The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-04-20
OLDEST TOWN IN THE COUNTRY,
Strange Pueblo of AcOma Mentioned
i'm 1880 by Spaniards.

Acoma, an Indian village has the
distinction of being the oldest inhab-
tied settlement in the United States,
says the Red Man. St. Augustine,
the first permanent European set
tlement planted within the limits
of the United States, was founded in
1865.
Acoma was mentioned as early as
1889 by Fray Marcos de Mia and was
visited by members of Coronado's 8
army in the following year, 25 years
before St. Augustine's period OF
foundation. Early Spanish chroni-
clers have designated it's population
at that period as high as 5000.
Every traveller of greater or less
degree traversing the southwest has
heard of this, "the most wonderful
aboriginal city on earth, cliff built,
cloud swept, matchless." 1t is built
on a great oblong rocky pedestal rls-
ing nearly 400 feet above the plain.
The Indians built this pueblo evil
IDENTIFY with the intention of resisting
the attacks of the Navajos and
Apaches, who for many years made
war upon the peaceful people. In
154O Coronado and his band Of con-
quistadors found this little village so
impregnable that it was only after a
long siege that he was able to accom-
plish it's capture.
The top of the mesa is said to con-
tain about $50 acres. 1t is only ac-
cessible by three circuitous trails,
over which, on the backs of these
people, had to be brought from the
plains below every bit of material
used in the construction of the dwell
ings and church, besides all food,
fuel and other articles necessary to
their livelihood. One of the trails
has recently been enlarged, so that
material now may be brought up in
a roundabout route on the backs OF
burros, with which the tribe seems
plentifully supplied.
The village proper consists of three
parallel rows of adobe houses, three
story, terraced in form and about 40
feet high, nearly 100 in all. In
these dwellings lives a population Of
about 600 people. Entrance to the
houses is made by ladders over the
roof, passing through passageways to
the lower floor or into the second
terrace by doors, or up to the third
terrace again by ladders.
It is said that the senior men,
bers of the family live in the first
story, the daughter first married gets
the second terrace and the second
the third terrace. All other men,
bers have to seek quarters elsewhere
or live with the old people.
The most conspicuous and inter-
esting building in the pueblo is the
ancient adobe cathedral, which
stands near the edge on the east side
of the mesa. In this church priest
now holds service occasionally. The
church is said to be several hundred
years old-built some time in the
year 1600-and until in recent years
the tribe buried their dead under its
floor. Now they use the court in
front of the church for that purpose.
The building is of Spanish mission
style with two large towers facing
the front, each of which contains a
massive Spanish bell. These bells,
upon close inspection, proved to be
retained in place by numerous buck
skin thongs. In this church hang
many paintings, one of which has
caused bloodshed and strife. It's pos
session is believed by the Indians to