The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-06-30
LIGHT THROWN ON
ABORIG
CUSTOMS
DR.. Walter Hough Of U. s.
National Museum Reports
Interesting Finds on Upper
ella Region.

Washington. June 30.-In a report
on the Muscum-Gaics expedition,
which investigated the culture uf the
ancient pucblos OF the upper ella
river region 81 New Mexico ana ART
IONA. Dr. Walter Huugh Of the Unit
cd States National Museum states
that among thousands OF interesting
and valuable objects pertaining to
many dried vegetables, fruits and
the lives Of the early inhabitants.
other pcrishable articles were found
az we'll ns a ~dessicated turkey.
In n ave which formed the rear
chamber OF ruined stone ubodcs. on
the banks OF the Tularosa river, a
tributary OF the san Francisco river
the explorers found much material
representative of the domestic life
81 he ancient d%wellcrs. Upon cNca-
vation. this cave room Yielded lie
treasures In sections ms II were. dif-
ferent depths Offering distinctly
marked periods Of occupation.
Among the objects OF importance
WIS a brush made OF grass stems
bound In a round bundle. similar 20
those in use by the Pueblo indians
or today. During the habitation of
his cave our burials had been made
at different times, shown by the
different levels from which the dig
ging had been begun. In one cor
ner near a rock mass some small
bows and arrows and other offerings
were unearthed, indicating the Local
ton of an ancient shrine.
From the rubbish and debris the
remains Of several mammals and
birds were Identified. among them
deer, pronghorn. bison. ~woodchuck.
mice, rats. muskrats. rabbits. lynx.
fox skunk, bear "A hawk. an adult
turkey. chicks n eggs, and many
feathers of other birds. al Of which
occupied the cave at one time or an
other. or were killed and stored there
by the early Indians. From early
historical reports Il has been under
stood that the Pueblos raised tur-
Keys, but the discovery OF this dos
sicated adult and chicks proves con-
~clusively that turkeys were kept in
captivity, probably for their feath-
ers' which were used In the manu- I
facture OF native garments.
Ears and scattered grains OF corn
OF a smooth n short grain. In yell
low corn, blue and carmine but much
fhded with aging, were also found. /
as wen as the remains and seeds of
%goufds. squashes, beans. other yegc-
tables, and fruits and nuts.
In the Tularosa cave there was
pottery OF a rudo form, while from
several large apen air pueblos OK
amples Of a very fin. finish and or
namcntation were collected. The de-
on the bowls commonly CONSIST
Of four elements based on tho world
quarters, the bottom usually helng
circular and blank. other designs
are Of combined Matched and solid
color, or ~ a -checkered variety.
Many small collections of pottery
were found in caves and springs
whore they had been deposited as
offerings.
In the religion OF these early in
hahitnntS the bird had an cspecial
significance and is found In nearly
an their ceremonies appearing AZ "a
solid Image in pottery and carving.
dep'Stcd on surfaces. as a fotifh. but
more frequently It's plumage Us used
In ono way or another.
Interesting finds at Bear Creek
were a number OF ceremonial
cigarettes. "a symbolic form of in
cense offering mad OF hollow reeds
with aromatic herbs which
burned with n pleasing Odor.
IN a great sacred cave on Blue
river we're found bows. arrows.
rods. baskets. miniature not
tery' cigarettes. cotton cloth. beads
painted tablets, etc, deposited in pit
shrines on the floor Of the cavern
These were objects offered so the
supernatural beings aud show tho
extremely complicated character OF
ancient native Worship.
Much of the territory covered by
ne report has Y been scientific
ally explored before, and the mans
heid notes n natural history col
viii throw much light on the
NE OF the ancient peoples OF this re-
Eion.