Part 2

Firepits were found in most of the dwellings. These were usually directly in front of the door 4 or 5 feet inside the room. Smoke vents were placed above the door at the top of the wall against the cave roof. Not all the smoke found its way out, as can be seen where the walls and roofs of many rooms are still heavily smoke-blackened. However, there seems to have been a definite attempt to develop circulation of air by adjusting the size of the smoke vent and the door opening.

Fires were kindled with a wooden spindle rotated on a hearth-stick until friction ignited some tinder underneath. The spindle might be made from Holly Grape, the hearth-stick from Yucca, and the tinder from shredded Juniper bark.

Clay pots were used for cooking vessels. These were placed directly over the fire and were able to withstand considerable heat. Some cooking may have been done over a flat rock (or _comal_) used as a griddle, and other foods could be broiled over the coals.

There was little opportunity for seasoning food. Salt could be obtained from the Verde Valley near Montezuma Castle about 75 miles to the south. No doubt salt was an item of barter which was eagerly sought, and instead of being found in the daily diet it may have been used almost like a confection.

For sweetening they may have used Mescal (or Century Plant). Cactus fruits and dried squash are said to have been used.

A "lemonade" beverage could be made from the berries of Sumac found occasionally on the Monument.

WHO WERE THE CLIFF DWELLERS?

Pueblo Indians are distinguished in the Southwest by a combination of three culture traits. These are the construction of communal houses, the practice of agriculture, and the making of pottery. All these traits were exhibited by the cliff dwellers in Walnut Canyon. Archeologists designate them as the Sinagua (sih-NAH-wah), and place them into the broad classification of the Pueblo III period which marked the zenith of the prehistoric Pueblo culture. There are no kivas in Walnut Canyon. The masonry is usually not coursed, perhaps because of the rough building material available.

WHY DID THE CLIFF DWELLERS LEAVE?

Several forces which may have worked singly or in combination to displace the cliff dwellers were drouth, enemy raids, and insanitary conditions. One of the most probable causes of abandonment was drouth. The Sinagua may have found it necessary to augment their water supply by making earthen dams along the lower side of natural pools (particularly farther down the canyon where it broadens). With only a slight decline in annual precipitation the stream would fail entirely in early summer and disrupt the entire community.

A study of the tree rings reveals that a 23-year drouth prevailed in the Southwest from 1276 to 1299 A.D. It appears that the Walnut Canyon cliff dwellers were gone before that time, and perhaps they were displaced by an earlier drouth of less duration.

It is doubtful that the cliff dwellers perished, but rather that their blood flows in the veins of some of the living Pueblo Indians. The Hopis are said to have legends which indicate their ancestors once lived in cliff caves. Hopi Indian visitors sometimes comment on the cliff dwellings being the homes of their ancestors, and there is some evidence to support this. Hopi Indians are of the same basic type which inhabited Walnut Canyon. Studies made on the cliff dwellers' physical remains reveal they were a short, stocky people much like the Hopi of today.

ARTS, CRAFTS, AND ORNAMENTS

In addition to pottery making, the Indians did some weaving and basket making. They were acquainted with cotton textiles, and since cotton would not mature at this elevation, they must have traded for raw cotton or the finished products. We do not know the full details of what style clothes these people wore, but we are sure they liked shell beads, pendants, armlets, paint of several colors, and jet buttons.

Turquoise was possessed by some. The nearest known sources are several miles distant, where it was mined from solid rock with stone and wooden tools.

Some shells were imported from points as distant as the Gulf of Lower California over trade routes that have been well defined.

Petroglyphs are rare in the region, perhaps because of the absence of flat sandstone on which to work. The rock pictures have been found at only one spot in the bottom of the canyon and are few.

Some families may have possessed Macaws, since such bones were found in other prehistoric dwellings not far away. Bones of various Owls were found in Nalakihu, a ruin near the Citadel in Wupatki National Monument, but only Hawk bones were found in the Winona ruins near Walnut Canyon.

