Arizona Ancient Ruins
This Territory is covered with ruins, which prove conclusively it was once
densely populated by a people far in advance, in point of civilization, to
most of the Indian tribes. There is no written record of them, and it is
only a matter of conjecture who and what they were. Occasionally a
deserted house is found sufficiently well preserved to ascertain the
character of the architecture. The wall's of the Casa Grande, situated on
the Gila, near Sanford, are still two stories above the ground. In size,
the structure is about 30 by 60 feet; the walls are thick and made of mud,
which was evidently confined and dried as it was built. It is divided into
many small rooms, and the partitions are also made of mud. The floors were
made by placing sticks close together and covering them with cement.
Around and near the Casa Grande, are the ruins of many other buildings,
but by the lapse of time the decay of vegetation has formed earth and
nearly covered them, and all that now marks the place where once a stately
mansion stood is the elevation of the ground. Near the Ancha Mountains are
ruins not so extensive, but in far better preservation than the Casa
Grande, and near these ruins are old arastras, for the reduction of silver
ores, which indicate that this old people were not unmindful of the root
of all evil. On the Verde River are immense rooms dug in from the side of
high, perpendicular sandstone banks that can only be reached with ladders.
Very little information is obtained by excavating these ruins. Pottery of
an excellent quality, and ornamented with paint, is found everywhere, and
occasionally a stone axe is unearthed, but nothing lo indicate that they
were a warlike people; on the contrary, scarcely an implement of defense
can be found, though there are reasons to believe, from the numerous
lookouts or places for observation to be seen on the tops of hills and
mountains, and the construction of their houses, that they had enemies,
and that they were constantly on the alert to avoid surprise; and also,
that by the hands of these enemies they perished. It is not improbable
that the Apaches were the enemies who caused their destruction. Indeed,
the Apaches have a legend that such is the case, and believe the lime will
come when they will be able to exterminate or drive us from the country.
When we consider- that they have fought all other Indian tribes, and have
so far successfully resisted the military power of Spain, Mexico and the
United States, this does not seem like a very unreasonable anticipation.
The ruins of towns, farms and irrigating canals that are to be seen on
every hand over this vast Territory, give abundant proof that this country
was once densely inhabited, and that the people who lived here maintained
themselves by cultivating the soil, and that is probably about all we
shall ever know of them. Many hieroglyphics are lo be seen on rocks in
different portions of the Territory, but who made by, or what they mean,
no one knows.
In excavating a well between Tucson and the Gila, at the depth of one
hundred and fifty feel, pottery and other articles, the same as are found
in the vicinity of ruins, were taken out.
