The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-09
BRINGS RELICS
TO COLLEGE
Ealnnount Professors Explore
in Ancient Cliffs.
SECURE TWO SKULLS
Discover VeStigeS ofVaniShed
Civilization in Arizona.
RE TWO SKULLS

The students who attend Paramount col
Iege next fall VIII have the opportunity
OF looking at some relics of by-gone
civilization, for Prof. G. l. Gavett, in
structor Of mathematics, and T. II Morri-
son, librarian. have just returned from
an archaeological journey to New Mexico
and Arizona, where they delved into the
abodes Of the ancient clif dwellers, and
have brought back with them many in
teresting curios illustrative Of toe life Of
the vanished people
The homes of the cliff jewellers were in
ruins when the Spanish settled the south
western territories. $50 years ago, and nc
archaeologist has been able TO determine
how many hundreds or possibly thousands
OF years ago those people lived and died
IN the rocky walls of the canyons OF
Arizona and New Mexico.
Many Of the relics which the Fairmount
men brought back with them VIII be
placed in the museum Of Paramount Col
lege temporarily, at least, and the stu
dents will have great advantages in
studying American archaeology. Even
If all the relics are not placed in the
museum, the owners will be glad to ex-
hjbit them to the students.
One of the relics which will prove mos
interesting VIII be the two human skulls
secured by Prof. Gavett among the ruins
OF the ancient race. One of these skulls
is In fair state Of preservation, though
che lower jaw has become separated from
the upper part OF the skull. The teeth,
however, are nearly all in place. A pecu-
Ear thing about the skulls IS that the
back of the head is almost straight
Judging from the skull # would seem
that the old cliff jewellers were a diff
ferent race from the modern Indians for
the cheek bones arc not as high as arc
those Of the red man Of today.
While one skull is in an almost perfect
state of preservation. the lower part OF
the other is gone. Judging from its size,
th8s was the skull of a young person. on
top Of it are slight traces OF flesh.
Rev. George J.. Cole. who was in the
same party as the Fairmount professors.
found a mummy Of the cliff dwellers.
Prof Gavett said to an Eagle reporter
were drawn against the chin so that the
mummy did not occupy much space.
Mr. Morrison brought home with him an
old basket which he found in the cliffs.
The basket was woven of some fiber. and
was built up from the bottom. 1t was
covered with some substance which made
It waterproof
When the basket was found it was
sealed. but being opened. it was found
to contain seeds of some kind.
Prof. Gavett brought back with him .
broom which belonged to some cliff dwell
lers. Judging from appearances tn
broom was made Of yucca. He also
brought rope made of yucca fiber ana
wound with feathers. This rope was used
IT. the manufacture of feather cloth and
one OF the party found an entire cloth
made out of it, He also found piece OF
rope made of human hair
The ancient cliff dweners carried their
water jars on a ring which rested on tn
top Of the head. One OF these rings i.
nov in the possession of Prof. Gavett
Prof. Gavett also found in the abodes Of
the cliff dwellers corn. both in the ea
and shelled, and also some corn husks.
He said yesterday that the ruins give
the impression that the cliff dweners fed
from their homes in great haste and they
also give evidences of fire. Their homes
may have been burned by the fleeing clih
jewellers or by their victorious enemies.
Prof Gavett brought back with him
some interesting curios from the present
aboriginal inhabitants of New Mexic,
and Arizona. The pottery which is mad,
by the squaws Of the Navajo and Pueblo
InGiaus, is equal in some respects to any
that is made by Caucasians. The pot
terry o. the Zuni tribe of Pueblos is
highly ornamented Clay images Of
frogs are a prominent adornment. Ou
many Of their pieces of earthenware is i
picture Of deer with the course of an !
arrow marked from the mouth to the
heart. This picture is placed on the
carthenware by the Zuni squaws because
the warriors OF their tribe claim to be
able TO shoot a deer in the heart through
the mouth. The Santa Clara pottery is
the most finely finished of any Of the
pieces Prof. Gavett brought back with
him. Il surpasses in finish much Of tn
earthenware sold IN Wichita The pottery
Of the Acoma tribe is very elaborate in
design
Those in the party which explored In
the ancient cliffs We're Rev George I
Cole, of California. Fay Cole. a student of
Northwestern University. Or Frank
Barnes. president of the Grand Prairie
Seminary Of illinois; Charles T. Brown
of California. Prof. Gavett and Mr. Nor
Tlson.