FLORA AND FAUNA

Walnut Canyon National Monument is at the junction of the Pine with the Pinyon and Juniper belt. Ponderosa Pine trees grow on both sides of the canyon and have golden brown bark. The shorter trees are Pinyon and Juniper, four species of which are known to occur on the Monument. There are scattered clumps of Gambel Oak, and several perennial shrubs of smaller size. One hundred and sixty plant species have been collected, identified, and filed in the herbarium. Several varieties of Penstemon are seen in summer and the Evening Primrose is common.

In addition to the animals mentioned elsewhere, visitors in the warm months may see two kinds of Squirrels and numerous birds including the Raven, Turkey Vulture, Stellar Jay, Nuthatch, and others. In summer, lizards are common and are often found on the outside walls or benches of the museum where they study visitors with considerable interest.

APPROACHES AND FACILITIES

Walnut Canyon is located on a dirt road which forms a loop off Highway 66. From the east the entrance gate is about 4 miles from the paved road, and from the west about 7.

There are no overnight accommodations or camp ground on the Monument, but there is a picnic area. Flagstaff, Arizona, where meals and lodging may be had, is 12 miles from the Monument.

A superintendent and a ranger are in residence on the Monument, and it is open the year around. However, the season of most desirable weather extends from April 1 to November 1.

PLEASE NOTICE

Many persons visit here each day. If each will preserve the wild flowers, and protect the ruins from defacement, Walnut Canyon will remain a lovely place for future visitors to enjoy. For this reason it is also asked that picnickers leave a dead fire and a clean camp in the designated picnic area.

Because the wild animals--Birds, Squirrels, Foxes, Turkeys, etc.--become tame and trusting in this, their protected refuge, domestic pets should not be allowed to harm them, and must be kept on leash or in cars.

If you smoke, please be very careful while on the trail.

Your suggestions and cooperation will be sincerely appreciated.

_This National Monument contains 1,642 acres. Most of it is forested and at times the fire hazard is extreme. Please help us maintain a record of no serious fires, and LET'S KEEP IT CLEAN._

Walnut Canyon National Monument, a unit of the National Park System, is one of the 25 National Monuments administered by the General Superintendent, Southwestern National Monuments, National Park Service, Department of the Interior, Gila Pueblo, Globe, Arizona.

The traveling public is becoming increasingly aware of the National Monuments, which have received less publicity than the great, well-known National Parks, yet which possess extremely interesting features.

Many of these are in the Southwest; we hope you will take the opportunity to visit one or more of them on your trip.

_Administered as a group by the General Superintendent, Southwestern National Monuments, Gila Pueblo, Globe, Arizona_

IN COLORADO: Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Box 60, Alamosa IN UTAH: Arches National Monument, Moab Natural Bridges National Monument (care of Arches) Rainbow Bridge National Monument (care of Navajo) IN NEW MEXICO: Aztec Ruins National Monument, Aztec Bandelier National Monument, Santa Fe Capulin Mountain National Monument, Capulin Chaco Canyon National Monument, Bloomfield El Morro National Monument, El Morro Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument (care of General Supt.) Gran Quivira National Monument, Gran Quivira White Sands National Monument, Box 231, Alamogordo IN ARIZONA: Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chinle Casa Grande National Monument, Coolidge Chiricahua National Monument, Dos Cabezas Montezuma Castle National Monument, Camp Verde Navajo National Monument, Tonalea Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Ajo Saguaro National Monument, Rt. 8, Box 520, Tucson Sunset Crater National Monument (care of Wupatki) Tonto National Monument, Roosevelt Tumacacori National Monument, Tumacacori Tuzigoot National Monument, Clarkdale Walnut Canyon National Monument, Rt. 1, Box 790, Flagstaff Wupatki National Monument, Tuba Star Route, Flagstaff

_Other areas administered by the National Park Service in the Southwest follow_:

IN ARIZONA: Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon Grand Canyon National Monument, Grand Canyon Petrified Forest National Monument, Holbrook Pipe Spring National Monument, Moccasin IN ARKANSAS: Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs IN COLORADO: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument (care of Mesa Verde) Colorado National Monument, Fruita Mesa Verde National Park IN NEVADA: Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Boulder City Lehman Caves National Monument, Baker IN NEW MEXICO: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad IN OKLAHOMA: Platt National Park, Sulphur IN TEXAS: Big Bend National Park IN UTAH: Bryce Canyon National Park, Springdale Capitol Reef National Monument (care of Zion) Cedar Breaks National Monument (care of Zion) Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Pleasant Grove Zion National Monument (care of Zion) Zion National Park, Springdale

This booklet is published by the SOUTHWESTERN MONUMENTS ASSOCIATION Box 1562 K--Gila Pueblo, Globe, Arizona

_which is a non-profit distributing organization pledged to aid in the preservation and interpretation of Southwestern features of outstanding national interest_.

