Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-02
OFF TO SUPERVISE REPAIR
OF PREHISTORIC RUINS
Neil VI. Judd. of National Museum, t;ocs
I" Arizona for WORK In Nn,nhO
Monument Field

WASHINGTON. April Neil NJ
Judd, Of the United States National
Museum. has just left for Arizona to
Sur"rvls" for the Smithsonian Imsti-
tuition the excavation and repair of
prehistoric ruins and cliff dwellings.
The work viii be carried on under n
provision In the Indian APPROXIMATION
act for tho preservation and repair OF
me remains OF ancient dwelling places
Of certain AMERICAN Aborigines in the
Navajo National Monum.nt
I Ih" Naval" National Monument com
/ priS"' tire" large ruins located in the
! morth"ru part "f m" Navajo Rcscrva-
! ton in Arizona. about l75 miles nv
/ IRAN north of Flagstaff There IL a
road Tor about third Of the way. bur
there is little Iranic from H.. tcrmina-
ton :" the Navajo Monument From
ther" the way j. difficult 10 travel also
on account OF tho scarcity of water in
IN" desert 10 hc crossed the lack az
"rrortunity 10 purchase supplies and
ihe stccpncss of the ascent near the
m"him"nt. which * truly in the High
Rocks as the iIopi designate the To-
cation Of their former home
me irip requires about five DAYS
nut nevertheless the route is an inter
"S'inG one. for it passes through Paint
cd Desert a picturesque country cs-
prflaliy attractive on account OF the
naltv" legends and descriptions rcla.
ing 10 the surroundings. Superstition
Mountain, for example. where SO the
Naval" stories relate. fires are 20 be
seen ON dark nights, recalls the Old
SNAKE legend, which claims that All
iils country once belonged 10 the
/ mr." god. and that they inherited il
/ from MIN. In the oldcn DAYS. so they
relate. tho inhabitants used to see
lights moving around tho mcsas Jour
h"> lns over tn" recent lava beds and
'lhdcr plains today. IL Is easy for the
! traveller {" accept the story Of tho
! early propri"tovship Of this burnt-ou,
/ country. and attribute the fires seen
4 'h''" 10 volcanic eruptions and tho
/ Eip"inE iaNa Of Years ago. which il
/ quite enough to substantiatc the le-
gend
among the Enthusiastically eroded
rocks forming NATURAL sculptures
along the trail AT" Elephant Legs ana
White Mesa Natural Bridge. which lend
interest on rout" to the monument as
does also the indian village where still
oven descendants Of the carly inhabi-
tauts.
Ihe ancient pueblo aud clin dwell.
! 'hrs were first scientifically examined
/ ID 1905 hY q PARTY Of winch Mr. Judd
was q member. l.d by Professor Byron
Cummings formerly OF tho University
o' Lthh and now Of the University Of
ARIZONA They are supposed to he tho
. RUNS OF dwellings made by tho snake
p""u'e whose descendants live 10 -da v
'1 Hort Villages in Northeastern Ari-
I"N' some ~ the houses butt IN the
..lns ar" very large. measuring sew
'i"i hundred feet IN length. and in
!tde IS many az 100 roomp Natur.
any some OF the original rooms are
. h"flcG In rsllen dcbris. but their ey-
a'l"H ana repair is to be carried
OUT hel"""n now aad the end Of June
ny N' Judd ana his party
On" only human beings living in the
I''shho'houi ~ these ruins is an In
"''h fad"r and f.r Navajos who
81 Very SHp"rstitious Nrnc OF them
" '' Hls lh me ruins fearing 10 evoke
.h' wrath ~ INC spirits ~ The dead.
81" A|r jIad 'IJ 10 forced to cupap.
"hi'" ihbor"ls At Flagstaff. probably
S,N 'N nunne' and COOK. relying on
,h' native Narajos only for trail-mak-
ing ana inc transportation Of his sup
rll'. and buudne materials 10 tn.
rum "hcre Tho work is 10 be done.