From: ur-valhalla!cts.com!density4 (That 4th Density Dude)
Subject: Grand Canyon Artifacts
Message-ID: 
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 95 16:29 PDT

From the front page of THE PHOENIX GAZETTE of April 5th, 1909
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                     EXPLORATIONS IN GRAND CANYON

Mysteries of Immense Rich Cavern being brought to light Remarkable
finds indicate ancient people migrated from Orient


The latest news of the progress of the explorations of what is now
regarded by scientists as not only the oldest archeological discovery
in the United States, but one of the most valuable in the world, which
was mentioned some time ago in the Gazette, was brought to the city
yesterday by G.E. Kinkaid, the explorer who found the, which is
financing the expeditions, hae made discoveries which almost
conclusively prove that the race which inhabited this mysterious
cavern, hewn in solid rock by human hands, was of oriental origin,
possibly from Egypt, tracing back to Ramses.  If their theories are
borne out by the translation of the tablets engraved with
heiroglyphics, the mystery of the prehistoric peoples of North
America, their ancient arts, who they were and whence they came, will
be solved.  Egypt and the Nile, and Arizona and the Colorado will be
linked by a historical chain running back to ages which staggers the
wildest fancy of the fictionist.


::: A Thorough Examination :::

Under the direction of Prof. S.A. Jordan, the Smithsonian Institute is
now prosecuting the most thorough explorations, which will be
continued until the last link in the chain is forged.  Nearly a mile
underground, about 1480 feet below the surface, the long main passage
has been delved into, to find another mammoth chamber from which
radiates scores of passageways, like the spokes of a wheel.

Several hundred rooms have been discovered, reached by passageways
running from the main passage, one of them having been explored for
854 feet and another 634 feet.  The recent finds include articles
which have never been known as native to this country, and doubtless
they had their origin in the orient. War weapons, copper instruments,
sharp-edged and hard as steel, indicate the high state of civilization
reached by these strange people.  So interested have the scientists
become that preparations are being made to equip the camp for
extensive studies, and the force will be increased to thirty or forty
persons.


::: Mr. Kinkaid's Report :::

Mr. Kinkaid was the first white child born in Idaho and has been an
explorer and hunter all his life, thirty years having been in the
service of the Smithsonian Institute.  Even briefly recounted, his
history sounds fabulous, almost grotesque.

"First, I would impress that the cavern is nearly inaccessible.  The
entrance is 1,486 fet down the sheer canyon wall.  It is located on
government land and no visitor will be allowed there under penalty of
trespass.  The scientists wish to work unmolested, without fear of
archeological discoveries being disturbed by curio or relic hunters.

A trip there would be fruitless, and the visitor would be sent on his
way.  The story of how I found the cavern has been related, but in a
paragraph: I was journeying down the Colorado river in a boat, alone,
looking for mineral.  Some forty-two miles up the river from the El
Tovar Crystal canyon, I saw on the east wall, stains in the
sedimentary formation about 2,000 feet above the river bed.  There was
no trail to this point, but I finally reached it with great
difficulty.

Above a shelf which hid it from view from the river, was the mouth of
the cave.  There are steps leading from this entrance some thirty
yards to what was, at the time the cavern was inhabited, the level of
the river.  When I saw the chisel marks on the wall inside the
entrance, I became the discovery.  Following this, the explorations
were undertaken.


::: The Passages :::

"The main passageway is about 12 feet wide, narrowing to nine feet
toward the farther end.  About 57 feet from the entrance, the first
side-passages branch off to the right and left, along which, on both
sides, are a number of rooms about the size of ordinary living rooms
of today, though some are 30 by 40 feet square.  These are entered by
oval-shaped doors and are ventilated by round air spaces through the
walls into the passages.  The walls are about three feet six inches in
thickness.

The passages are chiseled or hewn as straight as could be laid out by
an engineer.  The ceilings of many of the rooms converge to a center.
The side-passages near the entrance run at a sharp angle from the main
hall, but toward the rear they gradually reach a right angle in
direction.


::: The Shrine :::

"Over a hundred feet from the entrance is the cross-hall, several
hundred feet long, in whic are found the idol, or image, of the
people's god, sitting cross-legged, with a lotus flower or lily in
each hand.  The cast of the face is oriental, and the carving this
cavern.  The idol almost resembles Buddha, though the scientists are
not certain as to what religious worship it represents.  Taking into
consideration everything found thus far, it is possible that this
worship most resembles the ancient people of Tibet.

