New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1926-07-24
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National Geographic Gives More
Funds for Work

Washington, D. c., July 24-Sci-
entists are working out a gigantic
jig-saw puzzle In the southwest, first
searching over hundreds OF square
miles Of territory for the pieces that
nature has hidden through the
centuries.
The story of this fascinating
game" is wrapped up in an an
nouncement just made by the Ma
tional Geographic society that its
research committee has made an
additional grant of funds to con-
tinue this summer the Beam Ex-
petition" work under the leadership
of DR.. A. E. Douglas of Steward
observatory, University of Arizona.
mo one knows the age of the in
teresting communal dwellings.
Americas first ,aparement houses
that have been unearthed in New
Mexico" says a bulletin from the
Washington, D. c., headquarters of
the National Geographic Society.
THE largest Of these, Pueblo Boni-
to in Chaco Canyon, has been in
tensively studied by National Geo.
graphic Society expeditions during
the past six years. Much new in
formation has been gathered in re-
gard to these early Americans from
the examples disclosed of their ma
sonry, pottery, baskets and jewelry;
but no definite lights has been cast
on the age of their culture, for they
had no calendar. Now this secret
seems likely to be found out from
the examination OF what laymen
might consider prosaic old wooden
beams that supported the fat roofs
of the Bonitans.
"Dr. Douglas found some years.
ago that trees in growing not only|
leave ring for each year, but that
often the character of the ring de-
notes the particular year in which i'll
grew. That is, in an unusually moist
season an especially wide or WE'LL
marked ring will be left In all the|
trees of the region subjected to the|
unusual conditions. If living treeI
400 years old Is cut and a recent
characteristic ring identified, otherI
Outstanding rings made in the trees
youth can be dated centuries ago.
These characteristic marks may bel
found In turn among the most rel
cent rings of an ancient log pref
served in sandbank and so nature'sI
calendar may be followed back still
farther.
Scientists Hunt Old Wood
"Since the working out Of this
method the scientists OF the National
Geographic society's beam expedition
have been securing the southwest for|
specimens of ancient wood. Some
have been discovered in the form of
old tree stumps covered centuries
ago by the sand and clay washed by
some extraordinary storm. Others
have been found in Indian pueblos,|
still in use; and still others in the
ruins Of ancient structures.
I'm every case cross-sections have
been prepared and microscopic
studies made. Many of the speci.I
mems, of course, have been found tel
cover approximately the same period
Of time; but now and then a lucky
find has pushed the earliest known
date line of the United States few
decades or generations farther back
Science has not completed this
chronological puzzle, but working
from both ends 1t has fitted piece
after piece into place, steadily mar,
rowing the gap of the unknown. II
is hoped that before long trust
worthy estimate can be made of the
ruins, SO fitting Americas early civil
ization into its proper relation t.,
that Of the Old World"