2 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. "JO 



account of his researches. The writer's own impressions, gained 

 in 1915 and 1916, have been, as yet, but partially recorded,^ a more 

 detailed report being withheld pending completion of additional 

 investigations. It is obvious, therefore, that the remains of an un- 

 usually large number of prehistoric dwellings near the village above 

 mentioned have gradually given way before the advance of agricul- 

 tural preference and that, notwithstanding the many observations 

 made among them, the ruins have contributed but little to our scanty 

 knowledge of their ancient inhabitants and have left us with only 

 the vaguest understanding of the degree of culture to which their 

 builders had attained. 



The present paper finds its origin in a joint expedition undertaken 

 in 1917 by the Smithsonian Institution and the University of Utah, 

 at the request of the latter. The writer had the honor and the 

 pleasure of directing the work, with the cordial cooperation of Presi- 

 dent John A. Widtsoe and Prof. Levi Edgar Young, of the univer- 

 sity,'' and with the active assistance of Mr. Andrew A. Kerr as their 

 field representative. 



It must be confessed that, for the layman, there is but little of the 

 spectacular in the results of the expedition. The student of history, 

 on the other hand, will find much to hold his attention — rude dwell- 

 ings of earth that seem so thoroughly adapted to their environment 

 and vast quantities of minor antiquities, each of which is its own 

 key to the daily activities and industries of the ancient house builders. 

 Here was a people who came from some distant, undetermined 

 region — a people that established a compact community, with a defi- 

 nite social organization, and then passed on to a new locality where 

 another cycle in their tribal history was unfolded. Innumerable 

 paragraphs might be written from the information at hand and yet, 



^ Smithsonian Misc. Coll., Vol. 66, No. 3, p. 67; No. 17, pp. 103-107. 



^ It should be stated that the successful inauguration and furtherance of the 

 season's undertaking was due largely to the interest and perseverance of 

 President Widtsoe and Professor Young. They first enhsted the aid of the 

 government institution and, thereafter, freely rendered every possible assistance 

 in bringing the work of the expedition to a happy conclusion. 



In this place, also, the writer desires to acknowledge his appreciation of the 

 generous spirit in which his numerous Paragonah friends contributed to the 

 success of the expedition and he is especially indebted to Mrs. Martha Jane 

 Openshaw and Mr. Isaac Bozarth who kindly granted the necessary permis- 

 sion to conduct the excavations. The ultimate purpose of science can always 

 be best served by such whole-hearted good will and mutual helpfuhiess as 

 that which greeted the 1917 party. 



