EXPLORATIONS IN GRAND CANYON
Mysteries of Immense Rich Cavern Being Brought to Light
JORDAN IS ENTHUSED
Remarkable finds indicate ancient people migrated from Orient
as edited by
The Arizona Gazette
March 12, 1909
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The latest news of the progress of the explorations of what is now regarded
by scientists as not only the oldest archaeological 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 great underground citadel of the Grand Canyon
during a trip from Green River, Wyoming, down the Colorado, in a wooden
boat, to Yuma, several months ago.
According to the story
related to the Gazette by Mr. Kinkaid, the
archaeologists of the Smithsonian Institute, which is financing the
expeditions, have 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 hieroglyphics, 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 long tunnel 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.
“Before going further into the cavern, better facilities for lighting will
have to be installed, for the darkness is dense and quite impenetrable for
the average flashlight.
In order to avoid being lost, wires are being strung from the entrance to
all passageways leading directly to large chambers. How far this cavern
extends no one can guess, but it is now the belief of many that what has
already been explored is merely the “barracks”, to use an American term, for
the soldiers, and that far into the under-world will be found the main
communal dwellings of the families.
The perfect ventilation of the cavern, the steady draught that blows
through, indicates that it has another outlet to the surface."
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 feet 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 archaeological
discoveries being disturbed by curios 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.
3D computer rendering by Jack Andrews
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 interested,
securing my gun and went in. During that trip I went back several hundred
feet along the main passage till I came to the crypt in which I discovered
the mummies. One of these I stood up and photographed by flashlight. I
gathered a number of relics, which I carried down the Colorado to Yuma, from
whence I shipped them to Washington with details of 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 which 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.
Over a hundred
feet from the entrance is the cross-hall, several hundred feet
long, in which 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. - Arizona Gazette 1909 |
3D computer rendering by
Jack Andrews
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 go- 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 chemists for
centuries 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 various 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
very 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. Strewn promiscuously over the floor everywhere are what people
call - cats eyes’, a yellow stone of no great value. Each one is engraved
with the head of the Malay type.
The Hieroglyphics
On all the urns, or walls over doorways, and tablets of stone which were
found by the image are the mysterious hieroglyphics the key to which the
Smithsonian Institute hopes yet to discover. These writings resemble those
on the rocks about this valley. The engraving on the tables probably has
something to do with the religion of the people. Similar hieroglyphics have
been found in the peninsula of Yucatan, but these are not the same as those
found in the Orient Some believe these cave dwellers built the old canals in
the Salt River Valley.
Above is a scan of a tracing
of a xerox copy of photograph(s)? depicting hieroglyphics
allegedly photographed by G.
E. Kincaid in 1908 inside the cave in the Grand Canyon.
This was submitted to me from
a friend with a request that
the source remain anonymous,
a request I always honor. - Jack
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 dark 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.
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 dark
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.
Arizona Gazette 1909 |
3D computer rendering by
Jack Andrews
This leads to the belief that this exterior section was the warrior’
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 discoveries and
believes that the find will prove of incalculable value in archaeological
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 hearts. Machetto, who was their chief,
counseled them to leave the underworld, but there was no way out. The chief
then caused a tree to grow up and pierce the roof of the underworld, and
then the people of one heart climbed out. They tarried by Paisisvai (Red
River), which is the 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.
WARNING-WARNING-WARNING-WARNING-WARNING-WARNING-WARNING-WARNING
I am strongly against ANY attempt to get to the cave, from the rim, or
below, since such attempts would be EXTREMELY dangerous. I do not recommend
or condone or even suggest any such attempt by writing this article or by
ANY information posted on this entire web site. All approaches to the "cave"
area are very dangerous and again, I do not condone, support or suggest that
anyone make any such attempt to get to this cave, by writing this article,
and explicitly advise against any such attempts. Also it is illegal to enter
most caves in the Grand Canyon, unless it is properly sanctioned by Grand
Canyon National Park. I do not support condone or suggest ANY entry of ANY
cave in the Grand Canyon or on the Navajo Reservation. Also, I explicitly do
not suggest, imply or condone in any way, either through this web site or in
any other manner, the disturbing of historical or prehistorical artifacts or
any items that fall under the current antiquities act or acts enacted by the
United States government and it's laws. In other words, leave ALL historical
and prehistorical items as they are, IN PLACE. Please respect the
sensitivity of the area and if you travel there, tread lightly and obtain
the proper permits. The Grand Canyon is a sacred place, please treat it as
such.
- Jack Andrews June 27, 2001 |
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