An old post card image
of the Springerville
stone serpent.
Public domain.
Especially
fascinating in the North American Native arts is a shortage of large scale
stone sculptures when compared to other cultures. I have written three columns
here on RockArtBlog in the past about
relatively large scale stone carvingS: On June 30, 2009, I wrote "An Obelisk in Purgatoire Canyon,
Southeastern Colorado", and revisited it on September 13, 2010 with "An Obelisk in Purgatoire Canyon,
Southeastern Colorado, Revisited". Also on January 24, 2010, I wrote "The Bandelier Stone Lion Shrine -
Life-Sized 3-D Stone Carving", These were essentially the only
examples of large scale stone monuments (not geoglyphs or medicine circles)
that I knew of.
Stone serpent in Casa Malpais
Museum. Photograph
by John Ruskamp.
I recently
ran across references to this large carved stone effigy of a serpent, assumed
to be Kolawisi or Palolokong in Springerville, Arizona. "The monument was found and mistreated as a plaything, yard
ornament, and curiosity for many years until it was fixed into a secure metal
base and housed in the Casa Malpais Archaeological Park and Museum." (Duran
2018)
Stone serpent in Casa Malpais
Museum. Photograph
by Angeline Duran.
In 2013,
John A. Ruskamp, Jr. mentioned the large serpent effigy in his publication
about what he identified as a Sun Dagger Shrine near Hooper Ranch Pueblo near
Springerville.
"Years before the Field
Museum's 1960-1961 archaeological excavations of the Hooper Ranch Pueblo a very
large serpentine statue, embellished with a pair of carved eyes, nostrils, a
"blow hole," and a slightly smiling mouth was removed from the site.
The features of this massive ancient effigy are reminiscent of those found on
effigies of the Great Water Serpent, Quetzalcoatl, in meso-America, and of the
physical characteristics of the great North American water serpent god called
"Kolowisi" by the Zuni people, and Palulukang by the Hopi, to which
they directed their prayers for the blessings of rain and snow. For many years,
this carved stone effigy was on public display outside of the Becker Mercantile
Company in Springerville, Arizona, Certainly, the size of this statue indicates
that it was very important to the ancient people who created it." (Ruskamp 2013:7) This is apparently
now on display in the Casa Malpais Archaeological Park visitor's center and
museum outside of Springerville.
Stone serpent in Casa Malpais
Museum. Photograph
by Angeline Duran.
Reference
to this large stone serpent can be found online by John A. Russkamp, and
Angeline Duran at the sites listed below in References.
I inquired
with both of these people but I have received no answer from either of them. I
also inquired of the Casa Malpais Museum and they referred me to David Williams
of the local historical society.
Stone serpent in Casa Malpais
Museum. Photograph
by Angeline Duran.
In response
to my inquiry the President of the local historical society, Dave Williams,
stated that: "I only know (the)
'history' after it was placed in the yard of a
house on Main Street in Springerville. I was born in 1937 and as a child
we used to climb on the statue. Somewhere I have seen a picture of the snake
statue (before being placed in the yard) and in that picture there appear to be
2 - 3 pieces all very similar. I have no knowledge where the others may have
gone. I understand that it is Hopi, the eyes and mouth are clearly visible. The
White Mountain Historical Society received the statue from the Becker family
(actually Margie Harper) and it was on display at the Historical Park. At some
point in the mid-90s the snake portion was broken away from the sandstone base.
About 3 years ago we had the snake portion of the effigy placed in the Heritage
Center. The sandstone base still rests in the Town of Springerville storage
area." (Williams 2019)
Palulukang wrestling with
a Koyemsi, Fewkes,
Hopi Katcinas, 1985,
Dover, cover picture.
I am here
summarizing what I have been able to find out about this fascinating sculpture.
If I can learn anything further I will pass it on to you in a subsequent
posting. Also, If anyone has photos or knows anything else please send them to share
on RockArtBlog.
NOTE:
Some images in this posting were retrieved from the internet with a search for
public domain photographs. If any of these images are not intended to be public
domain, I apologize. For further information on this subject you should read
the original reports at the sites listed below.
REFERENCES:
Duran,
Angeline
2018 Quetzalcoatl
in North American Pueblos, July 21, 2018,
https://theancientsouthwest.com/2018/07/21/quetzalcoatl-in-north-american-pueblos/
Faris,
Peter
2009 "An
Obelisk in Purgatoire Canyon, Southeastern Colorado", June 30, 2009,
https://rockartblog.blogspot.com
2010 "The
Bandelier Stone Lion Shrine - Life-Sized 3-D Stone Carving", January
24, 2010, https://rockartblog.blogspot.com
2010 "An
Obelisk in Purgatoire Canyon, Southeastern Colorado, Revisited",September
13, 2010, https://rockartblog.blogspot.com
Ruskamp,
John A., Jr., Ed.D.
2013 The
Hooper Ranch Pueblo Sun Dagger Shrine Revisited - Revealing Greater Regional
significance, https://www.academia.edu/5814900
Williams,
David
2019
President of the White Mountain Historical Society, personal communication
e-mail, September 18, 2019.
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