Although mainly devoted to descriptions of the cliff-houses of the
Mesa Verde, Baron G. Nordenskiöld’s “Cliff-Dwellers of the Mesa Verde”
discusses in so broad a manner the relationship of pueblo ruins and
cliff-houses that no student can overlook this epoch-making work. In
fact, Nordenskiöld laid the foundations for subsequent students of
pueblo morphology, although some of his comparisons and generalizations
were premature because based on imperfect observations which have been
superseded by later investigations.
The partial excavation of the excellent ruin at the head of Cannonball
Canyon by S. G. Morley[8] sheds considerable light on the morphology
of prehistoric buildings in the McElmo district. Unfortunately
no attempt was made by him to repair the walls of this ruin for
permanent preservation, but it is not too late still to prevent
their further destruction and preserve them for future students and
visitors. Morley’s description of the buildings is accompanied by
good photographs and a ground plan. He brought to light in this ruin
examples of the characteristic unit type kiva.
[7] Amer. Anthrop., n. s. vol. v, no. 2, 1903.
[8] The Excavation of the Cannonball Ruins in Southwestern Colorado.
Amer. Anthrop., n. s. vol. x, no. 4, 1908.
The latest work on the McElmo Ruins, one part of which has already
appeared, is a joint contribution by Morley and Kidder.[9] In this
publication accurate dimensions and sites of ruins in the McElmo and
Square Ruin Canyons are given, with other instructive data. Morley
and Kidder have designated the ruins by Arabic numbers, and in a few
instances by names. The author has preserved these numbers so far as
possible in his account.
The following ruins in Ruin Canyon and neighboring district covered by
this reconnoissance are described by Morley and Kidder:
No. 1. Wickyup Canyon, Ruin 1 and Ruin 2, “Boulder Castle.”
No. 2. Two towers in Ruin Canyon: 1ᵃ, near the mouth; 1ᵇ,
Towers on or near forks, No. 1 [Hovenweep Pueblo],
No. 2 [Hovenweep Castle.]
No. 3. [Square Tower.]
No. 4. [Oval Tower.]
No. 5. [Tower.]
No. 6. [6.]
No. 7. [Boulder Cliff-house.]
No. 8. Twin Towers.
No. 9. [9.]
No. 10. [Unit type House.]
No. 11. Gibraltar House and ruin. [Stronghold House.]
No. 12. [12.]
The pueblos and cave dwellings of the “Pivotal group” (those on or near
the promontory at the junction of the McElmo and Yellow Jacket Canyons)
were also studied by the authors.
Almost the whole article by Morley and Kidder, which the editor
announces will be completed in a future number of “El Palacio,” is
devoted to descriptions of buildings[10] in Ruin and Road (Wickyup)
Canyons and the ruins of the “Pivotal group” at the base of a
promontory between the junction of the Yellow Jacket and McElmo.
[9] The Archaeology of McElmo Canyon, Colorado. El Palacio, vol. iv,
no. 4, Santa Fe, 1917.
[10] The dimensions of buildings and towers given in this article are
welcome additions to our knowledge, but from lack of ground plans
one can not fully determine the arrangement of rooms designated in
individual ruins.