The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-11-09

There were no relics which might in
dictate that the occupants had ever
seen the whites or learned any Of their
arts. The entire populace appeared to
nave deserted rather than to have suf-
tered violent determination by enemies
or the elements. No skeletons haunted
the living rooms to tell of massacre or
starvation. Several of the dead had
been buried beneath the floors of the
houses. Excavations continued near
by brought to light the cemetery of the
settlement, where hundreds of skele-
tons were found reposing beneath fiat
slabs OF stone, upon which had been
painted pictures of rain clouds. A round
hole was invariably drilled in the CEN
ter of each slab, probably to admit the
soul to the spirit world. At either side
of the neck of the skeleton was usually
found a mortuary bowl containing
grass seed. corn or rolled waters of
meal Upon the wrists. necks and
breasts Of these remains were found
elaborate jewels of turquoise and shell.
There is also a tradition confided to Dr.
Fewkes by two Hopi priests that far to
the south there was stream known as
the Blue Water where a race of peo-
pie lived many long years ago, and where
the Hopi always went for holy water
to be used by the priests in their rituals.
The exploring party went here and ex-
caVated a second settlement similar to
the first except that the main dwelling
structure had been built upon the plan of
a hollow rectangle, the space within hav-
ing evidently been used as a ceremonial
court or dance plaza, Near by was q Gem
etery similar to that found alongside the
former ruin.
A third tradition led the party south
over what was said to be the trail
ing its retreat toward the north. Here,
upon a hill of lava, was found a third
city. built in two sections, browning the
opposite edges of the hill and bearing in
aleadons OF having once been connected
by a street. The usual cemetery was
olosa by. Hero the graves were covered
by logs, piece of lava being at the head
A year ago DIR. Fewkes and DIR. Hough
began their excavations midway in the
trail joining zuni and Tusayan and I'M
earthed a still larger honeycomb struc-
ture representing population quite as
large as that of ancient Troy. The cells
or houses, built in tiers, formed the city
walls, the whole resembling a double am
-phitheatre. To the east was a cemetery
with skeletons of the dead. The pottery
resembled that of the modern Zuni more
than thatof the Hopi. Surrounding the
city where shrines of worship We're con-
carved fe,iches. Tracing another tradition
of the Hopis, the explorers went 50 miles
SOUTH WHARF, another collection of houses
and another cemetery were found. The
prehistoric inhabitants had evidently
numbered about 800
These excavated ruins are but samples
of many more waiting beneath the soil
of this region for the archaeologist's pick
and spade to bring them once more to the
ngnt. Inere are also remains of irriga ing
bitches through which the water has been
carried long distances across the plains
and of large reservoirs in which water
has been stored. These wonderful people.
who centuries ago seem to have solved
the irrigation problem. appear to have
numbered at least $4,000 in this valley
alone. Their settlements were deserted
long before the advent of the Spanish,
DR.. Fewkes may remain in the field ali