Aztec Ruins Administrative History

FOR USERS
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Research

Research to increase viewer understanding of the prehistoric story laid bare at Aztec Ruins was one of the MISSION 66 goals. Planners considered several excavation possibilities and decided each was impractical at the time. One was the East Ruin. The scientific reasons for excavation of this site centered on settling questions of Chaco versus Mesa Verde occupations using field and laboratory techniques far advanced over those employed by the pioneering American Museum team of one. However, funding for the enormous and complex undertaking was not available. A second possible target for excavation was the courtyard of the West Ruin in order to determine the extent of its utilization before erection of the Chacoan great house. Work there had the drawbacks of inconvenience for both diggers and visitors and, because of severe drainage problems, of unfavorably tipping the delicate balance between ruin survival and its destruction. At the time, stabilization difficulties were at their most critical level.

Superintendent Hastings presented a number of other research topics, which he felt would enhance the Aztec Ruins story. These were a restudy of the two ceramic traditions represented at the West Ruin, analysis of the relationship of Chaco and Mesa Verde branches of the Anasazi, an archeological survey of surrounding areas, compilation of a trait list, and a collection and study of vertebrates and insects native to the locality. [31] The Master Plan of 1964 for Aztec Ruins National Monument and a contemporary Southwest Archeological Center report specified some of these same topics as worthy of consideration. The Southwest Archeological Center paper stressed the need for sampling horizons prior to the twelfth century. [32] None of these proposals was carried out.

Nonetheless, several lesser pieces of research were finished during the MISSION 66 period. One resulted from clearing the grounds in front of the visitor center so that they could be landscaped. What was suspected of being a prehistoric trash heap was located to the northeast of the parking lot (see Figure 3.22). [33] Archeologists James C. Maxon and George Chambers confirmed that the four-foot-high undisturbed mound was an aboriginal dump. Rodents cached intrusive peach and apricot pits in it. [34] The old refuse probably was left from the terminal occupation of the West Wing rooms just to its north, where Mesa Verde tenancy was most intense. [35] Even so, there were some signs of a Chacoan deposit at the mound's eastern side. That correlates with Morris's description of a southwest Chacoan refuse deposit. [36]

A study done by Lyndon L. Hargrave, long-time student of the Anasazi and then a collaborator in ornithology and archeology at the Southwest Archeological Center, concluded with the identification of species of birds represented in bodily remains and artifacts uncovered during stabilization. Identifiable species probably used for food and feathers were Canada goose, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, grouse, mourning dove, black-billed magpie, and common raven. All these types of birds are modern residents in the area. The overwhelming source for bird bone needed for objects such as awls and bead tubes was the sole species of turkey native to North America, the Meleagris gallopavo. [37] The great economic importance of the turkey was demonstrated further by a microscopic examination of feather materials on more than a 100 Aztec Ruins items at the Southwest Archeological Center in 1960. Articles with feather filaments, down, or barbs were socks, robes, bags, rope strands, and arrowshafts. Without exception, all these feather remains were Meleagris gallopavo. [38] Hargrave pointed out that leg or foot wear, actually socks that extended up a wearer's leg about six inches, were made of netted yucca cordage. Only under a microscope could he see tiny pieces of quill and feathers inserted into the meshes to provide warmth and comfort. [39]

The evidence for bird types examined by Hargrave does not represent the complete gamut present at Aztec Ruins. Of more exotic importance were macaws from Mexico. Their recovered remains are in the American Museum collections in New York.