The Washington times., 1922-05-14

forms us that the pueblo building
race constructed their buildings. OF
which Mesa Verde" are examples,
some 5000 years ago or nearly as
far back as we have been able to
trace Babylonian and Egyptian
civilization. However. that is much
more modern. But all scholars do
not agree with even 30 modern a
period.
On the question Of the famous
Mesa Verde" ruins. DR.. J. Walter
Fewkes Of the Bureau Of Ameri.
can Ethnology is an authority and
possibly has done moro in bringing
to light Americas forgotten past
than any other Of his contempo-
raries In his special field of en-.
deavor. DR.. Fewkes Is not only
an archaeologist Of exceptional
acumen but a sound scientist as
well. On the question Of the an
tiquity Of these ruins he Gays:
The age attributed to the Mesa
Verde ruins by some archaeolo-
gists is absurd, ridiculous. The
question is, of course, difficult to
answer for 1t is impossible to tell
when these buildings were begun.
But the mud cemented stone walls
are not strong enough and so ex-
ecuted. unprotected and alone. to
have stood through the ages arch
aeologists would have US believe"
FOUND "SUN TEMPLE"
Principal among the ruins OF
Mesa Verde National Park is the
building excavated by DR.. Fewkes
in the summer OF 1915, now known
as Sun Temple" which possibly
may be the older of the group. as
certain peculiarities suggest. With
reference to this building DR..
Fewkes said:
when began work on the
mound which believe covered an
ancient pueblo ruin, in the annex
near the summit. which is IL feet
inches high, there grew a red
cedar Of great antiquity, alive and
vigorous at the time. Its roots
penetrated into the adjacent rooms
and were necessarily cut off. there
by killing the tree and I was oblig-
ed to fell 1t. but the stump re-
mains, cut off a foot above the
ground. Three hundred and sixty
annual rings were counted. Its
heart is decayed but its size sug-
gests other rings and that a few
more years can be added to Its
age. A conservative guess Of $50
years is allowable for the interval
between construction and the time
the cedar began to sprout. This
would place the antiquity OF the
building to about 1900 A. D."
Here was a living chronological
monument which DIR. Ballou was
probably unaware Of. Now, whose
opinion shall we accept7 Certainly
not DR.. Ballou's. We possibly
could allow. in his favor, a cen
tury or two more than DR.. Fewkes
would be wiling to give to the
ruin without overstepping rational
bounds.
In his article referred to DR..
Ballou mentions the name, now
almost forgotten, Of the greatest
friend of American archaeo ogy.
DR.. Augustus LIE Plongeon. Doubt
less DR.. Ballou borrowed inspira-
ton from this disregarded savant,
who has brought many world mys-
teries to light. at least revealed
to his own soul. 1t would be well
II scientists would profit by the
hard fate of this devoted man.
NOT MORE FANCIFUL.
DR.. lie Plongeon was no more
extravagant In his much-ridiculed
theories than many others Of the
present time and certainly not
any more fanciful. But one must
beware about yielding to imagi-
nation. Even the most plausible
hypothesis should be removed frcm
such a subject, for with imagina.
ton and supposition we often
prove too much. in other words.
too little. We must then rely
on facts and facts only.
DR.. Ballou in his article brings
out LIE Plongeon's contention that
the Land OF Mayax" is the cradle
OF civilization, though like his in
spirer he adduces no proof. II the
reader will indulge me for a few
moments, let US see what more
we can make OF DR.. Ballou's story.
I prefer to quote DR.. lie Plongeon,
whose views (see Review of Re-
views, 1S95) II is evident are bor-
rowed by DR.. Ballou. Declaring
the Land OF Mayax" the cradle
OF the worlds civilization, or. as
DR.. Bsllou puts It. "the true Gar.
den OF Eden OF the world" he
saws.