


1891. Archeology and Ethnology. 769 
Aztecs and cliff-dwellers is indeed one of the regions o the most 
profound interest to the archeologist to be found on the American 
continent. Almost everywhere on the now bare and desert plains, in 
the fertile valleys, lovely cafions, and even lofty mountain-tops, the 
ruined houses and pueblos of this most interesting and once-powerful 
people, exist. 
It is evident that both the Aztecs and cliff-dwellers (were they dis- 
tinct races?) were driven out by a stronger race, whether by the Span- 
iards or others. Their houses have been burned, and in every room 
in the ancient pueblos which the writer has examined there are found 
from one to several well-preserved skeletons of men, women, and 
babes, all apparently laying where they fell by the hands of foes. 
All inflammable material, as the reeds, grasses, and poles forming 
the roof and posts, have been consumed, and the rocks and adobe 
fallen in, burying the bodies of their former inhabitants where they 
fell. Generally the household utensils, etc., are found where they were 
apparently last used. 
In the Mimbres valley and elsewhere these ancient ruins are very 
numerous, occurring from one-fourth to two miles apart 
In making excavations in these ruins the writer has found beautiful 
clay and sandstone dishes, clay (made from fragments of painted pot- 
tery), bone, stone, and turquoise beads and ornaments, various stone 
implements, utensils, etc. 
At Cook’s Peak extensive mining irena were carried on by 
these ancient people,! and now are to be seen large numbers of their 
ancient workings, which had been filled with débris worked from the 
mountain-side, but which have since been cleaned out, and the mines 
now worked. 
These old mines are of great interest, and much time and study have 
been given them by the writer. The ore is mainly a low-grade argen- 
iferous ‘‘sand-carbonate.’’ In mining, fire and water and rude stone 
hammers were used. 
Of these hammers the writer has found more than thirty. When 
these mines were cleaned out ashes and large quantities of charcoal 
were found, all presenting as fresh an appearance as if the work had 
been done but a short time ago. When the hard galena ore was 
reached the mines were abandoned. There have been found in these 
mines small voyers, broken pottery, arrow-points, bone, crystal, and 
aah beads, stone hammers, etc., most of which are now in the 
r’s possession. I also found asmall, rude smelter near one of these 
pe mines, = a nasotity of slag oam br 
lt A } le were feoned by the 
At mmay F pl iti WEIG worked a F 
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