Arizona republican., 1921-03-07

What is termed an archaeological triumph has been accomplished by C. s. Sarla, professor of geology at the University of Arizona, who has located and surveyed 36 sites of prehistoric villages in the vicinity of Tucson. De- tails of the discovedy were related in a recent article in the Tucson Star, which quoted Robert F. Glider, Sc. D., arch aeologist of the University of Nebra- ska, who has spent much time in Tue son investigating the finds, as saying Professor Sarle's efforts have brought a new prehistoric culture to the notice of scientists.
 While Arizona has long been recog- nized by archaeologists as one of the richest states in the yielding of pre- historic treasures, almost all of the pre- historic research by various institutions in this state has been done north of a line drawn east and west through Phoenix. which comprised chiefly ex- plorations of cliff dwellings and adja- cent pueblos, according to Professor l Glider.
 The desert region, the present habitat of Pima and Papago Indians, had been overlooked, mainly because little oi archaeological interest had been dis covered there. To Professor Sarle be- 1 longs the credit for proving the south | ern Arizona desert, especially that sec tion lying about Tucson, richer in the remains of prehistoric tribes than any other section of the entire state, Pro- l lessor Glider said
 "Of the 36 sites of prehistoric vii lages located by Professor Sarle, the walls of three today show the lower course of stone, each containing nearly l 70 rooms and compounds and none o1 which had been viewed by scientist before" Professor Glider writes. "SS far but one other ruin of this char acter was known, situated in the tri- i angle between two streams which issue from the mouths of Sabina and Beal canyons, Santa Catalina mountains. | NThe three ruins are in fine stat. of preservation. They lie on the slope. of the Tortilla 0ittle Turtle) noun tains in Pinal county, several mile from a public highway, which no doub accounts for their non discovery be fore. The other 32 pueblos were prob ably of similar construction, but nov they lie beneath the floor of the deser and today show as small mounds O elevations similar to those which cove the compounds about Casa Grand ruins.
 Professor Sarle and Professo Glider, provided with permits iron three departments of the government collected vast amount of materia from all 36 sites consisting of un clipped stone knives of a blue blacl rock, beautifully shaped and decorate pottery some of which shows a tru Haze; grooved stones axes, metates an manos, shell bracelets. hammer-stones stone saws, paddles, etc.
 "One rather singular and outstand ing feature of the surveys was an al most total absence of clipped ston implements and the inference force itself that, although these ancien peoples were able to construct substan tial dwellings and manufacture high grade pottery they had not reached tn clipped stone era
 Nearly all of the villages are locate near mountain ranges that had bee fortified as if for places of refuge fror enemies.
 ''The most conspicuous fortifie mountain lies within walking distanc of the center of Tucson and inside tn fence of the Carnegie Desert laborator,
 This mountain rises about 5000 fec
 above the surrounding desert Its slope
 are thickly covered with loose volcani
 rock.
 At it's northern base is the ruin ( an extensive village or pueblo. and O
 the side toward. Tucson. on the floo
 plain of the Santa Cruz river, one (
 more villages were distributed ov,