Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-06-30
Collections Of Ex-Governor Prince
and the Historical Society At
tract Wide Attention.
The FOUR ROUND HEADS
History and Theories in Regard to the
Idols and the Ancient Races That Made
and Used Them in Religious
Ceremonies.

pdpcI.
| For more than a dozen years Hon. l..
Bradford Prince, president of the His
torical Society of New Mexico, has been
diligent and enthusiastic in exploration
ly worshiped by the Pueblo Indians Of
that territory. He has the finest collec-
ton of stone idols in existence. 1t num-
bers over 1000 specimens, and repre-
sents the outlay of a large sum of
money. Speaking Of the continued ex-
plorations by Governor Prince, and re-
ferring to the finding of the four idols
pictured in the accompanying half-tone,
| the New Mexican said he had met with
an extraordinary success, Of great in
terest to ~antiquarians, by the discovery
in the ruins of an ancient stone-built
pueblo, in northwestern New Mexico, of
four idols differing from any heretofore
found. They are of the type of round
heads or "cabezas," of which a number
have been e%xcavated from the ruins of
ancient pueblos in that section Of the
country, but the popularity is that each
is surmounted by a representation of a
crown. The Indians who were engaged
in the excavation regard them with the
highest generation, as the crown shows
them to have been the kings or beings
highest in honor among all the idols of
the ancient people who rendered them
alteration. What adds to the archaeo-
logical Importance of this discovery is
that n Of the figures which takes a
leading part in the most sacred and oc-
cult Pueblo ceremonies of the present
time, is of similar form, surmounted by
the crown. Three Of these idols are Of
severe countenance, with protruding
lips, and these probably were used to-
gether, as the centres" or ''princi-
pales" of the stone images which take
part in most of the secret religious rites
of the Pueblos. The largest of these is
9h inches in height by 6 inches in width,
the crown being a little less than 2s
inches. The fourth of these 'cabezas
coronadas" is quite different from the
others, being almost exactly spherical
in shape, with a small, low crown and
a smiling or laughing expression. Just
what phase of their mythology was thus
represented, it is of course impossible to
determine now, unless by analogy with
existing ceremonials, but one may safe
ly assume, says the New Mexican, that
this was a benignant divinity, while the
others were intended to inspire awe and
fear.
The society above mentioned has is
sued a pamphlet descriptive Of a collec-
ton of similar idols in it's possession,
| which publication contains much in
formation of interest. 1t is said in this
pamphlet that while images Of stone,
used in religious ceremonies or kept in
the houses of the people as household
gods were common in New Mexico,
and were Of great variety and elaborate
workmanship, yet they were not used
by the nomadic aboriginal tribes inhab-
iting most Of what is now the United
States, and so far as known are found
in no part of u country except New
Mexico.
There they seem to nave been very
numerous before the coming Of the
Spaniards. The first description that
we have of the people and their sur
%roundings and customs, from any other
than a military standpoint, are found
in the narrative of the expedition Of
Antonio de Espejo, who set out from
the valley Of st. Bartholomew, in Mex
leo, on December 10, 1882, and entered
New Mexico early in 1888. In the course
of a very interesting description Of the
people, their modes Of living, form of
government, etc., we are told that
many idols, which the Indians wor-
SHIPPED, were found in this province; and
In every house an Oratory was erected
for the devil, where he was said to pre-
side, and to which food was carried for
him to eat. In various places the In
dams had erected chapels, dedicated to
the devil when he travelled through the
country, from one town to another.
These chapels were all handsomely
trimmed and painted. They represent
ed, by pictures, the sun, moon and stars
as principal objects Of their worship"
When Espejo, shortly afterwards,
having learned of the death of the friars
whom he had come to protect, deter
mined to explore the country generally
he first proceeded toward the west,
travelling for two days with only two
companions. This brought him to the
region Of Laguna. Here he found q
province containing eleven towns, which
he tells us were very populous and esti-
mated to contain 100000 inhabitants. The
people were well dressed in garments OF
skin and cotton, and had considerable
ore from adjacent mines In their houses,
Here again we are told the inhabitants
worshiped idols"
In the general description Of the coun-
try as obtained from Espejo and ap-
pearing in De Larenaudiere's history, Il
is said "in pueblos Of all the Indians
were seen a multitude Of IDOLS
The question then naturally arises
What has become Of these idols?" The
answer is not difficult.
Wherever Christianity was introduced
the idols of the old religion were des.
troyed and all the old ceremonies pro.
hibited.
1t is undoubtedly true, says the pam.
phlet mentioned, that the Pueblo In.
dams never really abandoned their ole
religion, and in but few cases, have don.
so to this day. But the ceremonial ex'
e~rcises of thir religion had to be abso.
lutely secret, and in the recesses Of tn,