Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-03-22
RESTORE ancient
CLIFF DWELLING
Scientists Preserve Batatakin
Located in Navajo ReSer.
walton.
REQUIRED SIX MONTHS WORK
Repairing Of Prehistoric Structure Is
Completed by Representatives Of
Uncle Sans National
Museum.

Neil n. Judd Of Uncle Sans nation
ri musrun recently completed six
nonths of archaeological work In Arr
zsna Consisting Of the repairing and re-
SeOratiOn q a prehistoric cliff dwell
ing named Batatakln Ia Navajo word
meaning Hillside House'O located In
the Navajo National Monument. which
in in the northern part Of the Navajo
Indian reservation.
Mr.. Judd left the railroad at Flag
staff. where he gathered small force
e wOrknen. and followed the road
north about 100 miles to Kayenta.
where the party QUILTED. From Kay
eata they travelled by pack train about
twenty miles to the ruin. which Is To-
Gated in a branch Of Sagie Canyon.
Batatakin is one Of the most inter
esting clifThOuses in northern Arizona.
1t consists of nearly 100 rooms. built
~ the sharply sloping floor Of cres-
cent-shaped cave. In parts OF the VII
lage the houses were originally two
md even three stories In height. The
wallis are of stone, bound together
with adobe mortar.
No Break Joint" Masonry.
As has been previously noted else
wAere in the Southwest the ancient
bailders did not "break joints" in their
masonry, that is, one joint frequently
came directly above another and read
iIV accounts for the weakening Of the
ancient walls and the gradual collapse
& the entire structure.
The roofs were constructed with
cedar ~ pine beams, Overlaid with lay
ers OF willows. cedar bark, or grass and
mud, in succession. In many cases
ne front walls were built of waffle
construction instead OF stone, that Is,
willows, placed upright. were bound to
CrOsspieces embedded In the side walls.
and the whole covered with mud.
About half of the rooms were found
to be in a good state of preservation.
with the roof still intact. The ceilings
are usually from four and One-half to
Ave feet above the floor. This fact, to-
Sether with the low. narrow dOOrways,
accounts for the popular impression
tat the cliff jewellers were race Of
pygmies. As a matter OF fact, they
were a people Of average stature and
built rooted structures with small
SPenings only for warmth and shelter.
They lived mostly out Of doors, grind
ing corr. cooking and performing other
domestic operations In the numerous
open courts found among the dwellings
proper.
Several Clans Lived There.
Besides the ordinary dwelling-rooms
and these open courts Of Batatakin.
there are storage-rOOms and ceremon-
ial rooms, or kivas, these latter differ
ing from similar rooms in other reg
ions in being rectangular instead OF
circular. Here were performed the
various sacred rites and ceremonies
accompanying the religious beliefs Of
these people. From the number Of
kivas Of Batatakin 1t is evident that
several clans lived here, as 1t was GUS
temary for each clan to use separate
kiva, and the total number OF inhabi-
tants OF the cliffhOuse was probably
between 100 and $50.
Besides several interesting smaller
rims in the Navajo National Monu-
ment there are two other large cliff
villages. Keet Seel (Broken Pottery
House) and Inscription House.