Working with Mud (mud through time) Cultural Resource Inventory VI

Mud, wet clay, plaster, daub, whatever you call the material it has been in use for thousands of years.  Humans have created all sorts of things with mud over time from utensils to housing.  Considering the utility of the material, mud/clay is a just not for making mud pies.

The cultural resource inventory at the Painted Pony Resort identified a small prehistoric hamlet on the property and in an attempt to date and identify the residents, a single room was cleared of rock in hopes of identifying the floor and finding a piece of diagnostic pottery (more mud).  While no diagnostic pottery was found evidence of stucco plastering was recovered from the collapsed walls.  The masonry walls of each room were covered in an early form of stucco, presumably to keep out the wind.  While other Mogollon cultural groups built solely with adobe (mud), the Mimbres built with stone which was skinned with locally obtained clay.  The source of the clay was identified with the discovery of large modified flakes in several pits/arroyos which served as digging tools to excavate clay for various uses in the hamlet, plastering walls and pottery.  The 2 fragments of stucco show that small rocks were added to the mix before applying to the masonry walls. 

Clay pit with a prehistoric digging tool.

Daub (left) and adobe fragment from a wall.

This clay source was also tested for its suitability for pottery by creating a crude vessel which was then fired in a fire pit kiln at the Painted Pony Resort.  Not being a potter the esthetic results were less than ideal, but the coil and scape method used by potters proved suitable for making something that resembled an ashtray created by a 4 yr old.  Firing the piece of plainware resulted in a well hardened piece with a nice ring when tapped and one that did not melt in the rain like earlier attempts.

First attempt at firing pottery.

Skipping forward in time about 800 years from the prehistoric uses of mud a more modern example of stucco work involves the rustic cabin at PPR.  After installing the split heating/air conditioning units in the rustic cabin, the exposed piping required covers.  Decorative pilasters were built and attached to the walls which were then covered with stucco.  Modern stucco differs from the early stucco material used on the rooms of the hamlet and is a processed material instead of locally obtained clay, but the process of mudding the exterior of a structure has not changed.

Modern stucco pilaster on the Rustic Cabin at PPR.

 So, across a time span of approximately 800 years things have not changed, we are still playing in the mud.

A Fence Walk Through

The Rustic Cabin at the Painted Pony Resort provides additional space for family reunions and other groups visiting the estate.  Although connected by roads, additional access to the main estate is now provided by a walk through in the fence line.  Simply walk down the main runway from the main estate and head east on the crosswind runway.  At the end is a pedestrian walk through for those wishing not to drive between the Rustic Cabin and the main estate.  The rock and wire walk through consists of 2 - 180 degree turns allowing pedestrians to easily pass through the estate fence line and onto Painted Pony Rd and a quick way to access the Rustic Cabin but keeping inquisitive cattle out.  The rock walls mark the location of the walk through and are easily visible from the road.

Wildlife friendly fences are important in keeping cattle out but allowing the wildlife, and people, access.

pedestrian walk through

Rustic cabin at the Painted Pony Resort

Work continues on the exterior of the newly remodeled 3 bedroom Rustic cabin at the Painted Pony Resort.  Work has centered on the exterior of the cabin and low rock wall dividers were built to create a "front yard" to define the front of the cabin.  Crusher fines were then laid down to provide a smooth walking surface within this area.  All the rock was hauled from around the property and comes from earlier inhabitants previous work.  The majority of rock was from a single room in the hamlet across the riverbed and additional rock was hauled from an early homestead on the property.  There is no shortage of rock in the alluvial San Simon valley and native rock was used frequently for buildings and walls in the area.  A drive into Portal or Rodeo and rock walls and buildings are easily found indicating that native rock has a long history of use as a local building material.  Cattle excluding walk through gates are planned in the fence lines allowing those staying in the cabin easy walking access to the main estate for family reunions, weddings, or other events when the cabin is in use.

Rustic cabin exterior

The Rustic Cabin at the Painted Pony Resort

The Painted Pony Resort expansion is proceeding with the remodeling of a 3 bedroom, one bath rustic cabin on the new property.  A roof to floor renovation started in early June and is nearing completion bringing the total number of available bedrooms to 12 on the property.  This will provide additional resources for guests with large groups or rented separately for couples and families wishing a base of operations for excursions into the Chiricahua and Peloncillo mountains.  The rustic cabin has no telephone, TV, or internet and is the perfect spot for those seeking additional seclusion when visiting the area.

Placing the cabin in context in relation to those who lived on the landscape previously is always an interesting undertaking and during breaks in remodeling, walking the property always brings to light new evidence of the former inhabitants.  The cabin sits on a low ridge between an abandoned drainage from Cave Creek canyon overlooking the San Simon riverbed in the seed reservoir.  This finger of land jutting into the riverbed was favored by former inhabitants as evidenced by a number of metates (broken fragments and whole metates) found around the cabin as well as other stone tools including projectile points and an 18" stone pestle.  This low ridge was ideal for inhabitants, providing high ground for living yet close to the river bottom for farming activities.  Evidence of 15 different metates (2 whole and 13 fragments) were recovered from the low ridge around the cabin.  All surface finds and appear to be simple type 1 metates with little or no outside modifications with wear patterns suggesting seasonal or short term use, 1" wear or less. 

The Painted Pony Resort showing the rustic cabin location

New gate and entrance to the rustic cabin at PPR

The cabin at the Painted Pony Resort

Turquoise at the Painted Pony Resort

While working over at the Rustic Cabin at the Painted Pony Resort, insulating pipes running from the well to the pressure tank in preparation for winter, some color on the ground caught my eye.  Small flecks of green and blue rock which were scattered about on the river bed bench top where the cabin sits attracted my attention.  Finishing the pipe insulation job, I began to look around for more and hunting for the source.  Walking in widening circles around the pump area I found more and more small fragments (1-2 mm) of turquoise.  Eventually coming upon an abandoned animal burrow I noticed lying in the dirt spoils created by the animal during digging, a larger (several inch) piece of rust colored matrix with veins of turquoise running through it.  Found it I thought, it was apparent this bright blue turquoise was not native to an alluvial bench along San Simon River bed but more likely imported by a former inhabitant.  The presence of fragments from a dozen different metates found around the cabin suggest this bench top was inhabited in the past and the presence of turquoise was just one more indicator of a habitation site.  Two locations within several days walk have a history of turquoise production, the Johnny Bull mine the mines around old Hachita which are respectively 17 and 33 miles distant are possible sources, but this does not exclude the possibility of closer unknown sources. 

Bright blue turquoise in matrix.