The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-08-04
UNCOVER SEALED
ROOM IN RUINS
Most important Discovery Yet
Made in Aztec, New Mexico.
THEIR MOST SACRED SHRINE
Exploring Party Of the American Mu.
scum Of Natural History Of New
York Find Interesting Work of Pre-
historic Race-No Room Approach.
ing It in Beauty and Perfection Has
Ever Been Discovered in America

Another big discovery-the most
wonderful yet-in the form of a seal.
ed-up room, has just been made at
the Pueblo ruin in Aztec, New Mexico,
| which Is in course of excavation by
| the American Museum of Natural His.
tory of New York city.
DR.. Clark Wissler curator of the
museums department of anthropology
recently reported by letter to his asso-
ciates in New York:
1.-THE room is in perfect condition.
The interior is plastered and painted
In a brilliant white with dull red side
borders and running series of tri-
angular designs. No room approach
ing this in beauty and perfection has
ever been discovered in America.
There are several adjoining rooms that
seem to have some relation to this,
but 1t will be some time before they
can be dug out.
"What we have is obviously the
hottest sanctum or shrine of these pre-
historic people. There is not much in
it, all the sacred objects having been
removed from the altar. But a sacred
serpent Is carved In wood over the
ceiling. 1t is 21s feet long and of
the finest workmanship Nothing like
this has ever before been found, to
my knowledge. On the ceiling beams
are imprints Of hands made by rubbing
white paint on the palms and fingers
and then pressing down upon the
beams. Several strands of beautiful.
ly-made rope hang from the ceiling
presumably for the support of hang.
ing objects. On the floor were large
number of nicely-cut stone slabs, one
of which was 21s by W feet and u
inch thick.
"This room will be carefully pro
tected from visitors and will be one
OF the best exhibits here.
Lead in Culture.
"There is painted room in one
of the cliff houses in Mesa Verde park
that has some resemblance to this, but
does not compare with the one we
have just found. This room is, how.
ever, one more suggestion that the peo- !
pie who lived In the cliff houses were d
the founders of the culture at Aztec
and Bonit0.
Doctor Wisser writes that the ruin
is now most impressive, large par'
of it having been uncovered by the
American museum excavation part.
which has for five seasons past work.
ed under the direction of Mr.. Earl Fl
Morris:
Since the greater part of the west |
side is now uncovered, one can get a
full sweep over this immense complex
of stone walls and quaint doorways
"Our excavations have revealed one
that befell this city. The
greater part of the east and north
sides were swept by fire. We canno,
be sure that this was due to one big
lire, but 1t was most likely so. The
ceilings were of wood, supported by
great logs Of cedar and spruce. over.
aid by split cedar and bark These
fell down upon each other and lay in
The lower rooms in great charred
Masses No doubt many precious OBJ.
ects went out in this great fire. As
have said before. we found the
,odies of several unfortunates caught
n the rooms.
"As the fire did not reach the west
Tide, we find large number of rooms
With their ceilings still intact and !
household utensils on the floor just ,
IS they were left.
Much Timber Used.
Il have spent some time estimating
he amount of timber used in building
his city. There were the logs of
ONE 200 pine trees 80 feet long and
bout II inches in diameter. About
90 cedar logs of the same size, but
veraging 10 feet in length. (The ce
ar here rarely produces a longer