FEWKEs] SKULL OF DOMESTICATED DOG 27 



The occurrence of a skull of the domesticated dog in one of the 

 graves at the Chaves pass ruin is significant, showing that this ani- 

 mal was known to the ancients, and probably utilized b\- them. The 

 fact that this dog was the broad-faced variety is particularly instruc- 

 tive. It was not apiiarently a domesticated coyote or a mongi-el like 

 those which now are so common in some of the pueblos. Mr Lucas 

 has published the following account" of this specimen: 



Among the many objects obtained liy Dr Fewkes last summer from the mined 

 pueblo of Chaves pass, Arizona, is the cranium of a domesticated dog found in a 

 grave with a human .skeleton. Although the mere fact of a dog being discovered 

 under such circumstances is in itself interesting, it is not at first sight remarkable, 

 since it is well kno^vn that in America, as elsewhere, the dog was domesticated at an 

 early date, and Clavijero mentions an ancient dog. which he calls "a quadruped 

 of the country of Cibola, similar in form to a mastiff, which the Indians employ 

 to carrj- burdens." Aside from the fact that this is the first dog's cranium dis- 

 covered by Dr Fewkes, there are some jjoints of special interest in the present 

 case. Most of the Indian dogs are more or less wolfish in their aspect and have 

 long skulls, with comparatively low foreheads, thus showing a small degree of 

 specialization in the way of breed, and this is true of such of the mummied dogs 

 of Eg)-pt as I have seen. The cranium of the Chaves dog. on the contrary, is of 

 the broad-faced tj-pe, with high forehead, and, curiously enough, is precisely simi- 

 lar in size and proportions to the cranium of an Eskimo dog from Cumberland 

 sound, the resemblance extending to the peculiar concavity and squareness of the 

 nasal region. While this is an interesting c<iincidence, it is not brought forward 

 as implying community of origin, but as instancing long domestication in order that 

 so well-marked a breed could be est;iblished. A curious confinnation of the early 

 origin of this breed was received from San Marcos, Texas, where, in excavating 

 for ponds at the station of the United States Fish Comyiission. a human skeleton 

 and bones of other animals were found in a layer containing many flint imple- 

 ments, overlaid by two feet of black soil. The bones were those of existing species, 

 including teeth of several bison, and there was also a fi-agment of a dog's skull 

 similar in size and proportions to that obtained at Chaves pass. Owing to the 

 circumstances under which the bones were exhumed, it is not known whether or 

 not the dog and man were found together. While none of the bones were min- 

 eralized, the condition under which they were found and the character of the 

 human cranium showed them to be of very considerable age. 



Dr Fewkes states that the skulls of carnivores are used in Hopi religious cere- 

 monies, and that the skull, paws, etc., are regarded as powerful fetishes of war- 

 riors and cherished by them with much care. It is customary to bury a priest's 

 fetishes with him. and there is little doubt that the dog's cranium from Chaves pass 

 was a fetish of the man in whose gi-ave it was found. As Dr Fewkes believes 

 that the people of the Chaves pass ruin formerly lived far south, in contact with 

 Nahuatl peoples, it can readily be seen how a dog's skull came to be part of the 

 cei'emonial outfit of the priest in whose grave it was found. 



The numerous turkey bones which were found do not necessarily 

 mean that this Ijird was used as food liy the ancient sedentary peo- 

 ples of Arizona. We are told by the historian of Coronado's expedi- 

 tion that the Pueblos had domesticated fowls, but these were probably 

 turkeys from which, as at present, were obtained feathers used in 



a Science, n. s., v. 5, 1897, p. 544. 



