, 1874-07-12
ANCIENT CITIES OF ARrzo,,.

VI tA1flLnNs
4 Chain of Burned Ctttc,
Vicjo Vallcy-EaumunR Rem.:.e aehl
terry, and Household r,er.., Fst
humed- VINO Formerly rnhn,1 u
these Ancient Dsvelllngs2
From The Sen Francisco duo c,r1,
1he rulns OF the ancient cities ~ u. e.,
Arlzona are just now attracting cons;aa "outeec,
teDtlon. Until recently the only jnTa.Ioac T.
that has coma to the surface has been rtaa
1alneo from aoVentu1ers who, Wills ..s na',t e.
through that section in search ~ sn] gA1S
jotted down that which forced itsslt soo. hiA
vision during their hasty transit Mse1peoat2 upoa ~
stories have contained such m,rvsove VI saes
ments that they have been cast .s,ds " -, sa.e
written pieces OF fiction, AZ ~ ae'et7
were unknown. Tbs murderons ]nsa
are gradually giving way before ~ ha1eae'
vance OF c.vliizailon are being buried b.cf ~ =.
their mountain retreats, into ereruitv 49, 49, INTO
reservations, by Gen. Crook aid b. w. .a1! % 70
and that most ~onderful county isenn hee's; W Yea
with the Life and industry OF whits n.a !" aec
zona is known TO be ono OF the riche.t -; A.
bearing countries in the wolld, and h.. A.aesa' ua.
contain remarkably productive so,l 7nd.. .le5s s
influence OF irrigation. ~1aes tas
Mr. j. l. Parker, Superintendent n, II.
located in Pueblo Valley. Arizon. "Gs.s H.. u
| rived in thus city, and from him W n,1a y y
| talned fund Of information rela,ra ~ ~. r.
| country Toe Pueblo VieIo Yailay liz. ,.ss Es
OF auc bordering on lhe Gila R;vs- 4s w
between it and the Graham range Of nooa W.
talns. Il IS about 40u miles eest Of Ynas ss'
80 miles north Of Camp Grant, md 1e NIL,
| west OF the New Mexico line. Ths y.Is- =
! about 60 miles long and averages 1 NIL. =
with, and contains as fine asncuIturrI ~
grazing land d can be found anywhere ltoa.
year ago four companies commenced ths &m1
structlou OF irrigation canals at this mint ~
nave now completed from to milas e.eh =.
their works. "a
In this beautiful and fertile valley is Chi.
OF ueu-marhed ruins OF ancient cities, located
about . milo apart. Ii somc places the x,.
OF the houses still show above the surfaca .ej
~ others the rolling mounds, from 10 to 40 lee.
IN height, covered with earth sod ys1ats.
ton. nhor that ages must haye pssssd
since they. we're laid prostrate. d.
Parker, who is man POSSESSED ot
au lnqu,ring turn OF mind, and is backed by Ii
most OF bis spare time during tue last year il r.
sea1ches among these ancient ruins. The xa{!a
are composed OF rough stone, laid 10 mortar, E1.
cavAtions within their limits indicate thai ali In
citles were destroyed by FIRE.
Among the deoEis are found pottery, household
utensils, and human bones; but as vet uo sar-
Ike implements have beeu brought to liqh.
