to tell us of the causes that made it pros
porous, and finally swept away into utter
oblivion. Whence came the builders of cit
les now dumb ruins, awakening our admi-
ration of the arts and power of a lost race,
yet thwarting all efforts to penetrate :hc
| dark vale that shrouds their hstory?-
When Thebes and Palmyra were in their
glory. we cannot but believe that in the
! depths of this American continent people,
brave in arms and skillful in arts, spread in
mighty numbers from the neighborhood of
the northern lakes to the Isthmus of Pam
ANA. Should any fortunate accident lift
the obscuri.y that overwhelms this ancient
race America will doubtless be found as
rich in the antique as Egypt or India.