The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-05-14
ANCIENT AMERICANS

AS result of the thoroughly sys-
tematic and painstaking work of the
Archaeological Institute Of America,
says the Philadelphia Ledger, a wide
spread interest, both popular and
scientific, has been aroused in the his
'oric and prehistoric. ruins scattered
ever a considerable area on the South
western portion of the United States.
During the past summer several well
equipped expeditions, under the direc-
ton Of this society, were in the field
making an exhaustive scientific study
of some of the cliff dwelling ruins and
communal buildings of southeastern
Utah and northern New Mexico.
One group not visited this season,
hut which will be thoroughly explored
next year, is what is known as Che
Aztec" ruins in New Mexico thirty
five miles south of Durango, Col, on
the Denver and Rio Grande railroad.
The ruins are less than two miles from
the track and in plain view from pass
ing trains.
The partially demolished structures
afforded convincing proof that at one
time they must have housed a popula-
ton of many thousand people. The one
Zig building with it's hundreds of
rooms was from six to eight stories
lin height. In addition, the ruins of
many smaller buildings are scattered
ever the surrounding country for
number of miles. 81.
The jewellers in these buildings were
an agricultural people, as Is evidenced
by the finding of corn, both shell and
OH the cob, in vessels Of pottery and
stone in the buildings. Although such
finds have been Of frequent occurrence,
In each instance a few grains were all
that could be gathered, and it was
taken for granted that the seed or
ganism was devoid of vitality. How
ever, in the fall of 1906, Louis Smith,
a Durango photographer, having farm
ing proclivities, while digging in that
vicinity came upon huge earthen re-
Ceptacle tightly covered. He has Wis
ions of buried treasure and opened the
gar, only to find 1t filled with shelled
corn. He supposed at first that the
blackness Of the kernels was due to
the centuries during which it had lain
ia the ground Theoretically sealed in
the big jar, but upon examination
found that the germ Of life still ex-
listed.
There was enough of corn in the jar
tc plant an acre of ground, and, al
though skeptical as to results, Smith
Sowed 1t early in the spring. 1t came
up and fiourished, and late last fall he
harvested a crop Of the heaviest ever
secured in Durango, the ears being Of
mammoth size. The corn is of a va
Tiety unknown to modern farmers. Its
kernels are a coal black, the ears much
ferger than the ordinary kind, and the
yield tremendous. The remarkable
crop has excited the interest Of the
farmers, who have applied by the
score for supply for this years
planting.
AS further proof that farming was
extensively pursued by those early in
habitants, there can be traced the re-
mains of irregular bitches. That they
were skilled in the art of building ia
shown by their six and seven-story
buildings, constructed of stone and
mortar. with fitted logs and beams.
The stone for their buildings was
brought from a quarry several miles
west Of their town, and the we'll mark
ed remains of the broad mountain
road over which they hauled the ma
terial may be plainly seen from the
railroad few miles away.