NO. 3 ARCHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS AT PARAGONAH — JUDD 3 



at this time, it seems unwise to attempt more than a general survey 

 of the season's discoveries, reserving for a subsequent paper the 

 tempting comparison between the cultural evidence disclosed at 

 Paragonah and that found among ancient ruins in other sections of 

 the Southwest. Likewise, direct reference to previous investigations 

 of the Smithsonian Institution in Parowan and neighboring valleys 

 will be avoided in so far as possible, that the following pages may 

 be devoted entirely to the joint enterprise of 191 7. A certain hetero- 

 geneity frequently obtains among archeological remains in western 

 Utah — such a confusion and intermingling of like and unlike struc- 

 tures that the entire subject may be explained most clearly in a mono- 

 graph based upon knowledge gained throughout the vast region in 

 which similar remains occur. The present paper treats of but one 

 small section of that region and the results of 191 7 should be con- 

 sidered merely as a single, though highly important, contribution 

 toward final solution of the whole complex question, 



EXCAVATION OF THE BIG MOUND 



Paragonah was reached early in July and the party at once 

 centered its attention upon an elevation known locally as " the big 

 mound," a huge knoll measuring approximately 225 feet in diameter 

 and 10 feet high. There were several reasons for this selection : 

 (i) It was the largest of those remaining and, notwithstanding the 

 previous removal of the southern one-third and superficial evidence 

 of other excavations, it still promised more perfect examples of 

 architecture and deeper court deposits than adjacent mounds ; (2) 

 being in the way of proposed improvements, it was in imminent 

 danger of complete reduction, with final loss of its archeologic con- 

 tents ; and (3) exposure of the house-group which the " big mound " 

 was thought to cover would form a fitting sequel to earlier studies of 

 smaller elevations containing from one to five dwellings, together 

 with their related structures. 



The ragged blanket of sage-brush which covered the mound was 

 first cut and burned. Trenches were then begun in several places, 

 in search of walls, floors, etc. The actual work of excavation was 

 done with shovels ; teams and scrapers being employed only in remov- 

 ing the earth which had been examined and thrown out by the work- 

 men. This method, although slower, resulted in more extensive 

 collections of small artifacts and insured, also, greater accuracy in 

 tracing the various floor levels and house walls, some of which were 

 determined only with the greatest difficulty owing to their coloration 



