10 Conservative *
THE LODGE CIRCLES , MILLS AND
BURYING GROUNDS OF THE
ROCA SITE.
The lodge circles as observed in the
Roca site nre similar in every way to
those observed mid measured at Fuller-
ton. These remains at Fullertou occupy
the same relative position with regard to
the relief of the country that is main
tained by the lodge circles at the Roca
site. This naturally leads to the con
clusion that the same race of people
built and occupied both sites.
At first I was inclined to the opinion
that the Fullcrton rniu was simply an
old Pawnee camp of recent years , but
inquiry revealed the fact that the site
had never been occupied by the Pawnees
since white men knew them , and a little
study and observation of the more recent
camp sites revealed much dissimilarity
in the location and general form of the
sites.
The recent sites are on low ground ,
quite near the creek banks and in draws
where surrounding hills form a natural
protection from the north-west winds ,
while the ancient sites occupy the bench
at a point where a bond in the creek
commands a good view of the valley for
some distance and where some high
point of ground near by commands a
view of the country in all directions , yet
where some small stream furnishes a
supply of water and some near-by ravine
furnishes wood and a convenient cover
for the smoke when on enemy is near.
The recent sites seem to bo selected
without reference to a commanding
view , but more with reference to protec
tion and access to wood and water.
From the position of the Roca site one
immediately recognizes it as an ancient
site. But two of the centers of lodges in
this site have been explored , and these
not as thoroughly as they will be. The
first group of lodge circles is located on
Donald Bissett's farm and is the southern
extremity of the village site. This point
of rolling prairie has the creek to the
north-east of it ; the creek flowing north
ward comes to this point from nearly
due south , and this point commands a
view up the valley for a distance of five
miles. From this point the creek veers
slightly and continues in a uorth-by-
north-west direction ; the sinuosities of
the stream can bo traced with the eye
fora distance of several miles in this
direction.
Site of Former Indian Village.
From the top of the hill immediately
west of this point and but a few feet
higher one has a magnificent view
bounded by the horizon , fully eight
miles in all directions ; in fact one may
look as far as ho can see at this point.
Lincoln , crowned by the silvery dome of
its white capital , reflects against its set
ting of bright green foliage to the north ;
Roca , with its white-spired church and
beautiful school building , form ? a
picturesque panorama to the south-east ;
surrounded as it is by its quarries of
white limestone cropping out amid the
green fields of waving corn and ripening
grain ; while far to the south-west may
be seen the dim outlines of Centrovillo
church and all around cosy white farm
houses with their accompaniment of
spacious red barns and fluttering wind
mills.
It is doubtful if the ghosts of departed
chiefs can appreciate the scene as it now
exists ; they may sigh for the herds of
buffalo and the excitement of the chase.
At this picturesque and commanding
point on Salt Creek once were gathered
seventy-five or one hundred lodges , cir
cular in shape , and , according to the
outlines loft , from sixteen to forty feet
in diameter. These outlines can be
traced in some instances , while in others
it takes a practiced eye to discern them.
The field has been in constant cultiva
tion for thirty years so the ground has
become pretty well leveled by the culti
vator and harrow , but the places where
the lodges stood may be determined by
the pottery shards , fine gravel and flint
chips , as well as by the color and texture
of the soil.
The collection of lodges did not
assume a geometrical form but they
were scattered and grouped here and
there as the relief of the ground , favored.
As to the form of architecture , we cannot
determine from the meagre outlines left ,
so we must turn to the old Spanish man
uscripts which give an account in a gen
eral way of the huts or lodges which
they saw while searching for Quivera.
The writings along the line of search
are voluminous ; and the meagre refer
ences to these huts are not so conflicting
as the writings are on some other points.
Most of the writers agree that the lodges
were circular and the remains left to
this day prove this much to be true. As
to material the authorities differ some
what ; this difference maybe on account
of a real difference of material used , oren
on account of the fact , noticeable in all
Spanish documents referring to this new
region , that they dwelt upon and made
prominent mention , not of the most pro
nounced features , but of the strange
features , that would excite wonder
ment in the minds of the readers.
A careful student of these writings can
not fail to notice this peculiarity and
must base his judgment accordingly
when using these writings as a source
from which to deduce fact.
Coronado's Description.
Coronado , in describing the houses of
the nomadic tribes , says :
"They have little field tents mode of
the hides of the cows , tanned and
greased , very well made , in which they
live when they travel around near the
cows , moving with these. "
This account , very obviously , does not
describe the Roca site , as this was a per
manent village. A little farther on in
his account Oorouado describes the
houses of the permanent settlements of
Quivera to which his guides were taking
him. This account he seems to have
gathered from the wandering tribes , for
ho says ;
"I obtained from these an account of
the country where the guides were taking
me , which was not like what they had told
me , because these made out the houses
were not built of stones , with stories ,
as my guides had described it , but of
straw and skins , and a small supply of
corn there. "
This account seems to be more in
keeping with the remains left ; especially
if they heaped earth around the outside
in winter , as was the practice with many
of the more recent Indians.
After his arrival at these permanent
settlements , Coronado goes on to say :
"They eat the raw flesh like the
Quereohos and Teyas ; they are enemies
of one another ; but ore all of the
same sort of people , and these of
Quivera have the advantage in the
houses they bnild and in planting corn. "
This seems to convey the Idea that the
houses were better here. Again :
"In this province of which the guides
who brought me are natives , they re
ceived me peacably , and although they
told me when I set out for it that I could
not succeed in seeing it all in two mouths ,
there are not more than twenty-five
villages of straw , etc. "
Hero we get quite a definite idea of
material , although he does not tell us
how they were made. There must have
been some support for the straw struc
tures. . Quite a graphic account of these
"grass houses" is given by Catlin , but I
have not the account at hand from
which to quote.
Castanedo , who , doubtless , wrote at
second hand or from hearsay on this
matter , but whose writings are even
more accurate than are the lines of Cor-
ouado himself , and whose work is token
as authority by all students of the sub
ject , says :
"The houses are round , without a
wall and they have one stoiy like a loft
under the roof , where they sleep and
keep their belongings. The roofs are of
straw. "
Richard Hakluyt says :
"Of the hides ( of the buffalo ) they
make houses. "
Other accounts tell of houses made of
hides tanned very white and some men
tion a thatching of straw.
De Freytas , in his account of the
Peualosa expedition to Quivora , which
seems to have reached a point much
farther north than did Corouado , and , as
I verily believe , to have penetrated as
far as the present site of Columbus ,
where his historian describes magnifi
cent city of "houses made of hewn
