Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-09-05
PREHISTORIC ARCHAEOLOGY.
A Society for Its Study Was Formed Last
Evening,

Evening.
Last evening at a meeting held at the
court house, preliminary steps were
taken to organize a society whose work,
if the ambition of its promoters are real
lied, will be Of great Importance TO the
territory. 1t is at present merely a
university extension class to study the
prehistoric archaeology of New Mexico,
but it will seek to awaken public opin-
ion on the subject that the priceless
heritage of by-gone ages in the shape of
ruins and remains in the territory are
preserved and kept in New Mexico, that
a national museum is founded at santa
Fee by the United States government,
and that around this some day may
spring up a state academy Of sciences.
1t may do the preliminary work for
founding a summer Chautauqua at
Santa Fe, and perhaps q state historical
society which would have as it's aim the
collecting and preservation of historic
records and manuscripts and data of
New Mexico history which are import
I'M to the historian and sociologist.
llOus "A. INIOII w plCSluCu " U iO
meeting last evening. Colonel George
w. Knaebel was chosen secretary. Pro-
fessor Z. l.. Hewett made the talk of
the evening. He defined prehistoric and
historic archaeology. He outlined a
course of study in the latter, and dwelt
on the Importance of the ruins in the
Pajarito canon, controverting the state
ment of Charles +. Lummis that they are
only a few hundred years old. and had
never been inhabited by any other rae
than the Pueblos. He pointed out some
| of the falIacies in romantic history, such
as had been shattered by the researches
| of Professor Bandelier.
Professor Hewett declared that much
can be accomplished by amateur scien-
fists, citing Hon. Frank Springer as a
student who is o recognized the world
over as an authority on paleontology.
He showed a thick, scientific volume,
Just translated from the German, in
which Mr.. Springer is quoted a hundred
times as the highest authority on the
subject. He also referred to Mr.. Ash
man, of Albuquerque, who is considered
an authority on a certain branch Of
biology. Professor Hewett, in conclu
sion, protested against the work O
vandals in the cliffdweller section of the
territory, citing the fact that in the
Chaco canon, San Juan county, for many
years already contractors have steadily
employed 100 men in destroying ruins ir
order to get at relics which they sell a
a good profit to antiquarians and mu
seums. These things should remain ir
Nn,, Aovtoo and ho l nool in thu no
tional historical museum which will
undoubtedly be founded in the City o
Santa Fe, where students and archaeol
ogists from all over the world woult
come to view and study them. Arount
that museum would be founded a stat
academy of sciences. Professor Hewett'
details about the cliffdwellings wer'
very interesting and awakened a grea
deal OF enthusiasm so that quite
number of those present signed thei
names to the membership roll of tn
society. A discussion followed the lee
ture in which Judge Morrison, Hon
George H. Wallace and Rev. j.. l.. Ga,
took part.
A meeting of the new society will b.
held in the near future when perma
nent organization will be perfected AM
at which a reading cours to be outline'
by Professor Hewett and Protesso
Starr, of the Chicago university, will b
presented. The meetings OF the societ.
will be bi-weekly. Professor Hewet
will lecture at every second meeting
making NJ charges except his travelling
expenses. Excursions to the cliff dwell
ings and communal buildings will b
undertaken and every effort will b
made to awaken an interest in the pre-
historic remains of New Mexico.