San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-20
A LONG EXTINCT PEOPLE.
JEWELLERS IN THE CAVERNS OF
THE FAR WESTERN CANYONS.
The Discoveries Made ny a Colorado Ex-
plorer in the Valley of the Mancos
River-Prehistoric Skulls of Peculiar
Formation-A Remarkable Collection.


From the earliest ages of the past there
speaks today in the collection of relics found
within the newly formed county of Montezu-
ma, lying about fifty-ive miles southwestern
Durango, in the state of Colorado, world
of knowledge silent though the objects be,
of people who there dwelt, 'more," says
Mr.. Cushing, ethan 1000 years ago"
THE CLIFF JEWELLERS"
The borders of this wonderland are found
by following down the Mancos valley to the
Mancos river, which for about twenty-five
miles flows through veritable city of ruins.
From the valley through which this river
flows diverge six canyons, and all along their
steep and xocky sides for the entire distance,
and more especially in The amphitheatre
formed at the terminus of each of them, are
found the curiously formed dwellings which
are built in the excavations made in the walls
of the canyons. How they were formed
must ever remain conjectural, save that the
elements have worn them smooth and with a
marvellous degre of uniformity.
Zone of these dwellings," said Mr.. Nc
Lloyd, twas at the front or perpendicular
face four stories in height, grad ually sdoping
from topmost point to the reartat an angle Of
about As degs. This space was once unques-
tionably filled with a house constructed of
stone masonry, which was provided with
wooden timbers much in the usual form used
in modern dwellings. Three stories of the
crude masonry of this house yet remain"
In this house much of the priceless treasure
secured by Mr.. McLoyd was found In the
rear room, which was terminated by the
wedge formed of the slanting roof of solid
stone and the level floor of the dwelling, and
sealed complete with masonry work, were
found the perfect skeletons of two infants,
wound about With a peculiar fabric to which
the name of Feather cloth" has been given,
owing to the fact that it is formed of feathers
wound about seprate.strands of a peculiar
Irvine formed OF some vegetable lint, and
these strings or cords then woven or plsated
closely together so as to form perfect piece
of cloth.
First wrapping of this fabric SO soft and
fine that the down alone is felt when exam
ined as flexible as piece of silk. A coarser
wrapping is over this, another and another
still until the final and outer one, which is
formed of thin Stats of polished wood and
and held together by a cord in a manner
much resembling the ordinary Venetian win
dow shade. The houses are of all forms and
sizes, from the one above. described down to
that of one small room.
The collection of skulls is very large and
vary in size and in form, two distinct races
being evidenced by the formation of the
skulls. Those found in the cliff dwellings in
almost every instance being in rooms scaled
up entire with work of masonry, and evil
IDENTITY the "cliff dwellers" had a skull so
shaped that the oval or rear extended portion
of the head is totally lacking, the organs of
nh
would term it, being entirely absent, and this
is cited by'some as reason for the extinction
of therac In other words, the line is per-
fectly neutrality-suspicious. Another class
of skulls, found only on the river bottoms are
flat on the real and upper portion of the head,
slanting on uniform line from the upper
portion of the forehead to the rear as though
some uniform pressure had been brought to
bear upon them. These skulls are low and
broad, the lateral portions of the head being
full and correspondingly low, showing much
of the bulldog quality in structural form.
Hundreds Of bone Instruments of almost
every conceivable form possible into which
they could be worked are here exhibited,
most, if not all of them, being edged instru-
ments. A perfect drawing knife, knife
blades, avis, needles with eyes, in some of
which the threads for sewing yet remain, and
many instruments, the probable use Of which
could not be ascertained from their form.
Leather goods of various textures from the
soft'ana perfectly tanned buckskin to Others
as fine and piiable as it would be possible to
produce by any method known today.
Sandals formed of the skins OF animals and
woven from the fiber of the soap weed, with
soles so firm and durable as to doubtless be a
perfect protection to the feet in clamberinp
over the sharp rocks of that country. Others
formed of corn husks, in as perfect state of
preservation as if but Of a seasons growth,
while many are half finished or but just be-
gun-a task, indeed, never to be finished.
Mattings, some of them perfect, woven of
the rUshes which were found on the inner
floors, baskets of simple designs, but curious
ly wrought in colorings, some with designs
formed of lines in simple combinations, no
figures whatever being made use of; perfect
corn blades, yet green as when plucked from
the growing stalk.
In an earthen jar is yet preserved a qran-
tity of dried corn. This jar has perfect
fitting lid which prevented veImin from de-
stroymg it. Perfect turkey feathers are
shown in the form of dust broom. Shields
formed of the bark of trees, one being about
fifteen inches high and about thirty-two
inches around, resembling birch bark, and
evidently worn as a jacket, as the sides have
holes presumably for the purpose of lacing it
together.
Pottery Of various forms from small mugs
and cups to large vases in the shape Of bulg-
ing jars, which would possibly hold from five
to eight gallons. some painted in a simple and
crude way. Spiints almost as suggestive of