MEMOIRS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



145 



the traditions of this people that some key to the problems might be discovered by exploring ruins 

 far to the southwest of the Zuui villages, where the people of Zuiii averred their ancestors once 

 dwelled. We can not enter into a detailed account of these perplexing questions, nor can we relate 

 how or why the explorer considers that he has solved them. It must be left for him to explain 

 these matters fully at some future time. 



EXPLORATIONS IN THE SALADO VALLEY. 



It was not until the year 188G that he found the pecuniary means to conduct the desired 

 explorations, these being amply supplied by Mrs. Mary Homenway, of Boston. Mr. Gushing set 

 out with a party of assistants, to which others were afterwards added, and, in February, 1887, 

 arrived in the neighborhood of tlie town of Tempe, in the valley of the Salado or Salt River, a 

 tributary of the Grila, in the Territory of Arizona. Here he began by excavating some stone ruins 

 on the rocky uplands, without any extraordinary results, While thus engaged his attention was 

 attracted to certain earthen mounds situated on the level flood-plain of the Salado, and in particular 

 to one of large size about 8 or 9 miles by road from Tempe. Ho proceeded to examine this mound 

 and its vicinity. 



SALT 1SIVER VALLEY, 

 ARIZONA 



3. Map showing a part of the Salt Kiver Valley, Mariuopu County, Arizona, with modern towns, canals, and locations of aucient cities. 



This mound seemed at first to be little more than a rude pile of earth. It had an irregular 

 rectangular form, and had some appearance of being terraced. The surrounding level plain, cov- 

 ered with an abundant growth of that leguminous shrub or small tree, the mesquite (Prosopis 

 juliflora D. C.), which is so common in the arid lands along our southwestern borders, presented 

 to the untrained eye no remains of human habitation ; but from fragments of pottery and other 

 objects strewn over the ground, the explorer was led to believe that something of importance was 

 hidden under the surface. He caused a trench to be dug and soon brought to light the founda- 

 tions of earthen walls. Without delay he established his camp at this place and pursued his 

 excavations with energy. The result was the discovery of an extensive collection of habitations a 

 city it might be called some 6 miles in length and from half a mile to a mile in width. The uiound 

 proved to be the debris of a great earthen house of many stories and many chambers and analo- 

 gous in structure to the still standing Casa Grande before referred to, which is distant from the 

 mound to the southeast less than 35 miles in a direct line. In the course of excavation at this 

 place so many skeletons wore found under the floors of the houses that Mr. Gushing devised for it 

 the Spanish name of Pueblo de los Muertos, or, briefly, Los Muertos, the town of the dead; and 

 this name was retained for it, although he subsequently found other ruined cities in the vicinity 

 where skeletons were as common as here. 

 S. Mis. 1(59 10 