Of having been burned, aud crumble Ia riecs,
upon bein handled. Several ollas pronounced
o-yahs)-lug- shaped eartien vessels NOW Used
by the Indians for holding watar-9ere found
which contained ashes, small pieces OF hunaa
bones, and fragments OF charcoal. which VOID
Indicate that cremation was prActlced By thl,
extinct people. Axes, hammers, and slsdraJ
Of various elzes and shapes, and mads tom
stone which iB much heavier aud h2rdar thaa
any now known OF. have boen brought tohsht,
One Of these axe4, found BY Nr. Parker, wa
tasted by him. He cut rod Of iron in Two Nth
it, and no pezceptible effect WEE produced npaa
The AZ By the operation
Mr. Parier has quite IN extensive collectin
II pitces OF pottery which lie dug out Of tnzs
:uins. He brought with him to the CITY sever,
specimens which he has presented to the AHa
Chs vessels were evidently made Of clay, ahich
i now Of darh gray color and as hard Is stons
rha surfaces are nicely glazed and covered With
ines and characters OF different coors from tho
forx. Ono piece has black surface, covered
nth yellow, irregular lines, and surround
d by similar colo1ed border or wedge
haped characters. Another piece is coy-
red With white ald black figures, the lines
eing mora regular than in the other pieca, md
on lts surface Whist is known among
rinters ~ Roman border," outside Of which
re- sersated rows OF black and striped lines, ths
'hols being surrounded BY circular lnas Of
,hite and black.
Among the collection before ns u white,
translucent stone. which LOOKS Is ii it hsd
ubblod out from seethiug MASS Of tho gans
lateral. It il flinty in character aud vii cut
l2ss- There are th1es smaller stones Of tho
ans variety, each containing crimson h-e,
he smaller being quite red and brilliant Be-
ides these there are tWo pebbles Of ebony bus
xternasly, but which. upon being held up 70
ha light, are perfectly transparent One Of
dem has been broken in two and the surface
resented Ii AZ smooth and brlllaut as that Of Z
olshed crystal
4 careful examination shows that there isl
lrge canal extending from the Gila Riyer, sstte
.s1ern end Of the valley, down through thsss
nclent caties, in each Of which is found large
angu;ar shaped reservoir, aud containing fun
lIee to five acres. These reservoirs have bean
'ported Dy parties who have made but casn.!
kamination Of them as the runs Of old fo,uE'
Itions. The edges OF the canal and resersef
q laid With stone and are constructed in 4 yeJ
TBS anlial manner. Some OF the reserruit4
hich we're or feet deep, are cut 10 txoI
alls Of masonry extending from sids to saa.
On the bank Of the ella River, or about!o
lies below Florence. are tue ruins OF mostt III
liar Structures building 81 by 81 feet bull
adobe. which ia now 80 hard that pick can'
It be driven into it. There ara two 7as
a building within buildlng-Whch ats
para.ed about 10 or u feet, and Hhich ~
INeeu 20 A1A oV luCAEs t14EA 1T AAN 0aoos 4~
9 walls, up about feet, and extending eo-
ely around the structure, was placed At tae
ne the building VAS put mp row OF cec1
ams. which probably served to brace &aa
lengthen the building. The ends OF th2ss
nbe1s, which are still in q fair state OF pres
yation. chow that they we've consumed oy l1o
to and, in some instances, DAFT way tolol3a
9 wall. There are now three BtoE7es OF i1e
Ills still standing in one place. The Hlnao"s
q long and narrow, and seem to haYs o:ea
aced where they were needed and without 70.
I'd to external symmetry. The doors ara y
o corners. At the top Of the lnaide walls 10
geral round holes nbout the size Of ast'
10 art Of plaatering seems to have psen
rfect in thoes Days. as the inner whu u sau
looth and Of yeliouish-white color. "na'
Is building was Caed tor can only % eoo-
:tured, as it stands in an open space sus'
11dad by the sA1no class OF ruins Il snose
owe referred to. II is probable that It VIZ
arch, OF, II that people dld not worship o@+
liz may have received alteration there
Sear this building, and At other points snon8
.se ruined cities, are still staading ro"1 =.
lar posts. set on very accurate lines. 1ae
per ends OF these posta look old, auo Jaw
ID worn by the elements, still they are y,
ID state OF preservation. Tic portions tnas
le atfected by ago.
he same class of ruins described aoo7s az
found all over Southern Alizona, New, hea"
Territory, and the northern part OF AeIH.
ereveE there are fertila valleys and ao"us
ea1nt. Little or nothing is known u
people who built tnese Gtiss "a az