The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-26
Frederick Haskin's Letter
Americas Prehistoric Inhabitants

After the disappearance of these
early communists the rock villages
were left 10 be gradually worn
down and buried in sand and de-
bris. In 1883 two herdsmen who
were hunting lost cattle discovered
among the cliffs what seemed to be
towers and walls of a city. Closer
inspection showed that the struc-
lures were the remains OF an old
cliff dwelling, a community house
with 200 family living rooms and
% rooms for worship. The herds
men named il Cliff Palace.
Soon after their discovery the
Mesa Verde remains were found TO
have a commercial value. and van
dals began footing the rooms of
pottery, bones and bits of fabric.
The walls were badly damaged and
foundations undermined by the
reckless collectors.
In 1907 the government reserved
the tract of land to project it from
further plaudering. Congress made
appropriations and DR.. Fewkes al
once began to restore the damaged
ruins and to put them into Condi-
lions for visitors to see. Horseback
trails were the only way of reach
ing the ruins at first, and few tour
lists had sufficient enthusiasm 20
make the 32-mile trip from Man
cos. Since then automobile roads
have been built. and small hotel
has beeen opened Rangers act as
guides, and Americans can visit the
prehistoric ruins of Colorado IN
modern comfort.
Work Just Begun.
Almost every year some new type
of ruin is saliva ged from the debris
of the centuries In 1910 the Cliff
Palace, which is the largest cliff
dwelling in the southwest, was ex-
cavated and repaired. In 1915 the
D-shaped Sun temple was brought
to light The next year a large
community house of new type
was unearthed. and in 1919 one Of
the best preserved cliff houses in
the southwest was added to the list
of Mesa Verde's attractions. Even
the wooden beams of the roof Of
this house were still intact
Last summer a Fire temple evil
IDENTIFY devoted to worship and con
servation of fire was discovered.
DR.. Fewkes has just left for an0th-
err summers work at Mesa Verde
and he has selected for special at
tention this year a mound of a new
form. Apparently this structure
was not a dwelling. but was used
for some unknown communal pUr-
pose. 1t is at present pile Of
stones % feet high with a depress-
ed center. No walls rise above the
surface of the ground. but all the
stones covering the mound show
artificial work indicating fine ma
sorry.
The size. shape and past use Of
the structure can be determined
only by removal of the accumulated
debris. laying hare the rooms now
concealed by fallen stones. drifting
sand and dense growth of vegeta-
ton, It is proposed to strengthen
and otherwise repair the shattered
walls so that tourists may behold
one more of the great prehistoric
Mesa Verde buildings somewhat in
it's original conditions.
Mesa Verde excavations are Of
great interest to science. A num-
Der of scholars have made different
deductions and set forth different
theories from the evidence so far
unearthed.
Unfortunately the Pueblo Of this
section had no system of writing
beyond a few rude symbols scratch
ed on cliffs or painted on their
earthenware jars. From reIfains
found in their buried dwellings it
is known that they were farmers,
coaxing a scant living out of the
dry mesa country. Bits of pottery
and decorated fabrics tell US that
they had d strong sense of beauty,
By such random clues the lost Mesa
Verde tribes intrigue scientists 10
further effort in the solution OF
their mystery.