422 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 52 



B.-TEMPE RUINS. 



The several ruins near Tempe have the same general compound 

 structure as those in the Gila Valley, namely, mounds inclosed in 

 surrounding walls. 1 It would appear that the largest compounds 

 exist in this region, where there are some of the best preserved 

 prehistoric irrigation ditches in Arizona. 



There are several descriptions of the Tempe ruins that might be 

 quoted. Mr. J. H. Bartlett's account is as follows: 2 



"On reaching the great pile, I found it to be the remains of an adobe edifice 

 from two hundred to two hundred and twenty-five feet in length, by from 

 sixty to eighty feet wide, its two sides facing the cardinal points. Portions of 

 the wall were visible only in two places, one near the summit, at the south end, 

 where, from the height of the pile it must have originally been three or four 

 stories high; and the other at the northern extremity, on the western side. 

 These remains just projected above the mass of rubbish and crumbled walls. 

 The rest formed rounded heaps of various heights and dimensions, worn into 

 deep gullies by the rain, the whole presenting a striking resemblance to the 

 mound which marks the site of ancient Babylon. 



"The higher walls seen in the sketch probably belonged to an inner portion 

 of the building. Near this is a conical hill, formed, doubtless, by the crum- 

 bling away of the higher portion or tower. Near the wall, which projects from 

 the lower portion, at the northern end, are two large masses of this wall 

 which have fallen. The adobe is still very hard, so much so that I could not 

 break it with the heel of my boot. Several broken metates, or corn-grinders, 

 lie about the pile. I picked up a stone pestle and some small sea shells. 

 Along the eastern side are the remains of a long wall, extending beyond the 

 building, now but a rounded heap, which seemed to have formed an enclosure. 

 On the western side is an excavation about four feet deep, and extending from 

 sixty to eighty feet from the main heap, and along its entire length, from 

 which I suppose the mud and gravel to have been taken to make the adobe. 

 To the northeast, about a distance of two or three hundred feet, are the ruins 

 of a circular enclosure. This was not large enough for a canal ; nor could it 

 have been a well, as it is too near the margin of the plateau where the canal 

 ran, which would always furnish a supply of water. At the south, two hun- 

 dred yards distant, are the remains of a small building with a portion of the 

 wall still standing. 



"From the summit of the principal heap, which is elevated from twenty to 

 twenty-five feet above the plain, there may be seen in all directions similar 

 heaps; and about a mile to the east, I noticed a long range of these ruins 

 north and south, which the Indians said were of a similar character to that on 



1 From this region and Mesa City have been obtained some of the finest col- 

 lections of prehistoric objects found in this valley. Among these may be men- 

 tioned the complete series collected by the Hemenway Expedition at Los 

 Muertos and that of Dr. J. S. Miller, obtained from various points in the 

 valley. 



2 Personal Narrative of Explorations and Incidents, 1854. p. 245. 



