AN IMPORTANT ARCHEOLOG1CAL SITE IN EASTERN 



ARIZONA 



By FRANK H. H. ROBERTS, JR. 

 Archeologist, Bureau of American Ethnology 



Lying on top of a low mesa overlooking Whitewater Can von and 

 the broader valley of the Puerco River (fig. 135) in eastern Arizona 

 is an archeological site which gives promise of contributing valuable 

 data on the prehistoric Southwest. Although there are many ruins, 

 representing various separate stages of Pueblo culture, scattered 

 throughout the adjacent district, this particular location is of im- 

 portance because it contains four distinct and sequent levels of oc- 

 cupation. Such an occurrence presents an exceptional opportunity 

 for studying the changes that took place over a comparatively long 

 period in the history of the ancient sedentary Indians. The owner 

 of the site, J. A. Grubbs of Houck, Ariz., called the writer's attention 

 to it during the summer of 1930 and a preliminary examination of the 

 ruins and mounds was made in the autumn of that year. The possi- 

 bilities of obtaining profitable information were so apparent that 

 plans were made for an extensive exploration and investigation of 

 the remains. Mr. Grubbs readily granted permission for a series of 

 excavations and in May. 1931, an expedition from the Bureau of 

 American Ethnology set up camp (fig. 136) and began work. 



In June the Laboratory of Anthropology of Santa Fe, N. Mex.. 

 joined in the undertaking and through July and August cooperated in 

 the project. Four graduate students, holders of fellowships granted 

 by the Laboratory of Anthropology, participated in the researches 

 during this period. These men were: Solon T. Kimball, Harvard 

 University ; Carl F. Miller, University of Arizona ; Ralph D. Brown, 

 University of Minnesota; and Dale S. King, University of Den- 

 ver. Zuhi and Navajo Indians were employed as laborers in the 

 excavations. 



So that the significance of this site may be appreciated, it should be 

 stated that archeologists have classified the sedentary peoples of the 

 plateau portion of the Southwest under two main headings. These 

 major groups are known by the terms Basket Makers and Pueblos, 

 the latter including the far-famed and frequently described cliff 

 dwellers. Each group has several subdivisions which are referred to 

 by number. The Basket Maker, which is the older, includes three and 



141 



