National Republican., 1886-12-14

Recent Exploration Along the Colo
RADIO o-Three Story Stone Houses,
Grain Bins of Concrete, Agricultural
Implements, and Imposing Fortiilca-
tions.
Mr.. James Stevenson, of the United
States geological survey, has just returned
to Washington after an absence OF several
months I'm northern Arizona, New Mexico,
and southern California, making geologic
and ethnologiC researches In connection
with that bureau. Mr.. Stevenson's eN-
plorations in former years were among the
various Pueblo Indian tribes, and the an
cicnt cliG and cave dwellings along the
tributaries Of the Rio San Juan and
other streams flowing into the Rio Colo.
radO. These streams flow through the
regions within southern Colorado, New
Mexico, Arizona, aud. Utah. In these regions
some of the most interesting archWolOgic
remains are to be found These remains are
so thickly scattered over that country, ana
comprise so many different kinds, that IL
would be impossible to refer to them In
detail in one brief article. Enough can be
| said, however, to show that no country In the
world can surpass the southwestern terrific
| archaeological data. Among the classes
of dwellings are the "cliGr,"
| those dwellings built In great exca-
vations high up In the sides of canyon
walls, the cavities for which have been
carved out by geological and climatic in
uences and the faces or fronts built up
artilcially in masonry. The "cave" dwell
ings are those which have bsen carved out
artificially along the faces of bluffs Just
large enough TO accommodate one family
each. There are two other classes the
| agricultural and pastoral. The former are
those which were located In valleys, along
streams, and about which are found imple-
ments and other evidences of aboriginal
agriculture. The latter are somewhat
similar but more scattering, and indicate
that they were only occupied by herders,
Mr., Stevenson's researches this season re-
suited in the discovery of several ancient
villages, one Of which is located on the
Little Colorado. This village extends over
an area OF three miles, Many of the houses
stand two aud three stories high, built OF
square flat stones laid In mortar. Several
OF the larger buildings, forming one group,
are situated along the banks OF a small can
yon. This canyon presented many evidences
OF the handiwork of the aborigines who In
habted the dwellings along its banks. In
the walls OF this canyon are many small
walled up, leaving only Il small aperture
through which 10 place small articles.
The plaster, some of which the party dug
out, still retains the ilnger.marks and i'm
pressions of the masons who built them.
These little bins must have been for the pur-
pose OF storing wild seeds and grain, for
such were all they contained. Agriculture
In the sense as now understood was un.
known to these people. The domestication
OF animals was also unknown to them.
Away from this group Of dwellings, up the
canyon for several miles, We're found houses
and corrals of various shapes and sizes. Sur
rounding this village is a series Of volcanic
hills or knobs from fifty to 300 feet In height.
On the summit of each was found either
round or octagOnal-shaped tower or FORTH
cation. This was evidently the object, from
the fact that only one entrance was found
TO any Of them, and they were IN all cases
furnished with portfolios about breast high,
and were seldom SO constructed inside as to
indicate permanent dwellings. 1t was quite
impossible TO conjecture the age OF this
village, and none of the Indians now inhab-
iting that country could enlighten the ex-
plorers on the subject. They only refer to
them as the homes of the ancients. Thor
ough examinations and Il complete survey
were made, all Of which will appear In the
report of the bureau Of ethnolygy