590 GENERAL VIEW OF ARCHEOLOGY OF THE PUEBLO REGION. 



construction of buildings, corrals, etc. Much destruction ^Yas 

 Avrought in earlier times by the removal of the timbers for firewood b}^ 

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

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

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

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

 pueblos that Avere 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 Aveathered out. The Rio Grande pueblos A\'ere 

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

 durable Avere those built of tufa blocks as in the Pajarito Park nueb- 

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

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

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

 serA'ed of all are those built of laminated sandstone as in Chaco 

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

 or chinking to Aveather out, so that the Avails, even in the absence of 

 timbers, renuiin intact until throAvn down by luunan agenc3^ 



Future jweser cation. — The subject of preservation of American 

 antiquities is noAv receiving an amount of attention never heretofore 

 accorded it. For a quartei- of a century l -tain thoughtful people 

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

 tion of archeological and ethnoh)gical literature is bearing fruit. 

 Learned societies, scientific and educational institutions, legislatiAC 

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

 question consideration commensurate Avith its importance. The prob- 

 lem is an intricate one. A more general diffusion of information con- 

 cerning it is urgently needed. 



Of the archeological remains in the SoutliAvest, probably nine- 

 tenths are on lands yet oAvned or controlled by the (xovernment of 

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

 lands Avithdrawn from entry for special purposes, military reserva- 

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

 be dealt Avith 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 oAvners, 

 railroad companies, and companies oAvning land grants Avill need to 

 be impressed Avith the importance of preserving these remains for 

 archeological research. 



Preservation must be: 



(1) Permanent in cases Avhere 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 first class, the pro- 