Surrounding this idol are smaller images, some very beautiful in form;
others crooked-necked and distorted shapes, symbolical, probably, of
good and evil.  There are two large cactus with protruding arms, one
on each side of the dais on which the god squats.  All this is carved
out of hard rock resembling marble.  In the opposite corner of this
cross-hall were found tools of all descriptions, made of copper.
These people undoubtedly knew the lost art of hardening this metal,
which has been sought by chemicals for centureis without result.  On a
bench running around the workroom was some charcoal and other material
probably used in the process.  There is also slag and stuff similar to
matte, showing that these ancients smelted ores, but so far no trace
of where or how this was done has been discovered, nor the origin of
the ore.

"Among the other finds are vases or urns and cups of copper and gold,
made very artistic in design.  The pottery work includes enameled ware
and glazed vessels.  Another passageway leads to granaries such as are
found in the oriental temples.  They contain seeds of varous kinds.
One very large storehouse has not yet been entered, as it is twelve
feet high and can be reached only from above.  Two copper hooks extend
on the edge, which indicates that some sort of ladder was attached.
These granaries are rounded, as the materials of which they are
constructed, I think, is a ver hard cement.  A gray metal is also
found in this cavern, which puzzles the scientists, for its identity
has not been established.  It resembles platinum.  Strwn promiscuously
over the floor everywhere are what people call "cats eyse', a yellow
Smithsonian Institute hopes yet to discover.  The engraving on the
tables probably has something to do with the religion of the people.
Similar hieroglyphics have been found in southern Arizona.  Among the
pictorial writings, only two animals are found.  One is of prehistoric
type.


::: The Crypt :::

"The tomb or crypt in which the mummies were found is one of the
largest of the chambers, the walls slanting back at an angle of about
35 degrees.  On these are tiers of mummies, each one occupying a
separate hewn shelf.  At the head of each is a small bench, on which
is found copper cups and pieces of broken swords. Some of the mummies
are covered with clay, and all are wrapped in a bark fabric.

The urns or cups on the lower tiers are crude, while as the higher
shelves are reached, the urns are finer in design, showing a later
stage of civilization.  It is worthy of note that all the mummies
examined so far have proved to be male, no children or females being
buried here.  This leads to the belief that this exterior section was
the warriors' barracks.

"Among the discoveries no bones of animals have been found, no skins,
no clothing, no bedding.  Many of the rooms are bare but for water
vessels.  One room, about 40 by 700 feet, was probably the main dining
hall, for cooking utensils are found here.  What these people lived on
is a problem, though it is presumed that they came south in the winter
and farmed in the valleys, going back north in the summer.

Upwards of 50,000 people could have lived in the caverns comfortably.
One theory is that the present Indian tribes found in Arizona are
descendants of the serfs or slaves of the people which inhabited the
cave.  Undoubtedly a good many thousands of years before the Christian
era, a people lived here which reached a high stage of civilization.
The chronology of human history is full of gaps.  Professor Jordan is
much enthused over the discoveres and believes that the find will
prove of incalculable value in archeological work.

"One thing I have not spoken of, may be of interest.  There is one
chamber of the passageway to which is not ventilated, and when we
approached it a deadly, snaky smell struck us.  Our light would not
penetrate the gloom, and until stronger ones are available we will not
know what the chamber contains.  Some say snakes, but other boo-hoo
this idea and think it may contain a deadly gas or chemicals used by
the ancients.  No sounds are heard, but it smells snaky just the same.
The whole underground installation gives one of shaky nerves the
creeps.  The gloom is like a weight on one's shoulders, and our
flashlights and candles only make the darkness blacker. Imagination
can revel in conjectures and ungodly daydreams back through the ages
that have elapsed till the mind reels dizzily in space."


::: An Indian Legend :::

In connection with this story, it is notable that among the Hopi
Indians the tradition is told that their ancestors once lived in an
underworld in the Grand Canyon till dissension arose between the good
and the bad, the people of one heart and the people of two he
Colorado, and grew grain and corn.

They sent out a message to the Temple of the Sun, asking the blessing
of peace, good will and rain for people of one heart.  That messenger
never returned, but today at the Hopi villages at sundown can be seen
the old men of the tribe out on the housetops gazing toward the sun,
looking for the messenger.  When he returns, their lands and ancient
dwelling place will be restored to them.  That is the tradition.

Among the engravings of animals in the cave is seen the image of a
heart over the spot where it is located.  The legend was learned by
W.E. Rollins, the artist, during a year spent with the Hopi Indians.

There are two theories of the origin of the Egyptians.  One is that
they came from Asia; another that the racial cradle was in the upper
Nile region.  Heeren, an Egyptologist believed in the Indian origin of
the Egyptians.  The discoveries in the Grand Canyon may throw further
light on human evolution and prehistoric ages.

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