The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1922-12-14
PIPE sHR1NE Horrsg,.


DIR. j. Walter Feweks, chief OF the
bureau OF American ethnology, Smith
sonian institution. who has recentl..
returned from season OF archaeolog-
ical field-work on the Mesa Verde Ma
tIonal Park, Colorado. reports the I'M
expected unearthing of q most inter
esting and instructive prehistoric ruin
TO which he has given the name Pipe
Shrine House. because OF the large
number OF tobacco pipes which were
found scattered in circular shriLc
just as they had been thrown la,
during ceremonial rites, untold centu-
ries ago.
The Mesa Verde Park was reserved
rom settlement some years ago by
Congress on account of the numerous
clin dwellings in its canyon. but later
II was discovered that there were rs
many pueblos on the open top of the
mesa as in the cliffs. These have
Jared badly from the elements. on ac-
count of exposure, and are now re-
duced To mounds without walls above
ground.
Has Been Active
For some years DR.. Fewkes has
been active In unearthing and clear
ing out these souvenirs OF our precur-
sors on the western plains of the con
tinent, and it has been through his eff
forts mainly that the ruins have been
preserved. EXcavating several OF the
mounds that were taken to he natural
formations il was found that they
were in reality the mouldering heaps
of fallen houses and temples.
Last May DIR. Fewkes undertook
the excavation of mound in the
heighborhoOd of what is known to
many tourists as Mummy Lake The
results OF his excavations were as in
structive as interesting and unex-
pected.
Out of the mound emerged q rec
tanSular building about 40 feet square
and one story high. accurately oriented
10 the cardinal points of the compass
With circular tower formerly 10 10 20
feet high, like Al church steeple. mid
way in the western wall This tower
is supposed to have been for observa-
ton, and as it is very important for
- 'NNA'NNAHh pCOPIC "
the seasons of the year. II was prob
ably by watching the sun as 1t arises
or sets that they determined the time
for planting and for other events.
A Circular Room
In the middle of this building was
found n circular room 20 feet deep
and about the same in diameter, ia
which were found more than dozen
clay pipes, numerous stone knives, pot
terry, idols and other objects. Pipes of
his kind have never before been found
N the Mesa Verde and as all the in
LEGATIONS point TO the belief that after
he rite of smoking they were thrown
Ito the shrine, the ruins were called
Pipe Shrine House
\ few feet south Of the building.
which vas not u habitatiOn hut spc-
clallZed for the ceremonies, there is a
square room or shrine dedicated to
the mountain lion, u stone image of
which was found surrounded by water
worn stones. A similar shrine is found
On the northeast corner Of Pipe Shrine
House In which, among other objects,
was a small iron meteorite and Il slab
of stone on which is depicted a symbol
of the sun.
The cemeteries of the pueblos of the
Mesa Verde are situated near their
southeast corner and while the burials
IN them have as rule been removed by
vandals several interments were found
IN the cemetery near Pipe Shrine
House. One of these was left with
out moving n single bone and an en-
closure with a weather-proof roof was
erected over it, 50 that a visitor can
view n skeleton more than 500 years
old with old food bowls and other
pieces OF pottery just as they were
when left by relatives that long ago.
his is said to be the first time care
las been taken to preserve for inspec-
zion pre- Columbian skeleton of an
Indian in his own cemetery.