#PrescottAZHistory: Amazing Discoveries of Yavapai Co. Ancients

Mummies, pygmies, and three separate accounts of giants are some of the amazing finds that were made in the early 20th century in the greater Yavapai County area. Back then “Indian artifacts” were a commercial business where people would sweep up arrowheads and any other objects and sell them in stores or on the roadside.

Shamefully, much of this activity devolved into what could only be described as grave-robbing until the Antiquities Act made such behavior illegal. However, these relic hunters would occasionally come across some astonishing items…

One such hunter built a reputation for being able to sniff-out undiscovered cliff dwellings. His name was John Love. “Those who come in contact with him dub him queer, eccentric, etc., explaining that he was struck in the head in early youth by an iron bar and has suffered more or less seriously since,” the paper stated. For several years he would take up residence in the Verde Valley during the winter months in search of ancient relics. Most of his finds were then displayed for sale in the Babbitt Brothers store in Flagstaff.

In April 1899 Love was “excavating into the mountain side [in Verde Valley, when] he encountered a stone wall—a genuine masonry wall,” the newspaper related. “A niche had been cut into the side of the mountain and this wall built in front of it. It contained an opening over which was a thin stone slab.”

When the stone slab was removed, a fantastic sight was beheld. The space had been hewn out of the solid rock and was plastered throughout. The engineering caused the chamber “to be perfectly air tight.”

Three small, well-preserved mummies were inside. “A blanket was found wrapped around them, this being also in an excellent state of preservation.” The portion of the blanket that was under the bodies, touching the ground, had rotted away “but the remainder was intact and quite strong,” the paper reported. These mummies measured only 30 to 48 inches tall. The largest, a male, had “a string of turquoise beads around his ankle,” and each had seashells about their heads.

Two dozen large bowls were found painted in red, yellow and brown, and decorated with designs of the moon and stars and “a border something like a Greek work,” the paper described. Unlike other earthenware discovered in this area, these were lightweight, thin, and gave a clear ring when struck “like good china.”

Turquoise was found “in great proportion” with one string of it measuring nine feet long! There was unused, dried-up brown paint and “a pitcher with handle and spout.” Other [unspecified] articles of unusual value were also discovered, and these, together with the finding of this walled chamber,” led people to believe that they had found something connected to “a great chief or king...Nothing whatever has been discovered to definitely outline their character or the period of the world’s history in which they occupied this country,” the paper related.

This was not the only time or place where diminutive inhumations have been found. In the area of the Aqua Fria National monument, two prospectors “were driving a drift on a ten-inch streak of copper-silver ore and a veritable catacomb was [revealed].” Immediately five inhumations were found in one section with three others nearby. Eventually, “19 bodies were found” that “were of diminutive size and height.” They too, were considered to be a race of Pygmies.

Beside each skeleton was found “small-sized pottery wares, some bearing emblems in black of animals [and] birds.” These were in fragments, but could be “easily put together.” Also found was enough turquoise to fill a cup. Some of these artifacts were sent to the University of Arizona and others to the Smithsonian Institution.

In December 1898 in the Oak Creek area, John Love “discovered an ancient burying ground from which he dug-up over 50 skeletons, and a very large amount of ancient pottery,” some well-preserved.

“One of the skulls unearthed was a great curiosity and had evidently belonged to a human freak of the ancients who inhabited [the] country,” the paper reported. The chin to the top of the skull measured 18 inches with the jaw itself measuring “fully four inches wide.” For those who would insist that the skull was from an animal, Love quickly pointed out that the rest of the skeleton was found with it. “There can be no mistake about it belonging to a human,” he said. “Two tusks of unusual size protruded from one of the jaws, but otherwise the teeth are those of a human.”

Additionally, some of the pottery found nearby “was unusually large, in fact much larger than anything before discovered in this section,” the newspaper reported, “but it was found to be impossible save them” as they “crumbled on being exposed to the air.”

That this giant skeleton was buried along with “normal-sized” indigenous people may be rare. This, in addition to the exceptionally large pottery found nearby, might suggest that this giant human was a welcome part of that community.

This is the third account this researcher has found of a giant skeleton being discovered in this area.

Road Crew Finds Giant Skeleton on Sycamore Creek

The paper listed several other artifacts found there: “innumerable” arrowheads and marlin spikes, a 7.5 inch long spearpoint, well-preserved paint, cloth remanent, and a hat woven from bear grass. A two-handled jug and several small bowls were well-preserved. One of these also rang like fine china when struck.

People were astounded by the discovery of a “perfect” dipper. “It was made of some black material, very much resembling slate,” the paper described. “The handle was hollow and very hard.” Love sold the dipper promptly for $25 (over $700 today).

Love did not stay in the artifact business for very long. In June 1901, he sold his entire remaining collection (including the “three well-preserved mummies,”) to Dr. SW Hart. What happened to them after that is unknown.

Mummies, pygmies, giants... Some archeologists would dismiss these reports because a scientist was not present to witness the findings. However, when it comes to the discipline of history; newspapers constitute the element historians dig through, and although they are not perfect, they are widely regarded as some of the most reputable data that can be utilized in this field.

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