The Alamogordo news. (Alamogordo, N.M.) 1899-1912, 1907-08-10
Of SOUTHWEST
MayaS, AItecs, Puebles and Apaches, In
Order Named, First Settlers.
ANCIENT CITIES NEAR ALGMOGORDO

There is considerable specula-
tiOn and guessing on the signiii-
cance of the ancient ruins and
other relics of the ancient races
found in New Mexico and the
Southwest generally.
Before an intelligent under
standing of this subject can be
had it is necessary to know
something of the different races
that have inhabited the Great
Southwest.
The Maya pronounced My-ah)
nation was the oldest of all civil
lized nations of which we have
any knowledge. This nation oc-
cupied Yucatan, Chiapas and
other portions of Mexico, as well
as much of Central America.
The Mayas were the first people
to build pyramids. They builded
more and larger pyramids than
did any other people in the
world. They colonized Egypt,
Persia, Arabia and other por-
tions of Asia.
The people of ancient Mesapo-
tamia (between the Euphrates
and Tigris rivers) spoke practi-
cally the same language as did
the people of Yucatan and
Egypt.
In the western hemisphere the
Aztecs, Toltecs, Montezumas and
other peoples descended from
the Mayas. From the Aztecs
have descended many of the peo-
pie who are now known as Pueb-
los, Moquis and Zunis.
The Mayas gradually spread to
the northward until they came
in contact and conflict with the
so-called Mound builders of the
Mississippi valley. The line of
contact was the battle line.
Wars waged at intervals, for
ages, along a line extending
from Omaha, Neb., to Sabine
Bay, La. In one battle, about
% miles west of Fort Smith,
Ark, the Mayas lost not less
than 10000 men, and their ene-
mics fully 10000.
Over much of New Mexico may
be found relics of the ancient
races who have inha bited the
country. But it is a mistake to
assign them to one people or to
one period of time.
Commencing at the nearest an
cient village site in the envir-
ons of Alamogordo, that lying
between the homes of Judge
Byron Sherry and Thomas For
rester, some two and one-half
miles northeast of town: Here
is village site that extends for
about 1000 yards, and covers &c
or or 40 acres. So far as known,
from an examination of the relics
found here, the people who first
inha bited this site were Aztecs.
Later a village of Pueblos dwelt
there. The Pueblos very prob.
ably lived here at the time Of
the Spanish Conquest in 1882
Five miles due south of Alamo.
gordo, on the farm of S. Z. Fisk,
was a village of some fifty fam.
lilies of Aztecs who cultivated
about 40 acres of land to the
west of their town. Some of the
later types of pottery are found
here, i. e. pottery that was baked
in kilns. So it is probable that
Pueblos occupied the site after
the Aztecs did. Due north Of
Alamogordo, about four miles
is the site of a similar village
But the most interesting site i;
about three miles southeast Of
town. Here is an area that wa;
occupied by the original Mayas
then by Aztecs who were sue.
ceeded by Pueblos and finally
was occupied, at intervals, by
Apaches.
The public is not asked t
take these statements by faith
1t is hoped that by the aid 0.
pictures and detailed descrip
tions of relics already discovered
and historical facts, to verify, il
future articles, at least a portion
Of them.