The Sauk Centre herald., 1926-10-07
Dies UP PUEBLO
LOST Centuries
Ethnologist Makes Discov.
cry of Mound of Arizona
Forest.

archeologist has brought to light from
among the pine trees near Flagstaff,
Ariz., beautifully environed Elden
pueblo, the walls of which have been
hidden for centuries under low mounds
of stone and earth. This name was
selected by Doctor Fewkes because of
it's proximity to Elden mountain.
From the cemetery Of Elden pueblo,
DR.. ]. Walter Fewkes, chief of the bu-
reau Of American ethnology of the
Smithsonian institution, has recov-
cred a remarkable collection of pre-
historic pottery. 1t includes 800 per-
feet vessels, and fragments which can
be repaired of as many more.
The pottery includes cooking uten-
sils, seed Jars, dippers, ladies, food
bowls and some very unusual animal
effigies The most striking effigy fig
ure the Hopi identified as represents
ing an antelope This elaborately dec
Grated effigy bowl found with a skele-
ton would indicate that the burial was
that of a priest and that the bowl
was sacred one.
Was an Ancient Metropolis.
The pueblo whose inhabitants made
this pottery was a metropolis of the
Southwest centuries before the COM
ing of the white man. When Doctor
Fewkes undertook its excavation last
May the site gave little promise of a
buried building, but as the result of a
summers work it now stands out as a
rectangular enclosure measuring 145 by
125 feet and containing 40 Or more
chambers. In its original state it rose
two stories, but the roofs and floors of
the upper stories have long since
fallen in and the highest section of
the wall still standing measures, only
eight feet from the base.
The outer wall is solid, without
windows or DOORS To enter his
house the Elden pueblo dweller had
to climb the wall by ladders and
through a hatchway descend to the
lower story. These blank outer walls
were undoubtedly protective ar
rangement to keep out enemies and
when besieged defended themselves
from the roofs with rude weapons.
The pueblo contains one large room
about thirty-two feet square, with
rounded corners. A raised banquette
on the inner wall was probably de-
signed for seats. There is fire.
place in the center and on one side
ventilator for supplying fresh air.
This was undoubtedly the ceremonial
room Of the pueblo.
Home of Hopi Ancestors.
What people were they who built.
and lived in this metropolis so many
centuries ago? The masonry is very
crude and indicates the early stages of
pueblo building. The pottery is pre-
dominantly white with black geomet-
ric designs in the interior-a form
typical of the old Hopi. There still
exist vague legends among the Hopi
Indians indicating that Elden pueblo
was one Of the homes Of their an
cestors. 1t is probable, therefore, that
the pueblo was built by one of the
groups or ancestral clans Of the mod
ern composite Hopi Indians.
When the pueblo was Inhabited or
why bandoned-whether because enc
mics stole the crops or because the
water supply gave out or for some
other reason-are facts which can
only be roughly conjectured.
Doctor Fewkes reinforced the adobe
used as concrete by the builders with
cement and took all other possible
steps to protect the pueblo walls in
withstanding the ravages of the ele-
ments, in order that they may con-
tinue to reveal something of, the life
Of prehistoric Americans to the mod
ern tourist.