Cosmos Mindeleff
Aboriginal Remains in Verde Valley, Arizona
Thirteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1891-92, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1896, pages 179-262
"Aboriginal Remains in Verde Valley, Arizona" by Cosmos Mindeleff is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. The work focuses on archaeological findings in the Verde Valley, Arizona, examining the ruins and remains of ancient Puebloan civilization. Through detailed observations, Mindeleff aims to shed light on the architectural practices, agricultural methods, and the environmental context of the aboriginal inhabitants of the region. The opening of the work explores the geographical and historical context of the Verde Valley, as well as the limited understanding of its archaeology at the time of writing. Mindeleff discusses the region's transition from being inhabited by indigenous peoples to its later settlement by modern Americans, highlighting the importance of understanding the ancient village structures and their relationship to the land, particularly regarding agricultural practices. He introduces the concept of cavate lodges and stone villages and lays the groundwork for a more detailed exploration of the ruins and their classification in the following chapters. The introduction sets a scholarly tone that invites readers into a nuanced investigation of the area's pre-Columbian past.