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Show Important Indian Find At Boulder UV NETIIELLA GRIFFIN Nina Moosman trailed behind fifteen university professors, national and state park men, newspaper photographers, a congressman's assistant, and a state highway engineer who were here Saturday to view the excavations of the ancient Indian dwellings and to hear Dr. Robert H. Lister of the University of Utah department of anthropology explain the findings that he and his staff have, made. The visitors saw the remains of nine rooms on a row thought to havo been used for storage, a series of five living rooms with fire holes In tho floor, a large room evidently a klva (ceremonial room, with Us ventilating shaft, several other living rooms, a meal bin, and soma burial places. Dramatically, two of the workmen were Just In the act of uncovering tho skeleton of ono of theso aboriglnlal people. That It was tho remains of a person of considerable importance was evident from the unusual number of fine vessek Interred therewith. Everyone was speculating tuat ihe grave was that of a chief tan, but after the visitors had left for thelc trip to Hole In tho Rock, Dr. lister and some of the workmen finished uncovering the skeleton and found It o bd female, a princess, no doubt. Thirteen bowls and ollai," warer jars, won found, besides a lovely necklace made of polished turquoise pieces, and a dainty bead bracelet Very little jewelry has been found in any of the burials. One stone pendant was found last year. The bones of this skeleton were delicate and feminine. She had a perfect set of lower teeth, all in place, through her uppers har been disarranged somewhat. Dr.'Lister pointed out that thd walls of the buildings had been constructed of masonry or or jacal which consists of narrow posts set close together and the spaces filled with mud and plaster. There is evidence that tho roofs had also been made of posts, some of them covered with slate rock. Entrance to most of the rooms had been throughthe roof by means of thonged ladders, as Is the way with most pueblo dwellings Wood In the buildings has mostly been destroyed by fire, but the age of the charred Umber can bo determined. Occupation of the dwellings Is thought to have been between 1075 and 1275 A D. Located n a sandy knoll, mainly on the E, II- Coombs property, the place Is designated In anthropological writings as the Coombs site. State park officials and the people of Boulder are hoping that the site can someday Je made Into a state museums After three weeks more worfct& (continued inside) -i w BOULDER k excavations will be covered with a thick plastic material and then tho dirt will be scraped back over the rooms to protect them until further development is made. All skeletons, tools, bowls, weapons, etc., taken from the mound will be transported to the University of Utah, where pottery and skeletons will be restored -as nearly as possible to their original state. If a museum Is established here, these will be returned and put on display. Among Saturday's visitors were Dr. Jesse D. Jennings l i4 who had much to do with starting the excavations last year. Professor Charles E. Dibble, also of the XT. of U. Department of anthropology was present, as were seven professors from other departments of the university. The National Park Service was represented by Charles R. Steen and Jim Eden, and the Utah State Parks by Albert Albcrtson. Wallace Ste-phensen, district highway engineer was here, and also Frank Munsel, assistant to Congressman King. Marvin Fairbanks represented the De-serct News and William S. Smiley, the Salt Lake Trib-' . une. Dave Dibble, photographer for the Glen Canyon arche-ologlcal salvage project, has been here for several days. A number of Escalante people, mainly relatives of the men employed at the site, were among Saturday's visitors. Mr. and Mrs. Errington Heaps of Payson and their daughter and her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Maynard Kay of Eureka were visitors on Saturday seeing friends and , viewing tho Indian ruins. George Curtis of Orem and two of his brothers-in-law have been vacationing here with headquarters at the Bur-nell Baker- home. They have been fishing on the mountain and chasing wild horses in Circle Cliffs. Ivan Lyman and family were trying out their new casting rods at Spectacle lake last week. I enjoyed two days fishing with the Howard Lar-sens of Gunnison at Fish lake and Ferron reservoir. The latter was the most reward-' lng in numbers of fish caught and, for me, of seeing new and beautiful mountains. Richfield visitors this week were Mr. and Mrs. Vera Hansen, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Ormond and Mrs. Idona Haws. Mr. and Mrs. Leland Haws spent several days In ' FaU Lake this week where he at- N tended business meetings. Leland was a speaker at the funeral of his aunt, Mrs. Ruth Lyman at Payson on Monday. Others who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Lyman, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Haws, Emeron Peterson, and Mrs. Neta Poulsen. Ferrel Ormond of Annabel and Raymond Ormond of Pleasant Grove are vacationing here this week. Retd Ormond and his family of Annabel spent the weekend here. |