The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-02-04
A CITY OF CLIFF JEWELLERS.
Sixty Miles of Deserted Habrations-In.
terestlng Investigations.

teresting Investigations.
From The Scientific 1merican.
During the past season remarkable
discovery Of an ancient cliff city. sixty
miles long. was made by Mr.. James Ste
phenSon. the leader of the Archaeological
Exploring Expedition to New Mexico and
Arizona under the direction of the Smith
sonian Institute. Mr. Stephenson states
that sixty miles along the face of the
winding cliffs, except where the elements
had cut them away, the canon walls had
been carved out like swallows nests, and
the cave dwellings extended two, three.
four. and sometimes five rows, one above
another.
Mr.. Stephenson examined this deserted
city during several days, personally visit
ing portions distant forty five miles from
each other. and discovering with his glass
that the excavations extended fifteen or
twenty miles further on. BY far the
yreater number are inaccessible. but
many of the old paths Worn many inches
deep by the feet of the anccntS who
dwelt there, are intact. and by them the
explorer mounted t" the old dwellings.
There was Il marked similarity in the
form and construction of these excava-
tions. There WAS only one aper tue. which
served for door. window and chimney.
The single room had an oval roof. which
bore the grooves made by the tlinty adzes
,r axes of the excavatnrs. The method
If di4 ging or carving out these caves
WAS disclosed by the form and direction
# the grooves which were usually par
part while between. as shown by the
cough surface of the stone. the remain
ing substance, has been broken off. There
vere tire-plncrs at the rear. but no place
# exit for the smoke except the single
,periure in front. Miny of the dwell
ngS had side or rear excavations of small
-ize. within some of which corn cobs
md heaus were found. evidently left by
nance inhabitants of later period.
we're discovered the decayed ends of
wooden slerpers. These were of kind
IT wood not reco. niZable as Il present
,rrwth of the locality and unknown to
The explorers. Specimens We're brought
way to be examined and classified by
aturalists In the sides ut some dwell
ngS thnre we've found small recesseS.
Violently used AS cnpboariS for the house
told utensils of the family. The sub
'>h quite soft and easily worked by the
rude implements of the old builders.
Upon the top of the Mesa "r table land
,bnve these caves there were found large
.ircular structures. now il, ruins but with
walls to the height of ten or twelve feet
till standing. They We're evidently places
# worship. They We're built of square
stone Of nearly uniform size, about twen-
v inches in length by six in width and
our in thickness. cut from the cliff.
Measurements were made of two of these
,tructures. one of which WAS 100 and the
'ther 200 feet in diameter. and might
ave held from 900 to 2 900 people.
Worship is draw from the fact that the
Pueblos of the present day, who are fire
md sun worshipers, have similar tenn
Piles. No remains of affairs were found.
which fact is doubtless IT, be explained
" the exposed situation and the soft
materials probably used in the conS.ruc-
ion of such furniture. The southern
nd of this cave eitv. which seemed tn
rave been the most dpnSelv populated,
presented many evidences of art and in
inStrv. This locality is more broken
md offers a better chance for successful
assistance to the assaults OF an enemy
There were found many animal forms
'arved out Of stone. In one place there
we're two life sized mountain lions. ami
mails which are still peculiar in that re-
zion. There are also seen many smaller
animal forms. so much worn away that
It cannot be determined what they were
designed to represent. Upon standing
walls in this neiu hbnrh'md are many lie
+ '.l>phicS. which from their resemblance
the picture writing of the living Pu'
',s. NAV. Mr.. Stephenson thinks h''
'niiallv. il not entirely, drciphereh.
Fhe great age "f this CITY is proved hy
he vast accumulation ni debris from the
ripper portion of the cliff. which covers
is base. I'm places whore mountain
rocks have cut their way through. the
xi>tence of one and sometimes two rows
cave dwellings below the surface "f
he debris is disclosed. Mr.. Stephenson
kinks that several centuries have passed
ince this dead city was in its prime.