American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-02-24

able evidences Of . higher sociological
condition Of the buflders; but here
again We enter . realm of speculation
which, while It adds to the mystery
Of the building, u beyond our knowl-
edge.
nystery Of Its Purpose.
Many theories have been advanced
to explain the purpose Of this struc-
tuTe, but most Of these cam be clint.
mated without difficulty. The theory
that 1t was q prison, a Spanish mis-
sion, a theatre. may be dismissed with
out serious consideration.
THE position Of the ruin has led
several visitors to suggest that the
building was constructed for a forti-
fication or defense against hostile IN
vaders. This theory Is not a fanciful
one, but, while 1t might have been
constructed In part for this purpose,
protection from foes was only a Sec
ondary consideration. The are given
to It's construction, its shape and size,
absence of portfolios, and height Of
walls are not such as we would ex-
pect In a fort
There is no good evidence support
ing the theory that it was erected to
serve as a habitation. The rooms have
not a form adapted for any such utili-
tartan purpose. They are destitute OF
windows, and 1t was not intended to
plaster the walls, as the incised
stones clearly Indicate; there are no
evidences OF fireplaces, no smoked
walls, no ashes or charcoal, no
metates for grinding corn no piles Of
debris, such az are usually formed
about habitations. Few household i'm
plements, such as bowls and baskets,
we're found. There we're no burails.
no animal bones, remnants OF former
feasts.
"while 1t Is not impossible that 1t
might have been intended to later add
an upper story for dwellings. attention
may be called to the fact that, al
though some of the rooms have walls
about IL feet high they show no EVIL
dence of floor beams or holes for their
insertion. The lower rooms were too
high for dwellings, for a dwelling
room over six feet from floor to cell
ing ia anomalous in cliff houses or
pueblos.
The Argument That Counts.
The argument that appeals most
strongly to my mind supporting the
theory that Sun Temple was a cere-
monial building is the unity shown in
ITS construction. A preconceived plan
existed In the mind of the builders be-
fore they began work on the main
building. Sun Temple was not con
structed hap hazard, mol was it's form
due to addition Of one clan after an
other. each adding room to a pre-
existing ~neuclus. There is no indica-
ton Of patching one building to an
other. 90 evident at Gift House and
other large Gift dwellings. The con-
struction Of the recess In the south
wall situated exactly. to an inch. mid
way III TN iCnSJus SirOWb tldl II
was planned from the beginning.
I'VE a hardly believe that one
clan could have been numerous
enough to construct a house so large
and massive. It's walls are too exten.
sive; the work OF dressing the stones
too great. Those who made II must
have belonged to several clans fused
together. and II they united for this
common work. they were in a higher
state OF common sociological develop
ment than loosely connected popula-
ton OF a cliff dwelling.
in primitive society only one per-
pose could have united the several
clans who built such a structure, and
this purpose must have been a re-
.ligious one. This building was con-
structed for worship, and It's size is
such that we may practically call II a
temple.
A Temple for Sun Worship.
ION the theory that IT was intended
for that purpose. we can easily inter
pref one or two facts that otherwise
are without Significance. The shrine
at Its southwest cornerstone is worthy
OF notice in this connection. It bears
ON Its floor a symbol resembling the
sun. which implies complex ceremo-
MES.
mo n doubts that the three mas
sive circular walled rooms, two in the
main piazza, and one In the annex are
religious rooms. and a glance at the
ground plan shows they are prominent
architectural features. They show
from their prominence that whatever
theory OF the 9 of Sun Temple we
adopt We must not overlook the cere-
monfal object The existence Of many
rooms entered from the roofs and the
absence of external doors in all i'm
plies secrecy. The mysteries here per-
formed were not open to all; only the
~ ttt.tAl 80.