Early Archaeology in Verde Valley, Arizona
- MIP Author
- May 21, 2020
- 3 min read
Early Investigations Before the 1890s Surveys
Archaeological investigations in Arizona’s Verde Valley are most often credited to the work of Cosmos Mindeleff and Jesse Walter Fewkes, who conducted surveys for the Bureau of American Ethnology in the 1890s. Their research is frequently cited by scholars as among the earliest formal archaeological studies of prehistoric sites in the region.
However, exploration of ancient sites in the Verde Valley began even earlier.
Before those surveys took place, Dr. Edward Palmer and Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, two military surgeons stationed at Fort Verde after the Civil War, had already begun examining prehistoric sites throughout the valley.
Military Surgeons and Scientific Curiosity
Both Palmer and Mearns are better known for their work in the biological sciences. Their research in fields such as botany and zoology helped document many plant and animal species across the American Southwest.
While serving in Arizona Territory, however, they also took an interest in the ancient ruins and settlements they encountered in the Verde Valley. Their field observations represent some of the earliest scientific explorations of the region’s archaeological sites.
Among the places they investigated were Montezuma Well, Montezuma Castle, and other prehistoric locations throughout the Verde Valley.
These sites had long been part of the cultural landscape of the region, but the work of Palmer and Mearns helped bring early scientific attention to them during a period when archaeology in the American Southwest was only beginning to develop.
Early Archaeological Research Published in 1890
In 1890, the results of Mearns’ excavations and the first archaeological survey of the Verde Valley appeared in print. These early records helped document important prehistoric sites and contributed to the growing study of archaeology in the American Southwest.
The work of Palmer and Mearns—along with that of Dr. Walter Hoffman and other early investigators who are less widely known today—is discussed in the Journal of Arizona Archaeology article:
“Late Nineteenth Century Archaeology in the Verde Valley, Arizona: The Research of Palmer, Mearns, Hoffman and Other Early Investigators”by Steven R. James and Peter J. Pilles, Jr.
A historic photograph from 1887, courtesy of the Library of Congress, shows Dr. Edgar A. Mearns standing on the left beside Mr. Morse, a worker he hired for four dollars per day to assist with excavation at the Middle Verde Ruin. Large storage vessels can be seen resting on the room floor, offering a glimpse into early excavation work in the Verde Valley.
Preserving the Stories of the Verde Valley
The early investigations of Palmer and Mearns helped document some of the first scientific observations of prehistoric sites in the Verde Valley. Although archaeology as a discipline was still developing at the time, their work contributed to the growing understanding of the region’s ancient cultural landscape.
Today, places such as Montezuma Castle and Montezuma Well continue to reveal the ingenuity and knowledge of the Indigenous communities who lived in the Verde Valley centuries ago.
For institutions like the Museum of Indigenous People, sharing these stories is an important part of preserving cultural heritage. By connecting historical research with the broader history of Indigenous peoples in the Southwest, museums help visitors better understand the depth and continuity of Native cultures in Arizona.
Sources
James, Steven R., and Peter J. Pilles, Jr.Late Nineteenth Century Archaeology in the Verde Valley, Arizona: The Research of Palmer, Mearns, Hoffman and Other Early Investigators.Journal of Arizona Archaeology, Fall 2015.
Full article:http://ow.ly/lGBV50zL5L5
Photo credit: Library of Congress — Dr. Edgar A. Mearns (left) and Mr. Morse at the Middle Verde Ruin, 1887. Large storage vessels are visible on the room floor during excavation.
