Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-04-03
PREHISTORIC PEOPLE.
Vivid Description of Visit to the
Wonderful Cliff Dwellings
Near EspanOla.

To the Editor of the New Mexican.
Santa Fe, March 30.-To the historic
or to the arch@ologist yho finds deligh
in unraveling the mysteries of the pre-
historic races, visit to the cliff dwell
ings, forty miles northwest of Santa Fe
will prove one of unalloyed interest.
High among the mountains ON com
manding mesa, affording enhancing view
of the surrounding country and over
looking the beautiful Espanola valley
are what to the writer seem the mos
mysterious and interesting ruins on thi
continent. Here, in some pre-histori,
period probably 1000 or 5000 years agt
dwelt several Thousand of human beings
who in point OF intelligence, energy
thrift and civilization far surpassed tn,
Pueblo Indians now found in the Rit
Grand basin.
The name 'cliff dwellers" is significant
for they dwelt mainly in rooms Gu: into
solid rock on the side of cliff. On this
mesa are four mountains, which rise
above the surrounding plains very much
like islands lift their heads above the
surrounding water. OF these mountains
the central one is most interesting. 1t is
about two and half miles in circumfer-
ence about the base, oblong and irregular
in shape. A perpendicular cliff ranging
from few feet high at the south point
to fifty or sixty at otLor points entirely
surrounds the mountains crest. The
rock of this cliff is species of sand
stone possessing clear metallic ring.
Into this stone these curious people
hewed ont their cozy dwellings,. The
rooms are for the most part separate
though occasionally two or more are
Joined by narrow passage ways through
which an ordinary sized man hnds it
difficult to force his body. The entrances
from without is on level with the floor
and SO low that one must crawl in on all
fours. Accomplishing this feat you find
yourself in curiously constructed room
without windows. The only aperture
save that of the door ia what seems to be
a fine or stove pipe hole Immediately
over the door.
The rooms are dome shaped or more
accurately egg shaped with a fat floor,
and measure about ten feet the longest
way and about eight feet high in the
center. Across one end, usually to the
left as you enter, are mortices in the
rocks, evidently for the purpose of hold
ing wooden beams for hunks. In the
center of the back wall on level with the
floor and facing the door is invariably a
miniature room in shape like the main
room, but so small that it is with difficulty
that one can enter aud turn around. This
was doubtless used as store room; GER
tainly not as a wardrobe, for evidence
seems to indicate that these people had
but little use for clothing. The entire
surface Of these rooms, walls, ceilings and
floors is covered with yeso plaster which
Ia much harder than the rock itself. The
neatness with which this work is executed
shows marked degree of skill.
Writings and characters of HERO
slYptic nature appear in the yese ea the
floors, but never on the walls. A key to
these characters may yet throw food Of
light on this unknown race.
Having visited the dwellings in the
Shiuo AVV uc hOW W0iA w WV couuA PoAuU
of the mountain and mount its summit,
for here are still greater wonders to be-
hold.
The top of this mountain is plateau
from which the view is beautiful and in
spring the mountains near are rich in
romantic scenery. To the east and across
the Rio Grande valley the snow capped
peaks of the Taos range of the Rockies
stretch like bank of silver tinged clouds
as far as the eye Gan behold. Like sill
yer thread the Rio Grande winds its way
through the treacherous sand of the val
Icy.
In the center of this commanding
prominence are the remains of once
beautiful and prosperous city built on
the communistlc plan. 1t is laid ont in a
perfect square. The outer portion OF the
square consists OF solid masonry three
rooms deep running across the four sides
of the square. The rooms are square
and OF uniform size. The outer tier of
rooms number eighty across one side of
the square. In the center is placita in
The center of which is burial mound
wherein many of the builders sleep the
peaceful sleep OF death. Not having
compass We were unable to determine
beyond doubt whether or not this city
was laid out with reference to the oardi-
nal points but are reasonably sure thatit
is.
The building material is stone, cut into
blocks as large as three ordinary bricks.
Though there are parts of the walls yet
standing to the height OF four feet no