The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-09
A STRANGE
PEOPLE
Who Were the Cliff Dwell
erS of Colorado.
PRESERVED DEAD BODIES
They Had Skill Equal to That OF the
Ancient Egyptians.
FAMILY IN CAPITOL BUILDING.


aware of the fact that within this state are
found the remains of prehistoric race.
preserved by system of embalming
which, while somewhat different from
that of the ancient Egyptians, has proved
equally effective In combating tho rayages
OF decay. Many know that southwestern
Colorado was, hundreds of years ago, pop
ulated by a race Of cliff dwellers, and the
ruins of their homes on the Rio San Juan,
near Mancos, are annually visited by thou
sands OF inquisitive tourists. 1t is not
generally known, however, that these pco-
pie attained to such degree of perfection
in the art Of preserving the vemains OF
their dead that even now, centuries after
they were placed in the tomb, the only in
dication OF the lapse of time is in the
withered and dried up appearance Of the
skin.
In the rooms of the State Historical so.
ciety, at the capitol building, are four Of
these mummies the most interesting
specimens yet discovered. Those who have
read with interest the results of the la
bors Of archaologists in Egypt, whose
every discovery OF this character is discuss
ed in the journals and magazines through
out the world. will be repaid visit to tho
capitol building. We're the history of this
strange people known and their records
preserved the four mummies in the rooms
of the Historical society might prove to
be the remains of family equally royal
and renowned in their own country with
Rameses or Cleopatra in Egypt That
they form family group is evident.
There are the father and mother and two
children, probably TO 3 years of age. Not
all the dead of this race were thus prescrv.
ad In aHi mi h,tn a<le af
human bones, representing the remains
of those who did not rank high enough in
the cliff dwellers' world to be thus care
fully protected from the effacing fingers
of time. 1t is therefore not improbable
that this family was of the royal blood.
The extraordinary fineness of the en-
balming wrappings is further evidence
of this fact Unlike the ancient Egyp-
tians, this wrapping consists not of many
folds, but single garment carefully
sewed to shut out the air. The embalm-
ing robe in which the remains are shs2ud-
ed is composed Of groundwork of cord
made of the fiber Of the yucca plant and
closely woven. In this are interviewer
feathers, or, rather, the finest down from
some species Of bird. Each feather is care
fully woven in an upright position, and so
closely are they placed that neither air
nor water can penetrate the cloth. To
make one of these robes with the crude
methods employed, all being done by hand,
must have been labor of years, and il is
probable they were of almost priceless
value. Tens of thousands of feathers
would be required for each robe.
This feather cloth is evidently inde-
structible, showing no signs of decay. 1t
is of light brown color, with occasional
streaks of white.
OF the mummies, those Of the mother
and children are the best preserved. The
woman's long black hair hangs down over
her shoulders, and teeth and skin ore in
perfect state of preservation. But the
most remarkable specimen is that of one
OF the children, which appears to have
been about years of age We're 1t not for
the peculiar parchmentlike appearance OF
skin twould seem that the child had been
dead but a few days. Even the lips have
not decaycd, and the fact that the eyes are
missing Is not noticeable, for the closed
lids arc still intact Hair and eyebrowc
are preserved seemingly as in life. The
frontal development of the head Of this
child is most remarkable, bulging out
over the eyebrows, quite unusual cese
with this people. The head displays every
gence.
Another remarkable specimen is that Of
a newborn infant, from which the wrap
ping has been entirely removed, and in
which there is not the slightest trace oi
decay.
They were a diminutive race, tho re.
mains of tho two adults measuring not
more than feet in length.
These remains were discovered in a
tomb cut in the solid rock and carefully
sealed at tho mouth AS i'm the tombs of
the royal Egyptians were placed jewels
and articles of gold and silver, so in this
were buried evidences of the belief that
the dead would require in the future state
some of the things 10 which they had beea
accustomed i'm life. The cliff dwellers drl
not work in the metals, but with thess
dead were inferred articles of pottery AM
basket work and war implements Of bone
and flint, TO aid them in their journey to
the unknown.
About tho burial places stone slabs are
set in the ground and arranged In circles
or paralolugrams, and on these are in
scriptions chiselcd or painted In the pic
turo language. These appear also upon
the walls OF the tomb mentioned. Here IL
an opportunity for the savants to unravel
tho secrets of the dead, and he who deci
piers these inscriptions may give to the
world as startling and interesting n story
as was ever uncarthcd by the most ardent
archmologist who has labored i'm Egypt
Who were these strange peopley The
question has ncycr been satisfactorily an
sworcd. Some hold that they were of the
Aztec race others that there was once a
great Pueblo empire I'm the southwest, OF
which they were - part, while still others
assert that the cliff dwclcrs were n scpa
rate and distinct people of whom no pos
terity now survives. Denver Post.