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）。 Further inquiry revealed the fact that all the small dwellings were but storage houses for corn and other foods。
Textiles。 Excavation brought forth delicate textiles in cotton and yucca fibre； well…woven； and in a remarkable state of preservationsilent testimony to the dry climate； and the fact that the dwellings were so constructed that rain and snow were practically excluded。 Basketry and pottery in large quantities were found； all showing ability in manufacture； also artistic skill； anti…aesthetic conception in the form of the articles and the designs portrayed upon them。
Excavated Relics。 Stone hammers and axes； obsidian； flint and other arrow…heads； spear…heads； and knives； mortars and pestles； metates or meal grinders； obsidian and flint drills for making holes through stone or shell； bows and arrows；the bows of tough wood often brought from afar； and the arrows pointed with chipped flint or obsidian； deftly and securely tied to the shaft with tough and durable strings of sinews； shell beads； pipes； bone awls； punches； needles； etc。； stone fetiches in semblance of animals； the like of which were never seen on land or sea； ornaments of shell； turquoise and onyx； and even a kind of jade； sandals and mats of yucca fibre； and exquisitely delicate feather robes；these are some of the things that the excavators have found。 Corn…cobs； melon rinds and grass seeds may be added to the list。
Old Cemeteries。 Thenmost interesting of findsa number of cemeteries were located； and these were raked and scraped over until every visible secret hidden in their depths was brought into the light of the sun。
Tracing the Indian Races。 Now here were numbers of facts to work upon。 Then the myths； legends and traditions of the Indians living near by were carefully collected and studied； and light began to dawn in the minds of our archaeologists。 The Hopis in Northern Arizona； the Zunis in New Mexico； the Acomas who live on the massive cliff twenty miles south of the Santa Fe Railway at Laguna Station； the score of pueblos on the banks of the Rio Grande； even to far…away Taos；all contributed their share to the elucidation of the mystery。 Even the semi…nomadic Navaho had something to say which helped。 Cushing found among the Zuni stories galore of their struggles with the fierce and warlike wandering tribes； who constantly harassed the home…loving people who built their rude villages。 Fewkes not only unearthed whole cities of the past； but； gained from the nearby Hopis their traditions； which told in reasonable and intelligible form what was most probably their history。 He listened while their old men and women recited the stories and legends of their migration from the south northwards； and how certain families or clans came from this or that direction； building and inhabiting certain now ruined dwellings in ages long past。 Others heard similar stories； which they investigated as far as possible； compared with the ruins named； and then recorded； with such discovered facts as helped in the elucidation of the problems involved。
Ancestors of the Pueblo People。 All these investigations pointed to one great fact； and that was that the cliff and cave dwellers of the Grand Canyon region and all the contiguous country were none other than the ancestors of the present pueblo people；those who live in the Hopi villages； the Zuni villages； Acoma； Laguna； Santo Domingo； Isleta； Teseque； Jemez； Taos； San Ildefonso； Zia and the rest。
With this luminous fact before them； a greater study began of these pueblo people； and it was then found that； to this day； they use the same utensils； make the same implements； wear the same ornaments； follow the same burial customs； and generally live the same life that these ancient cliff…dwellers did。 The conclusions； therefore； are obvious and inevitable。 The cliff…dwellers were none other than the ancestors of the pueblo people； a little less advanced； doubtless； in the march of civilization； yet already far progressed from the rude civilization of the nomad。 They were driven to occupy the inaccessible cliffs by the constant attacks of the warlike nomads。
Sedentary and Home…loving Indians。 Thus the cliff dwellings become interesting memorials of the great fight for existence； where one race has striven to the very death with other races； and the weaker have either given way or been swept out of existence。 The picture is easy to draw。 The country was peopled with these sedentary and home…loving Indians。 They had come largely from the south； had settled down； had built their humble villages； tilled their fields and cultivated their crops。 The women made baskets and pottery； and the men hunted game； while the women prepared it for food； and gathered seeds； nuts and roots to eke out their not overextensive dietary。 Young men and women grew up； felt the dawnings of love and the final awakenings of the great passion； and then married； settled down in a house the community helped them to build； and began to work a piece of land selected for them； or at least approved； by the town council。 For； even in those early days； there is every evidence that these people had a definite and distinct form of democratic government； to the elected officials of which they yielded an almost perfect reverence and obedience。 In due time； happy and healthy children were born to them。
Peaceful and Religious。 They were a religious people； were these early dwellers in the land。 They built kivas and estufas；under and above ground ceremonial chambers；where they regularly and decorously met to worship by dance； recitation of ancient songs； telling of divine leadings and interpositions on their behalf； smoking； singing； prayer； and the observance of other ritual。 Thus happy； contented and basking in the favor of Those Above； they dwelt； until suddenly a new and unfavorable element was injected into their hitherto peaceful life。 The buffetings of nature they had become accustomed to； and they had kept their bodies healthy so as to resist these assaults； but now human storms were about to burst upon them。 Apaches in the south； Comanches and Navahos in the east； Utes and Navahos in the north； Mohaves and Yumas in the west began to encroach upon them。 Envious eyes gazed upon their houses and the goods that industry and skill had gathered within。 Those who had no food stored when famine swooped upon them； came and begged from those who had。 By and by jealousy and envy prompted theft； and then strife began。 Strife spread and grew； until war in all its horrors became the normal condition。 In self preservation； these peaceable； friendly； hospitable peoples were compelled to be warriors。 But their foes were many and crafty； skilful in war； wary in attack and retreat。 Their harassments became more than could be borne； so； in their desperation； the peaceable people retreated to the cliffs and walls of the Canyons； where surprise could be guarded against； where a small supply of water could be reasonably sure； and where； not too far away； when permitted to do so； they might cultivate a small piece of arable land。
Compelled to Wage War。 Think of the state of affairs！ A state of perpetual siege and watchfulness； of readiness to fight at any moment； of keeping lookouts on the alert day and night； of working in the fields with one hand on the implements of peace and industry； and the other on the implements of war。 The night attack； murder； rapine； fire and bloodshed became common experiences； and the discovery of many bodies； the skulls crushed with battleaxes； of skeletons of men slain with the deadly arrow； of bodies twisted by torture and charred by fire； reveal what a reign of terror and dread that epoch must have been in the land of the cliff…dweller。
Houses Became Fortresses。 For how many decades or centuries this lasted； we do not know。 Somewhat uncertain tradition is all we have to rely upon。 But ultimately the pressure became less severe。 In some cases； hostilities largely ceased； in others； they became less constant。 So the pueblos we find in existence to…day slowly began to arise。 One by one； the bands of cliff…dwellers dared to leave their wall fortresses and to build in more congenial places； nearer to their fields and springs or water…cou