The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-19
History of Ancient Cave Dweners.
Revealed by ella River Relics
Extraordinary Finds Made by Expedition
Sent Out by Smithsonian Institution
Special dispatch to The Call

PIE il -SesS Mexico a ana-sln5ified turkey
and whole eggs OF this bird, or be-
cause there Kvsre brought to light
large circular subterranean houses Of
a sort never before dIsce-ered by, mod
ern white man. that A general summary
by Dr. walter Hoagh of the United
States national museum OF the results
o. an. expedition TO the valleys Of the
upper ella and salt rivers is important
and interesting. in fact, besides these
finds. the party visited ia caves. cliff
dwellings. pueblos, shrines and monU-
ments of these forgotten peoples and
brought back four or five thousand
stone implements. specimens of pot
terry. bones and other relics. But the
results OF this expedition are import
ant because OF the accurate story that
may be built up around these proofs
OF = certain degree OF civilization, the
picture OF the Hfe. habits, arts and in
dustries of prehistoric tribes that all
this material outlines 10 the archeolo-
gist and ethnologisK
DR. Hough's account OF the results
OF this trip has Just been published
as bulletin OF the bureau Of Ameri-
can ethnel0gy OF the Smithsonian In
stitGtion under the direction of winch
institution the national museum is also
conducted.
The region traversed is in south
western New Mexico and southeastern
Arizona. Most of it for number OF
years has been carefully guarded by
the government in four forest reserves
and an Indian reservation. It is a
very uneven country. Mountains rang
ing over 5000 feet above sea level
covered with a dense growth OF pine
constituting part OF the greatest virgin
forest remaining in the United States.
slope down In less than so miles to
cactus covered plains. The roughness
Of the region. rendering communica-
tIon difficult. probably had much TO DO
wit. the many different varieties OF
culture represented b. the remnants
OF dwellings and the specimens of
handiwork found there.
BEFORE WHITE MEN CAME
Il is believed that the region was
deserted by it's inhabitants long be-
fore the middle OF the sixteenth CEN
fury, when the gold seeking expedi-
ton Of Coronado and MS Adventures
passed by these ancient caves and
pueblos. Many generations afterward
rowing bands OF 4Apaches secured the
territory, probably keeping away many
possible settlers, and in fact IL was
not until 1886, % years. that these
renegade tribes were pacihed through
the establishment of military posts
It is not known that the traditions or
myths OF any of the surviving Pueblo
Indians refer to these early peoples.
From a comparison of their arts with
those Of later tribes. it seems likely
from data at hand that they were dis
tinct from any OF their neighbors and
sprang from an original local source.
WHAT BECAME OF PEOPLEs
It Is also g matter Of conjecture as to
~.
are so numerous. The climate
is generally healthy except for occa-
sional fevers that arc not serious Ex-
ploration OF the ruins, so tar as this has
been accomplished. shows that the
puebios were not abandoned on account
OF internal warfare or attacks from
outside enemies. There is reason to be-
lieve that failures of food supply were
less prevalent IN early times than since
occupancy by white men, but starvation
may nave been factor in the decline
in population in certain localities. The
most potent cause, however, is believed
10 have existed in the social organiza-
ton OF the people, which in that iso-
lated country may have prohibited mar
rage within the clan, as is the case
among the existing Pueblo tribes.
In several pueblos on the San Fran
cisco river, a branch of the ella, there
was silent evidence Of the gradual de-
cline Of the race. The exploring party
built, as usual. outside the walls Of
the pueblo. Going into the pueblo,
they found burials in the outer rooms.
Penetrating still farther they came
upon other burials in inner rooms,
shown 10 have been made at q later
time by the lack Of offerings of pot
terry or trinkets placed with the
dead. Still farther in. other rooms. the
need Of them gone. were made crypts
for aummies.
WHOLE CYCLE OF HISTORY
we have here" says Dr. Hough,
what seems to be the life history Of
this pueblo from its elimination to its
extinction. the gradually charging
zone of room buriais being an index
OF the decrease of the inhabitants. The
evidence invariably shows that no
sudden cataclysm overwhelmed the
pueblos. no hasty. disorganized aban-
donment took place. no wars deci-
mated them. but rather that. like a
tree. they passed through the success
sive stages of growth. decline and de-
cay TO final extinction"
As TO the nature of these peoples,
there may well have been in the whole
region of the Gila and Salt rivers sew
arts Rowing clans crossed the terri
tory, local populations inhabited al
most inaccessible valleys, and there
were dispIacements of one tribe by
another Very generally. however.
the arts of all are enough alike 10 be
placed in one class. What differences
there were in their manners of living
were naturally determined by the ele-
vatfon and the varied mineral, rege-
table and animal resources
RESOURCES OF PEOPLE
They all had at hand many different
kinds of stones with which to build
their houses, heavy volcanic rocks for
the walls. strong creamy-white stone
for floors. lintelsuand fire boxes. many
minerals suitable for axes and other
implements. cIays for pottery, pig
ments for, its decoration and materials
for painting ceremonial paraphernalia
and weapons. There is no evidence
that they knew how to work metals
There were trees OF many sorts to
furnish fire wood. bows, arrows, bas-
ket sticks. etc. The bark served for
bedding, tying. preserving the FIRE.
cordage and costumes. Reeds were
made into arrow shafts and flutes, tule
was woven into mats. and willow grass
and other plants turned into sandals,
baskets and mats. Fiber. food. drinks,