Circular Relating To Historic And Prehistoric Ruins Of The Southwest And Their Preservation PDF Download

Excerpt from Circular Relating to Historic and Prehistoric Ruins of the Southwest and Their Preservation We now know them to be very numerous and of great value. The question of the preservation of this vast treasury of information relative to our prehistoric tribes has come to be a matter of much concern to the American people. Fortunately there seems to be no barrier to the speedy accomplishment of this. By the prompt exercise of the authority lodged in various branches of the Interior Department, the preservation of the ruins is assured. I shall endeavor to show that there is urgent need for the immediate exercise of this authority. This done, the work of legislation to the end that these regions may be made a perpetual source of education and enjoyment for the American people as well as for travelers from foreign lands may proceed with the careful deliberation which the subject demands. Unquestionably some of these regions are sufficiently rich in historic and scientific interest and scenic beauty to warrant their organization into permanent national parks. Many others should be temporarily withdrawn and allowed to revert to the public domain after the ruins thereon have been examined by competent authority, the collections therefrom properly cared for, and all data that can be secured made a matter of permanent record. General legislation providing for the creation and administration of such parks and providing for the excavation of ruins in the interests of science only is urgently needed. It is well known that during recent years an extensive traffic has arisen in relics from these ruins. In securing these, buildings, mounds, etc., have been destroyed. These relics are priceless when secured by proper scientific methods and of comparatively little value when scattered about either in museums or private collections without accompanying records. No scientific man is true to the highest ideals of science who does not protest against this destructive work, and it will be a lasting reproach upon our Government if it does not use its power to restrain it. With a view to furnishing concise information upon which preservative measures may be based I have compiled the accompanying map, showing by geographical districts the location of the most important ruins in the pueblo region. My sources of information have been both official and unofficial, and the work is based upon the highest authority obtainable. However, the map is not intended to be mathematically correct. It will show, approximately, the location of important ruins. Some may have entirely disappeared since the maps were made from which this compilation is made, and more recent surveys might require important modifications. It may serve as a beginning for something more exact and more complete. I have prepared to accompany this a memorandum concerning the ruins located on each district, and have taken the liberty to point out how adequate protection may be afforded such as are on the public domain. Reference to the accompanying map will show at a glance that the distribution of the prehistoric tribes of the Southwest was determined by the drainage system. The great basins of the Rio Grande, the San Juan, the Little Colorado and the Gila constitute the four great seats of prehistoric culture of the so-called pueblo region. The remains of this ancient culture are scattered extensively over these four areas, and it is not to be hoped nor would it be a service to science to attempt to preserve all these remains. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com