The Ely miner., 1911-06-02

- I1O NlAiIuoOAldA lhoIIIutiOh al
made by Jesse Walter Fewkes re-
garding the treatment of the ma
tional reserve created in northern
Arizona by order of former President
Roosevelt under the name of the Ma
| vaho National Monument, in which
many important prehistoric ruins are
to be found. DR.. Fewkes was sent by
the bureau Of American ethnology to
examine these dwellings of the
ancients, and his preliminary report,
which is now being published, sug-
gests:
That one of the largest two cliff
dwellings in the Navajo National
Monument, either Betatakin or Kit
siel, be excavated, repaired and pre-
served as a type ruin to illus
trate the prehistoric culture of the
aborigines of this section of Arizona.
That this work be supplemented by
excavation and repair Of Inscription
House, an ancient cliff dwelling in
West Canyon.
That one or more of the ruins in
West Canyon be added to the Navajo
National Monument and be perma-
nently protected by the government.
DR.. Fewkes describes In detail the
three routes by which the cliff dwell
ings may be reached, tells where wa
ter may be had for men and horses
and outlines improvements that would
make the road more passable for tour
lists.
Find an Instructive Specimen.
One of the most instructive speci-
mems collected in the Navajo Nation
al Monument was found by w. B.
Douglas in ruin designated as Cradle
House. This object is cradle made
of basketware, open at one end and
continued at the opposite end into a
biped extension to serve for the legs.
1t is decorated on the outside with an
archatic geometric ornamentation.
This specimen may be regarded as one
of the finest examples of prehistoric
basketry from the southwest; more
over, with one exception, it is the only
known cradle of this form. A pair of
infants sandals found with the cradle
lSdtO0 uO uOuUI do W lCo uoO1 WhllC
the character and symbolism of the
decoration refer 1t to the ancient cliff
house culture. The design suggests
that which characterizes certain speci-
mems of the well-known black-and
white pottery found in the San Juan
drainage. Evidences of long use and
repair appear, especially on one side.
Unfortunately the specimen, although
entire when found, later was broken
across its middle.
The only other known cradle of this
type was brought to the attention of
ethnologists by DIR. w. J. MCGEE when
in charge of the anthropological ex
hibit at the st. Louis exposition. This
was found in San Juan county, Utah.
"The Navajo National Monument"
writes DR.. Fewkes, contains two
kinds OF ruins, cliff dwellings and
pueblos. The architecture of the cliff
dwellings is characteristic, their walls
being constructed of stone or adobe
built against, rarely free from, ver-
tical faces of the cliff.
Two Types of kivas.
There are two types of kivas, one
circular and subterranean, allied to
those of the Mesa Verde; the other
rectangular, above ground, entered
from the sides.
"The masonry of these northern
ruins is rude, resembling that of mod
ern Walpi. The component stones are
neither dressed nor smoothed, but the
walls are sometimes plastered. There
is a great similarity in architecture.
No round towers relieve the monotony
or impart picturesqueness to the build
ings. The walls of ruined pueblos in
this region and the ceramic remains
closely resemble those at Black Falls,
on the Little Colorado. A prominent
feature Of the walls In jacal construc-
ton in which mud Is plastered on
waiting between upright poles. The
ends of many Of these supports project
high above the ground, constituting
characteristic feature of the ruins.
This method of wall construction is
unknown at Black Falls or at Walpi,
but still survives in modified form in
one or more Oraibi kivas and in one
| at least of the Mesa Verde ruins.
Naturally the questions one asks
in regard to these ruins are: Why did
Inhabitants build these cliffs? Who
were the ancient inhabitants? When
were these dwellings inhabited and
deserted?
ut is commonly believed that the
caves were chosen for habitation be-
cause they could be better defended
than villages In the open. The
ancients chose this region for their
homes on account of the constant wa
ter supply in the creek and the
patches of land in the valley that
could be cultivated. This was a de-
sirable place for their farms. Had
there been no caves in the cliffs they
would probably have built habitations
in the open plain below.
May Have Been Harassed.
"They may have been harassed by
marauders, but 1t must be borne In
rsnd that their enemies did not come