Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30
ASKS EXPERT VIEWS WOULD SAVE RUINS
Chairman Sheppard Writes to Plans Outlined for Preserving
Insurance Companies Homes OF Cliff DWeNers.
SEEKING FOR SUGGESTION DOUBT AS TO THEIR AGE
Better Protection Government Regard
Buildings Flames Of Great Antiquity.
CODE OF LAWS PROPOSED OF VALUE TO THE STUDENT
Having Comparatively
by the From
Plans Outlined for Preserving
Homes of Cliff DWeIIers.
DOUBT AS TO THEIR AGE
Fewkes Does Not Regard Them as
of Great Antiquity.
OF VALUE TO THE STUDENT
Having Been Comparatively Free
From Vandalism, They Are in Fair
State Of Preservation.

important recommendations to the
Smithsonian Institution are made by
Jesse Walter Fewkes regarding the
treatment of the national reserve. Gre
ated In northern Arizona, by order Of
President Roosevelt, under the name Of
the Navajo National Monument. in
which many important prehistoric
ruins are to be found. DIR. 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,
suggests:
That one Of the largest two cliff
Monument. either Betatakin or Kitsiel.
be excavated, repaired and preserved
as type RUM to illustrate the pre-
historic 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 permanent
ly protected by the government.
Three Routes Described.
DR.. Fewkes in his report describes in
detail the three routes by which the
cliff dwellings may be reached, tells
where water may be had for man and
horses. and outlines improvements that
would make the road more passabl
for tourists. He then takes up the
description of the general character
of the various cliff dwellings he visit
ed. leaving his detailed account for
a later report.
1.-The Navajo national monument y
writes DR.. Fewkes. contains two kinds
Of ruins. cliff dwellings and pueblos. Most
OF the latter are situated on rromon.
tories or on low hills. The architecture
OF the cliff dwellings, is characteristic,
their walls being constructed of stone
or adobe built against, rarely free from.
vertical faces Of the cliff.
There are two kinds of kivas, one cir
cular and subterranean, allied to those
Of tie Mesa Verde. the other rectangular.
above ground, entered from the sides.
THE masonry Of these northern ruins
is rude. resembling that of modern Walpi
The component stones are neither dressed
nor smoothed, but the walls are some
times plastered. There Is a great SINH
relieve the monotOny or impart pic
turesqueness to the buildings.
Who Inhabited Themp
Naturally the questions one asks in
regard to those ruins are: Why did in
habitants build on these cliffs? Who were
the ancient inhabitants? When were
these dwellings inhabited and deserted?
1T is commonly believed that, the caves
were chosen for habitation because they
could be better defended than villages in
the open. This is a good answer to the
first question, so far as it goes. although
somewhat imperfect The ancients chose
this region for their homes on account of
the constant water supply In the creek
and the patches of land in the valley that
could be cultivated
1.-The writer does not regard these ruins
as of great antiquity; some of the evil
dence indicates that they are of later
time. Features In their architecture
show resemblances derived from other re-
gions. The Navajo ascribe the build
ings to ancient people and say that the
ruined houses existed before their own
advent in the country. but this was not
necessarily long ago. Such evidence as
has been gathered supports Hopi legends
that the inhabitants were ancient Hopi
belonging to the Flute, Horn and Snake
families.
Many Of the ruins in Canyon de Chiefly,
situated east of Laguna creek, show
they in turn are not so old as those Of
the Mesa Verde.
Data for Students.
at is evident from the facts here
recorded that the ruins In the Navajo
national monument contain most im-
portant. most characteristics and we'll pre-
served prehistoric buildings. and that the
problems they present are Of a nature to
arouse great interest in them. Having
suffered comparatively little from van
dalsm, these are among the best preserv-
ed monuments Of the cliff dwellers' cul-
ture in our southwest. and if properly ex-
cavated and repaired they would preserve
most valuable data for the future student
of prehistoric man in North America. 1t
is not necessary to preserve all of the
ruins within this area. but 1T would be
we'll to explore the region and to locate
the sites of the ruins that Ii contains"