Archeological investigations in New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah — John Shaqi
Archeological investigations in New Mexico, Colorado, and UtahFewkes, Jesse Walter
History
Archeological investigations in New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah
Fewkes, Jesse Walter
Colorado -- Antiquities; Indians of North America -- Antiquities; New Mexico -- Antiquities; Utah -- Antiquities
Ruin B (pls. 7, 8, _b_) is a better preserved example of the tower type
and is on a ridge considerably lower than that on which ruin A stands
extending at right angles. It occupies a narrow space from the rim of
Hill Canyon on one side to a rim of a tributary canyon, blocking the
passageway along the surface of the ridge to its point. This structure
(fig. 12) would appear to be structurally not unlike ruin A, but with
the wall smaller. There is a raised bench on the south side, the
tower itself being a semi-circular chamber annexed to the north side,
which extends from one canyon rim to another. The breadth of this
semi-circular room is 10 feet. The longest dimension is 31 feet and the
average height of its wall is 4 feet. The top of the wall, throughout,
is unevenly broken down, the part adjoining the bench being the best
preserved. The structure suggests a fort, for it would not be possible
to pass between this obstructing ruin without entering it through a
circular doorway, the walls of which still stand on the east side.
There is no passage between the wall and the mesa edge.
LONG MESA RUIN
[Illustration: FIG. 13.—Ground plan of towers on Long Mesa.]
On the flat top of a long and narrow mesa (pl. 9, _a_, _b_) rising
about 200 feet from the middle of Hill Creek Canyon a few miles above
Taylor’s ranch, there is a cluster of three circular ruins, whose
walls are composed of well constructed masonry, now much dilapidated.
The surface of this plateau, near the end looking down the canyon, is
partitioned off from the remainder by a low transverse wall, extending
from one side to the other. This wall was built advantageously for
defense and apparently designed to prevent passage of foes from the
upper end of the plateau into the area where the circular rooms are
situated. About midway in its length it has a passageway, the jambs of
which are still visible. Three circular ruins (fig. 13) make up the
cluster on the lower end of the mesa, each averaging about 15 feet in
diameter, all constructed of low walls of stones dressed into proper
shape. These buildings are not connected but separated by intervals.
The tops of the walls for several feet have fallen, exposing interiors
which are almost completely filled with stones and rubble.
[Illustration: FIG. 14.—Ground plan of Eight Mile Ruin.]
EIGHT MILE RUIN
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