The Ordway new era., 1917-11-09
Or. Fewkes Discovers Most An
cient Structure Known in
the Southwest.
BUILT BEFORE sun TEMPLE
That Building In Mesa Verde National
Park Was Inhabited ls Shown BY
Household Utensils-Finds
Ancient War Club.

| west-has been uncnrtheu IN Mesh
Verde National park. Colorado, by Dr.
Jesse Walter Fewkes of the Smithson-
] ian institution.
Doctor Fewkes started to excnvnte
on July 20 II large mound hVe 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-
turc, 10 feet long and 93 feet vide,
including n plaza. The main puiid'hs
contains Il large court and at least
three circular kivas, or ceremonial
chambers.
Doctor Fewkes says the building Is
much older than Sun Temple, when
he excavated in Mesa Verde National
park last year. In fact. II Is by iar
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 DIR. Elmer
f. Higley, pastor of a church IN Des
Moines, la. 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 us Daniels House,
which was explored for the first time
last summer.
Building q Distinct Type.
doctor Fewkes has made wonder
full discovery this season In Mesa
Verde National park" said Doctor Hlg-
ley. HE has uncovered 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 It Is one Of these
that Doctor Fewkes has excavated this
season. Probably 1t will be late in
| September before the work Is complet-
ed. The building Is rectangular II
shape and the masonry work Is not 80
good us 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. 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 a 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 strue.
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
q feet thick. Double walls extend all
n the way around the building probably
, for purpose of defense. Probably q
roof will be put over this building
a but 1t Is the intention to make the GOV
q ering strictly modern and not to At
. tempt to conform to cliff dwellers o,
g mesa dweller type.
y 1T is Doctor Fewkes' intention to d.
j. some work this season on Mumm!
% lake, which has been the cause Of mucf
10 speculation. 1t is the general opinion
O that Mummy lake was a reservoir sup
plying water to the group Of building
n in the immediate vicinity and perhaps
a part Of an Irrigation system. Th'
ID mound is circular and has a depression
ts in the middle. The structure covere,
4. by earth evidently IL double walle,
w and Of great size"
or Doctor Higley entered cliff dwell
e. ing which. 1t was supposed, never ha
q been explored before. 1t was neces
In sary for him to be lowered 90 fee
over the side Of diff to get into tn
building. He founi that one Of tn
Wetherills and companion had bee
ed in the building in the eighties, abou
: the time the cliff dwellings were al,
ar covered. In this building Doctor HI,
q. ley found an Implement which Doctc
he rewkes pronounced . soss ef war ciul
u II consisted Of . stone % which ~
a attachsd = short hanADs. Il q u
= nf1t imUlement q waxaars to ~ fosn
= - | ssse s-asss.e