590 GENERAL VIEW OF ARCHEOLOGY OF THE PUEBLO REGION. 



construction of buildings, corrals, etc. Much destruction was 

 wrought in earlier times by the removal of the timbers for firewood by 

 settlers and passing campers, thus causing the collapse of all walls 

 above the first story. Kuins in the treeless desert have suffered 

 especially from this cause. The material used in building has much 

 to do with the state of preservation. Other things being equal, the 

 pueblos that were built of small bowlders and adobe were the first 

 to succumb to the elements and are most reduced, the convex surfaces 

 of the stones affording little stability to the walls as the plastering 

 and chinking material weathered out. The Kio Grande pueblos were 

 mostly of this class and are reduced to mounds. Somewhat more 

 durable were those built of tufa blocks as in the Pajarito Park Toueb- 

 los. But here also the imperfectly flattened surfaces of the stones are 

 readily freed by the weather from the supporting mortar and chink- 

 ing stones, and collapse of the walls readily occurs. The best pre- 

 served of all are those built of laminated sandstone as in Chaco 

 Canyon. The flat slabs fit together perfectly with but little mortar 

 or chinking to weather out, so that the walls, even in the absence of 

 timbers, remain intact until thrown down by human agency. 



Future preservation. — The subject of preservation of American 

 antiquities is now receiving an amount of attention never heretofore 

 accorded it. For a quarter of a century certain thoughtful people 

 have been calling attention to the matter and the continuous publica- 

 tion of archeological and ethnological liternture is bearing fruit. 

 Learned societies, scientific and educational institutions, legislative 

 bodies, and public-spirited individuals are beginning to devote to the 

 question consideration commensurate with its importance. The prob- 

 lem is an intricate one. A more general dift'usion of infornuition con- 

 cerning it is urgently needed. 



Of the archeological remains in the Southwest, probably nine- 

 tenths are on lands yet owned or controlled by the Government of 

 the United States, mainly upon forest reserves, Indian reservations, 

 lands withdrawn from entry for special purposes, military reserva- 

 tions, and unappropriated public lands. So the question may still 

 be dealt with through the National Congress and Executive Depart- 

 ments. In some cases it may become necessary to interest States and 

 Territories in preservative measures, and in others private owners, 

 railroad companies, and companies owning land grants Avill need to 

 be impressed with the inipoi'tance of preserving these remains for 

 archeological research. 



Preserv'ation must be : 



fl) Permanent in cases where the condition and historic or ethnic 

 significance of the ruins give them special educational value. 



(2) Temporary in the case of all aboriginal buildings, graves, and 

 other archeological remains not included in the flrst class, the pro- 



