November ii, 1892.] 



SCIENCE. 



269 



Achseans, and the Laconians, whom he recognizes among the 

 nations mentioned in the Egyptian texts (Akuaivasa, Sakalusa, 

 etc.). It is to these, it would seem, that was due the invention of 

 the sword, which first appears in Cyprus in the form of a much 

 enlarged Cyprian dagger, and is found associated with Mykenae 

 pottery. It is also at this time that defensive metal armor occurs. 

 Many of the statues of gods, priests, and others exhumed by Dr. 

 Riohter are represented wearing the round helmet with a ball-crest, 

 which is depicted upon the Egyptian monuments as especially be- 

 longing to the Mediterranean peoples ; and their general aspect also 

 agrees with that attributed to these races by the Egyptian artists. 



It will be remembered that these round helmets are mentioned, 

 along with coats of mail, in Homer; and that, in the great epic, 

 Agamemnon is represented as having obtained his equipment 

 from Cyprus. The Cyprians continued famous as metallurgists, 

 and, even after iron was introduced, their swords remained cele- 

 brated — ^at least we may judge so from the fact that Alexander 

 the Great is stated to have carried a Cyprian sword. 



Dr. Richter is now engaged upon the publication of a large 

 illustrated work which will give a full account of his discoveries, 

 with his interpretation of the facts that he has had the good for- 

 tune to bring to light in the twelve years of his Cyprian explora- 

 tions. It is sincerely to be desired that he may be induced to fol- 

 low Mr. Petrie's example; and that, along with the exhaustive 

 volume more particularly intended for specialists, he will also 

 publish a risume embodying his principal results. 



CLIFF- AND CAVE-DWELLERS OF CENTRAL ARIZONA. 



BY J. W. TOURNEY, TUCSON, AKIZONA. 



There is no part of the United States that is of more interest to 

 the archaeologist than our great south-west. This region, which 

 includes all of Arizona, has but little rain, and during the long 

 summer lies scorching under an almost tropical sun. It is true 

 that in the mountains of the Territory the heat is greatly lessened, 

 but from our geographical position we are subject to prolonged 

 droughts for weeks and months at a time. 



It is a question whether our present meteorological conditions 

 are the same as when the cave- and cliflf-dwellers cultivated fields 

 upon our now barren mesas. Tbroughout this vast territory are 

 hundreds of ruined casas and vacant caves, whose silent walls 

 and rough-hewn stones are the only history we have of this early 

 people. Whither they have gone and who they were is shrouded 

 in the grave ; neither the fierce Apache nor the more gentle tribes 

 of the south know who were the architects of these interesting 

 and wonderful structures. The Zuni and Moqui have been ques- 

 tioned, but without result. They all shake their heads. Even 

 the oldest of the Indians, with traditions extending back many 

 generations, know nothing of the builders of these old stone and 

 adobe walls which have withstood the elements for so many years. 

 At some future time these silent walls may speak out through 

 the mind of man and give to the world glimpses into the history 

 of a people who are now lost in antiquity. Peculiar marks on 

 rocks and pottery all mean something, and the world is waiting 

 for someone to unlock these closets and let a ray of light upon 

 their mysterious symbols. 



In the valley of the Verde River, not far from the now aban- 

 doned fort, and on the surrounding cliffs and hills are many old 

 ruins. Many of these are as interesting and as little-known as 

 any to be found in the south-west. Far from railroad and in a 

 wild and rugged region, it is not strange that they have been 

 studied so little. The banks of the river and many of its tribu- 

 taries are lined with ruins. The prominent cliffs are crowned with 

 walls of great flat stones, many of them as erected ages ago. 



The clear water of Beaver Creek reaches the Verde a few rods 

 above the old fort. A ride of several miles along this creek brings 

 one to high cliffs extending a hundred or more feet above the 

 waters of the creek. In the perpendicular walls of one of these 

 cliffs is a well-preserved ruin known as Montezuma's castle. It 

 is midway between the rim of the cliff and the bed of the stream, 

 and is neither house nor cave, but a combination of the two. 

 Not accessible from the summit of the cliff, it can only be reached 



from below, and even here not without the use of a ladder, which, 

 if short, must be pulled up from one ledge to another in making 

 the ascent. The entire front is of artificial walls built of large, 

 flat pieces of limestone, with openings here and there for doors 

 and windows. The rooms are small, only about five feet to ceil- 

 ing. Generally a small opening two or three feet in diameter 

 joins one room with another, and a similar orifice in tbejceiling 



B, 





Diagram showing vertical section of cave at right-angles to cUfE. The lino 

 AB represents face of cliff ; C, a small cave at rear ; E, main cave ; F, rock. 

 bench ; (?, entrance ; H, rock of cUff. 



gives access to the room above. The ceilings are so low that 

 steps are not necessary to pass from the first floor consecutively 

 through the several stories of the structure. The openings in the 

 ceilings never fall directly under each other. If the orifice is in 

 the north-west corner in the first ceiling, it will be in the south- 

 east comer in the next ceiling above, and so alternating back and 

 forth to the top. This of course eliminates the possibility of fall- 

 ing more than five or six feet, or the height of one story. The 



f 1.',//'/, /,/>/■ './ 



'/' 7,/>/ 

 /' 1/ ' , I, , 





Diagram showing vertical section through large horizontal flssnre \ AB, Hne 

 representing face of cliff ; C, enclosed room ; £>, wall of masonry. 



Type of pre-hlatorio dwelling along the Grand Canon of the Colorado River. 



floors are mostly of flat stones supported on timber cut from the 

 surrounding mountains. 



Many of the timbers are perfectly sound, while others, where 

 the rains have beaten against them, have decayed away and the 

 floors fallen in. A few of the rooms facing the creek have cross- 

 walls built of limestone, without mortar or cement of any kind. 

 They all show considerable skill in their construction. The rooms 

 at the rear are dark, dungeon-like caves hollowed from the solid 



