El Nuevo mexicano., 1916-09-07

Frank Springer in 1915 have been
continued during the present season.
resulting in important additions to the
discoveries Of last year. Besides Mr..
Springer, the party consisted Of the
artists Carlos vierra, Kenneth NJ.
Chapman and Mrs. X. MI Chapman, Of
Santa re; Miss Eleanor Hope John
son, of New York City; Miss Cicely
Myrtle Boyle, Of Santa re, and San.
itiago Naranjo, governor Of the pueblo
0f Santa Clara.
The expedition was equipped with
cameras and material for taking flash
light photographs OF dark interiors.
and for traeings, moulds and plaster
casts Of drawings incised upon the
cave walls. now rapidly deteriorating
through erosion and other destructive
agencies. BY these methods Of repro
duction many of the most important
Of the works have been permanent
ly preserved in exact fac similes and
the copies will form a most valuable
addition to the collections OF the MI,
scum OF New Mexico, available for
the inspection OF students long after
the originals have disappeared. s
caves Aaomst ObiltefatedY
1t has been shown by these exami-
nations that many OF the caves them
selves formerly occupied as dwell
ings, have been almost obliterated by
the gradual breaking down OF the
cliffs, there being frequently nothing
but a small plastered corner of a few
inches area left to indicate their for
mer existence. AZ full account Of the
research OF last year may be found In
El Palacio for January, 1916, pages
81 to AL. These covered about half
the field embraced in the investiga-
ton as originally designed, which was
limited to a relatively insignificant
district Of a few miles along the Fri
joles canyon. constituting only a small
fraction Of the cave dwellings of the
Pajaritan plateau in which similar &C.
~currences may be everywhere expect
ed. Thus an inviting field for similar
researches In this extensive area re.
mains untouched. The work was re-
sumed ON August g., and continued
throughout the month, during which a
complete examination was made 81
every cave dwelling in the Rito de los
Frijoles valley, over 400 in number,
many of them accessible only by lad
ders, and many, on the other hand,
being partially broken away by the
erosion Of the cliffs SO that only por-
tions of the rear surfaces remained.
The walls were often covered with
successive cats OF plaster UP to as
many as nine. Some of the best draw
ings were found upon what proved to
be the earliest Of these surfaces, parts
Of which were exposed by weathering
or separation along the smoke films
sufficiently to admit OF copying.
Copies we're made, either by tracings.
photographs or plaster casts, of every
important drawing visible, In many
cases only damaged fragments re-
main, Of which copies would ordi-
narily be but little Ineligible; but
these were connected and brought
into proper relation by sketches made
by the Artists Chapman and Vierra.
SO that they furnish useful informa-
ton, Notwithstanding their poor con-
dition. xss
The search resulted in the addition
OF about 30 drawings to the collection,
which with those of last year brings
the total to nearly 200. Many flash.
light photographs of cave walls were
made, and ID plaster casts Of some of
the best incised drawings, which give
an accurate reproduction Of the origi-
nails. As in the first seasons work.
the party found numerous examples
of vandalism by tourists, as well as
crude later drawings by native sheep
herders and contemporary Pueblo In
dians. These were easily recogniz-
able. and have not been included in
the collection Of drawings ~r6produc.
ed, which are all Enthusiastically the
work of the ancient cave dwellers.
The drawings recovered during the
present season. when added to those
of last year, make a total 81 1876,
classified as follows:
Human figures Observation-Disclosures. AL
Human faces ....... -.... /
Observation-Disclosures. /
Masks ...... IA
Hands incised $500 ......... j
Birds +. So
Animals ..... %
figures n. .... So
Various symbols 10
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