Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1916-10-06
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 by
Household Utensils--Finds
Ancient War Club.

/
west-has been unearthed in Mesa
Verde National park, Colorado, by DIR.
Jesse Walter Fewkes of the Smithson.
ian institution.
Doctor Fewkes started to excavate
on July 20 n large mound five miles
! from Spruce Tree camp. on top Of the
mesa. He has made sufficient prog
ress to show the outlines of huge
building of the pueblo type of architec'
ture, 112 feet long and 93 feet vide,
! including plaza. The main building
contains large court and ut least
three circular kivas, 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 IL Is by far
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
/ II. tllkltN. DuSlOI VI Il NhhiNh III Tvs
Moines, In. He takes keen interest
in archaeological subjects, particular
! ly those concerning the Mesa Verde,
on which he lectures. He was one
of the first to explore the cliff dwell
! ing now known as Daniels House,
which was explored for the first time
last summer.
Building a Distinct Type.
Doctor Fewkes has made II wonder
full discovery this season in Mesa
Verde National park" said Doctor fIig-
! ley. "IIe has uncovered Il new type
of building. The ruin which is now
being uncovered is situated about thir-
ty rods south of the large circular res
ervoir known as Mummy lake, which
is close to the automobile road leading
to 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 these
that Doctor Fewkes has eXcavated this
season. Probably ii will be late In
September before the work is complet-
ed. The building is rectangular il
shape and the masonry work Is not so
good as that in Sun Temple, which Doc
tor Fewkes excavated last year. Doc
tor Fewkes Is of the opinion that the
building which is being eXcavated this
season is much older than Sun Tenn
pie, which probably was built ABOUT
1900 A. ID. The building on which
he is now working evidently was in
hablted, 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 n distinct type, en-
tirely different from the cliff ruins,
themselves, which are built In caverns
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 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 n
roof will be put over this building,
but II is the intention to make the COW
ering 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. 1t 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
I'm the middle. The structure covered
by earth evidently is double walled
and of great size"
Doctor Higley entered II cliff well
ing which, it 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. lie found that one Of the
Wetherlls and companion had been
in the building in the eighties, about
the time the cliff dwellings were dis.
covered. In this building Doctor llig-
ley found an implement which Doctor
Fewkes pronounced II sort of war club
II consisted of II stone to which was
attached short handle. II II the
first implement of warfare to be found
in the cliff ruins and hos excited
much interest.
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