The Association lists for sale hundreds of interesting and excellent publications for adults and children and very many color slides on Southwestern subjects. These make fine gifts for birthdays, parties, and special occasions, and many prove to be of value to children in their school work and hobbies.

May we recommend, for instance, the following items which give additional information on Walnut Canyon National Monument and its environment?

***2x2 INCH KODACHROME DUPLICATES 50¢ each or 6 for $2.50 (order by number and letter)

PAUL THOMAS SERIES

K-10 A. Wupatki Ruins B. Wupatki Ruins and Amphitheater C. Sink Hole and Citadel Ruin D. Lomaki Ruin E. Box Canyon Ruin and San Francisco Peaks F. Earth Cracks

SWMA SERIES

B-1a Wupatki from southwest B-1b Wupatki from northwest B-1c Red House in black cinders G46 Wupatki from southwest (Lollesgard Slide) S-113 Spectacular Wukoki Ruin near Wupatki S-114 Citadel Butte and Ruin with Nalakihu Ruin in foreground S-115 Huge dry sink in the Kaibab Limestone by Citadel Ruin S-116 Crack-in-Rock Ruin on its sandstone cuesta S-117 Elaborate prehistoric petroglyphs on red Moenkopi sandstone near Crack-in-Rock Ruin

WALNUT CANYON NATIONAL MONUMENT, ARIZONA SWMA SLIDES

S-107 Opposite wall of canyon with dwellings taken from "Island" Trail S-108 Closeup of dwellings seen on "Island" Trail S-109 Water flowing in canyon west side Island (rare occurrence: when Lake Mary overflows).

KELLY CHODA SLIDES

AR58v Walnut Canyon from Ranger Station AR59 Ruins under cliffs, Walnut Canyon National Monument

****3. ARIZONA'S NATIONAL MONUMENTS. King, ed. Comprehensive chapters, written by rangers, on the 16 monuments in the state and Grand Canyon. Beautifully illustrated, maps, 116 pp. $3.00 ***45. FLOWERS OF THE SOUTHWEST DESERT. Dodge and Janish. More than 140 of the most interesting and common desert plants beautifully drawn in 100 plates, with descriptive text. 112 pp., color cover, paper $1.00 ***60. FLOWERS OF THE SOUTHWEST MESAS. Patraw and Janish. Companion volume to the Deserts flower booklet, but covering the plants of the plateau country of the Southwest. More than 150 species are beautifully illustrated in the 100 plates of line drawings by Jeanne R. Janish, with descriptive text. 112 pp., color cover, paper $1.00 ***61. FLOWERS OF THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS. Arnberger and Janish. Descriptions and illustrations of plants and trees of the southern Rocky Mountains and other Southwestern ranges above 7,000 feet elevation. 112 pp., color cover, paper $1.00 ***64. POISONOUS DWELLERS OF THE DESERT. Dodge. Invaluable handbook for any person living in the desert. Tells the facts about dangerous insects, snakes, etc., giving treatment for bites and stings, and dispels myths about harmless creatures mistakenly believed poisonous. 48 pp. $0.50 **131. NALAKIHU. Thorough and concise reports on an interesting pueblo in Wupatki National Monument. Technical but has interesting summaries and discussions. 183 pp., 81 plates, 17 tables $4.00

For the complete list of almost 100 publications and 1700 color slides on Southwestern Indians, geology, ruins, plants, animals, history, etc., ask the Ranger, or you can obtain one by mail by writing the

SOUTHWESTERN MONUMENTS ASSOCIATION Box 1562 K--Gila Pueblo, Globe, Arizona

Transcriber's Notes

--Silently corrected a few typos.

--Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.

--In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.

End of Project Gutenberg's Island Trail at Walnut Canyon, by Anonymous