Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-12
RUINS OF ARIZONA
Archaeological Exploration Made by
Two Local Scientists.
over A THOUSAND RELICS SECURED
r.
Hidden Mysteries of Ancient Cities
of the Zunis.
THE MOkI SNAKE DANCE

tioaal Museum, have returned to Washing
ton from highly interesting arohaeolog-
ical exploration among the ruins of Arizo-
ma and New Mexico Professor Fewkes
led the party, and the result of the expedi-
ton was extremely gratifying, as more
than thousand relics, In the shape Of an
Gent pottery and other specimens. were
brought back by the two and will be used
to enrich the collections in the National
Museum
Most of the explorations were among the
ruins of the ancient cities of the Zuni tribe
Of Indians, one of their expeditions leading
them into a mysterious cave III the Ora
ham mountains, never before visited by
scientists. This was discovered to be
sacrificial cave of the ancient peoples who
inhabited that country, many evidences OF
this having been discovered there, and the
relies ,unearthed We're brought to the Ma
tional Museum.
The justly celebrated snake dance of tile
Moki Indians was witnessed by the two
scientists, and record made of 1t. In the
opinion of Prof. Hough this is the most
weird and most extraordinary religious rite
practiced by any nation of the world at
any period.
Prof. Hough had the experience, while
on botanical expedition, of going twenty
four hours without water. The party start
ed out from Headquarters in Solomonville,
ITGHdul county, AI1ZO.1u, 10 HIlu
4 spring il a canon, but were disappointed
in this. They rode their horses among the
mesquite bushes, until tongues of horses
and men were alike parched with thirst.
After twelve hours in such a country they
were forced to retrace their steps and ride
another soul-rdcking journey of twelve
hours back to their starting point.
Upper ella Valley.
Professor Hough said to The Star re-
pcrterI
Our first exploration was in the Upper
ella valley. north of Navajoe Springs.
There explored an ancient ruin. with
high walls around it, 1t was an ancient
city of the Zunis, having about a thousand
inhabitants. in which we found no trace
whatever of white man. We discovered
number of pieces of pottery, stone I'M
plementS and skulls 1t what is
known as pueblo of the Zuni people.
zone curious thing about the city was it
was shaped like a butterfly. There was
high stone wall around it. evidently for
protection, and was probably 800 yards
across. 1t lay in the slope of two hills,
through which stream ran. There was
large spring in the middle. 1t was
known in the, the zuni language as Kin Tiel.
probably six hundred or seven hundred
yards in circumference. One peculiar
thing about it was that the walls had only
two openings, through which men could
crawl There were arches also in the
walls, through which the stream had evil
IDENTIFY flowed and which were used in case
OF high water. We found slab of stone
near one of these openings with a circular
hole, just large enough for a man to crawl
through, and the edges of the hole were
WORN smooth, as if it had been used for this
purpose. 1t had evidently fitted in one
CT the openings in the wall. The latter
we've about two and half feet thick The
foundations were Of heavy stone.
No Metal Objects.
1--WE found stone arches, arrow heads
and round balls of stone, probably used as
slungshots are, but unearthed no metal
objects whatever. The lines of houses
could be plainly defined along the slope.
We dug down into these lines, by which
we made many of our discoveries. We
found an ancient shrine south of the an
cient city. 1t was q low circular wall,
about a yard in diameter. In the cavity
formed by tEfs wall was a heap of pecu-
liar stones of Odd shape, worked out into
spherical forms. On top of these stones
were carved fetiches. consisting of two
oddly shaped birds and a mammal, cut
out of red sandstone. The largest was
less than foot long. They were evil
IDENTIFY the gods of the shrines.
The White Mountains
Our second exploration was in the White
mountains in Arizona, south of Holbrook,
hSoi Tic MIL lO"A VI SSHOWlidhe vi Il
bluff above a dry stream we discovered the
ruins of another ancient town, the vestiges
of which have been almost obIiterated. By
digging down, however. we made our in
vestigations in the houses. On the out
skirts of the town we found pits dug down
into the gravel, which had evidently been
formed for reservoir purposes by the ma
tives. In the bed of the stream we ran
across rocks, on which were hammered
different symbols, such as corn, figures of
persons, tracks of animals, ETC. One of the
stones was followed out in the form of
mortar, the most perfect we ever saw
I'VE explored a number of rooms and
brought out many relics of value. Among
the rooms we uncovered was one having O
floor Of sandstone slabs; the walls were of
adobe; one of the slabs which formed the
floor was about six feet in length. At one
erd of the room was raised bench of
sandstone, in front of which was fire.
place.
Moki Habitntions.
This called to mind the manner Of living
|. OF the Moki Indians of Arizona at the pres
ent time. The slabs were found drilled with
holes accurately, the holes being about an
inch in diameter. Among the Mokis the
holes in the stones are symbolic of the un-
derworld Fireplaces were usually in the
corner, the infants being buried, 1t was.
found. under the hearth.
Along the shore of the stream, on the
bluff above which the village rested, we
took out a<number of pieces of perfect pot
terry. One of these was an elegantly form
ed vase of Grecian design, with handles.
1t was of a brilliant red color, with black
vitreous glaze. On it were some designs of.
birds. We also found there small bell.
something like sleigh bell, formed of cop
per. This was probably obtained from some
of the residents of Mexico; in exchange for
trade. Another object was gourd rattle,
painted red and green. These objects were
almost untouched by the hand of time in
the many centuries in which they had rest
ed there.
Indian Snake Dance.
After leaving this ruined city we made
an excursion, the latter part of August, 10
the town of WaIpi to see the Moki indians
go through their snake dance ceremonies.
Walpi is In northeast Arizona. There were
about sixty participants in this, and a
large number Of white persons had as
sernbied there to watch them The Indians
had collected over hundred snakes OF
different kinds which they used In their
performances. rattiesnakes among the num-