Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-03-06
RICH SCIENTIFIC
RETURNS SECURED
In Excavating the Ancient City
of QUAR- in New Mexico
Science Profits
WAS AN OLD INDIAN SETTLEMENT
Ruins Of Old Church Uncovered
Built by the Spaniards In the 18th
century-To Be One of the Most
Interesting Archaeological Finds.

Denver, Colo.-The School of
American Archaeology at Santa Fe
has been conducting extensive ex-
cavations on the site of the ancient
Spanish mission at Quarai, N. M,
and has secured Unexpectedly rich
scientific returns at the very outset
of this important work.
The ruins at Quarai have formed
an object of interest and speculation
for many years. The walls of the
old mission established by the Span
iards early in the seventeenth CEN
tury are still standing. On every
hand are evidences of occupation
long antedating the Spaniards.
Mounds show the existence of ruined
houses and kivas, and there has ex-
listed no doubt in the minds of
scientists that Quarai was at one
time the center of large settlement
of Indians belonging to the Tiqua
branch of the Pueblos.
The truth of this theory has been
borne out by the preliminary ex-
cavations this fall Further work is
being rushed, and it is expected that
when the work is completed Quarai
will yield as rich scientific returns
as the ruins of Tuyonyi and Puye,
extensive Pueblo settlements in the
Rio Grande Valley, which have been
completely eXcavated by the School
of American Archaeology.
At Quarai a number of skeletons
have been found, the first Tigua
bodies to be studied scientifically.
The TiGuas occupied a narrow strip
along the eastern slope of the Man
Zano Mountains, and at one time
wer, numerous and powerful tribe.
but are believed to have been al
the Apache Indians. The site of the
ancient Indian town has been mapped
and shows that there were at least
fifteen terraced houses, arranged in
a series of quadrangles. Many un-
derground kivas, or sanctuaries, have
been located, and ali these will be
cleared of the accumulated rubbish
of centuries.
Even more interesting than the In
dian town is the extensive Spanish
ecclesiastical institution which has
been uncovered. 1t has been found
that the Spaniards built more ex-
tensively on the site of Quarai than
was at first supposed The ruins of
the old mission have been an object
of public interest for many years,
but these formed only part of the
buildings erected by the Spaniards,
who must have converted Quarai in
to an importan. headquarters. Ad-
Joining the churcl have been dis
covered the foundations of buildings
which were evidently a monastery
and mission school. The settlement
was surrounded by massive stone
wall and there were inner fortifica-
tons defending certain pueblos.
Quarai is located near the New
Mexico summer resort of Mountain
air and was owned by Messrs. Duh
lazy, Mccoy & Corbett of that place
Recently the owners presented the
site of the ancient city to the School
of American Archaeology at Santa
Fe, to- be eXcavated and exhibited as
public archaeological park. Di-
rector Edgar L. Hewett Immediately
began the work & excavation and
restoration, which promises to be the
most extensive and important work
of the kind carried out in this coun-
try. 1t will take several seasons
to uncover the ancient Indian city
and the Spanish settlement thereon,
but rich scientific rewards are looked
for.
The destruction Of Quarai and
other pueblos of the Salines became
inevitable as soon as the Apaches
spread in that direction, which they
have begun to do previous to the
advent of the white man in the
Southwest When the Pueblos had
received from the Spaniards new do.
mestic animals, the inducement for
the nomads to prey upon the house
dwelling Indians was greatly in,
creased. Only the rapid coloniza
ton of New Mexico could have
saved the villages on the east side
Of the Manzano chain. This was i'm.
possible, as Spain was too weak and
New Mexico not sufficiently inviting
to warrant extraordinary exertions.
Quarai was the seat of Spanish
mission from 1929, and contained 6
monastery and 'hurch dedicated tc
the Immaculate conception. Accord
ing to Vetancourt, Quarai had 60(
inhabitants Immediately prior to its
abandonment. About 1874 the Apache.
compelled the Quarai people to fly t.
the pueblo of fatigue about twelve
miles northward. Tie latter villag,
remained inhabited probably a yeal
longer, when its occupants were alse