Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-18
Mr.. and Mrs. Howard Gray are the
parents of a daughter. born last week.
GALISTEo.
Subject of Study by NeIs C. Nelson.


Long before Coronado and his band
of explorers from Spain invaded what
is now New Mexico in quest of ad-
venture and gold four centuries ago
race of people lived and flourished
on the banks of the arroyos of the
upper Rio Grande region. 1t is thought
that they were there from 1000 to 1000
years ago.
These prehistoric people built COM
munity villages of stone and adobe,
with houses CT quaint design, some
times of pyramidal type and again
suggesting a castle of feudal times,
and usually their villages were plan
ned with view to obtaining plenti-
full water supply, and always with re-
gard for ample defense. The con-
struction of their dwellings, built Ell
Their in rectangular form or in a semi
circle around a court with terraced
rooms erected blocklike toward the
outer wall, shows that they feared at
tacks from their enemies and took pre-
cautions to be on the defense.
During the last two years Nels G.
Nelson, formerly of the University of
California, has been conducting an ex-
petition in the Southwest and partic-
ularly in the region OF the Gailsteo
Basin and along the tri utaries OF
the Rio Grande, in the sagebush, arid
land of New Mexico. His object has
been to gather archaeological speci-
mens and to determine through re-
search by excavations the prehistoric
culture of this region in relation to the
culture of today. MIR. Nelson has re-
Gently returned from the Rio Grande
region with more than 1000 specimens
of archaeological interest for the AM
erican Museum Of Natural History,
and his study aud research IN the
Galisteo Basin will undoubtedly throw
light upon the civilization of the pre-
historic people who once lived there IN
primitive castles of adobe and lime
stone and subsisted on the maize
which they ground on s.one for food
Il consider ii the most interesting
archaeological region in the united
States" said Mr.. Nelson, and 1t Is
rich in specimens, which unquestlon-
ably reveal hints of life and civillza-
ton now almost forgotten
For nearly two months on one eXpe-
dition the archeologist lived in cave.
where he cooked his meals and was
ver:tahle cave dwelIer. He was assist
ed in his work of excavating the an
Gent ruins of prehistoric villages by
native Mexicans and Indians of the
Rio Grande region. Last fall he camp
ed in a prehistoric dwelling, which was
probably inhabited 1000 years ago by
family of an extinct race-a van
ished people. A piece of canvas was
stretched over the ruins of the ancient
dwelling and formed a canopy pro-
! lection against the elements,
1t has been generally supposed that
the Indians derived certain ideas per-
tanning to affairs and images from the
Spaniards, but one of the discoveries
made by Mr. Nelson includes an altar
on which was placed an image WIN
humanlike face carved in stone. IL
might have been a family shrine, or
il might have been used Tor pupllc
ceremonies in some village peopled
by a prehistoric race. Unmistakaply
this old altar is a prehistoric SHRINE
This place of devotion consisted OF
large earthen platform, on which stood
human image Of stone, surrounded
bv various offerings in the shape OF
natural and artificial objects.
The shrine was in room of ruin
ed building at Pueblo Largo, IN the
Galisteo Basin, and in a village when
evidently has not been Inhabited since
the period of Spanish exploration IN
tho Southwest Similar shrines still
have a place in the religion or the
Pueblo indians today and il is not I'M
reasonable to assume from the md
ING of this altar that this feature OF
their ceremonial life is of native ORR
gin and not due to European iniiu-
ence
The ruins of the prehistoric pueblos
of the Rio Grande region indicate that
these people were artistically Inclined.
Many of their drawings and carvings
on stone are symbolical. although some
of their pictures of animals may be
merely representations of the crea-
lures of the period Some of the pic
lures, represent the sun, the clouds
and other aspects of nature. The horn
ed serpent frequently appears and
sometimes human heads with horns
are noted. Among other animals de-
picted by the prehistoric artists are
bears. deer squirrels. and several de-
signs portray warriors with spears
and shields.
Portrayals of horned serpents were
found near Pueblo San Cristobal. One
of the largest Of the rock pictures rep
resenting a serpent was not less than
25 feet in length, and presumably more
in its original state. Snakes are still