The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-09-07
UNEARTR RUINS
1000 YEARS OIL
Or. Fewkes Discovers Most An
cient Structure Known in
the Southwest.
BUILT BEFORE sun TEMPLE
That Building In Mesa Verde National
Park Was Inhabited Is Shown oy
Household Utensils--Finds
Ancient War Club.

Ancient War CLUB.
Denver, Cola ruin more than
1000 years old-the most ancient OF
all the ruins discovered In the south
west-hns been unearthed In Mesa
Verde National park, Colorado, by Dr.
Jesse Walter Fewkes Of the Smlthson-
ian institution.
Doctor Fewkes started TO eXcnvote
on July 20 a large mound five miles
from Spruce Tree camp, ON top of the
mesa. He has made sufficient prog
ress TO show the outlines Of a huge
building Of the pueblo type Of nrclilec-
ture. IL feet long and 93 feet vide,
including. n plaza. The main building
contains large court and NJ Ienst
three circular kiyas, or ceremonial
chambers.
Doctor Fewkes says the building is
much older than Sun Temple, which
he excavated In Mesa Verde National
park last year. In fact, II is by fur
I the oldest building uncovered In the
southwest, and shows that the people
who inhabited Mesa Verde National
park must have flOurished at least
1000 years ago,
News of Doctor Fewkes' discovery
was brought to Denver by DR.. Elmer
f. Higley, pastor Of a church In Des
Molnes, Ia. He tukes keen interest
In archaeological subjects, particular
! ly those concerning the Mesa Verde,
ON which he lectures. lie was one
of the first TO explore the cliif dwell
ing now known ns Daniels House
which wns explored for the first time
last summer.
Building a Distinct Type.
Doctor Fewkes has made wonder.
full discovery this season In Mesa
Verde National park" said Doctor Hig'
ley. "He has uncovered u new type
of building. The ruin which Is now
helng uncovered is situated about thir-
ty rods south of the large circular res
eryolr known as Mummy lake, which
is close to the automobile road leading
10 Spruce Tree camp. Everyone who
visits the ruins has Mummy lake
pointed out to him.
There are nine large mounds near
Mummy lake and 1t Is one Of 'hese
that Doctor Fewkes has excayated this
season. Probably II will be late In
| September before the work Is complet'
ed. The building is rectangular II
shape and the masonry work Is not so
good us that In Sun Temple, which Doc
tor Fewkes excavated last year, Doc
tor Fewkes is Of the opinion thar the
building which is being eXcayated this
season is much older than Sun Tenn
pie. which probably was built nDout
/ 1900 A. d. The building on which
he Is now working evidently was In.
habited. while Sun Temple was not.
| The workmen are finding broken pot
terry in great quantities and household
| implements as well. Evidently the
building was covered and was very
imposing.
"AbOut dozen men are working
on the building and all are keenly
Interested, feeling that valuable dis
coveries may be made at any time. The
building represents distinct type. en-
tirely different from the cliff ruins,
/ themselves. which are built In cayerns
In the cliffs. The buildings around
Mummy lake were built In the open
much on the lines of modern struc-
lures. The building being uncovered
/ commands a view for many miles In
all directions, and for this reason 1t
has been suggested that the ruin be
named Prospect House.
Finds Ancient War Club.
AS is the case Of Sun Temple, the
walls Of this building are two or three
feet thick. Double walls extend all
| the way around the building, probably
| for purpose Of defense. Probably Il
roof will he put over this building,
/ but I; IS the intention to make the COW
erlng strictly modern and not to at-
tempt to conform to cliff dwellers or
mesa dweller type.
1T Is Doctor Fewkes' intention to do
some work this season on Mummy
/ lake, which has been the cause of much
speculation. Il is the general opinion
that Mummy lake was reservoir sup
plying water TO the group Of buildings
/ In the Immediate vicinity and perhaps
part Of an irrigation system. The
mound Is circular and has depression
/ IN the middle The structure covered
/ by earth evidently is double walled
and of great size
Doctor Higley entered cliff dwell
ing which, 1t was supposed, never had
been explored before. 1t was neces-
sary for him TO be lowered 80 feet
over the side Of cliff to get into the
building. He found that one Of the
Wetherills and companion had beer
in the building In the eighties, about
the time the cliff dwellings were dis
covered In this building Doctor Hlg-
ley found an implement which Doctor
Fewkes pronounced a sort Of war club.
II consisted OF a stone TO which was
attached short handle. II In the
80 rf. 90,