ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — During
a recent work week, Wichita State anthropology professor Donald Blakeslee took
two calls from England. The first, an interview with a science writer. The
second, a call for an English radio show. Al Jazeera television from the United
Arab Emirates is talking about coming to pay Blakeslee a visit this fall. The
Travel Channel has talked about coming in the spring.
They all want to talk about one
thing: The lost city of Etzanoa, an ancient massive city of Plains Indians near
present-day Arkansas City. Blakeslee's research over the past three years has
confirmed the existence and location of the city, and changed what we've always
thought about how the Plains Indians lived, the Wichita Eagle reported.
"I don't have time to get my regular work done,"
Blakeslee said.
Sandy Randel, the director of the Cherokee Strip Land Rush
Museum in Arkansas City, can relate. Her work load has doubled with half her
time spent giving speeches about Etzanoa and hosting tours of the site on
weekends. Tours are booked solid though the end of the year.
Blakeslee is largely credited with the discovery of Etzanoa, a
large city of Plains Indians that existed from the late 16th century through
the 17th century along the banks of the Walnut River near present-day Arkansas
City.
With this discovery, he's found something else: Interest in this
'lost city' is greater than he, or the residents and leaders of Arkansas City,
could have ever anticipated.
In 2015, using translated journals of Spanish conquistador Juan
de Oñate written in 1601, Blakeslee was able to piece together that Oñate's
description of a large city of Wichita Indians, up to four miles long and
containing thousands of residents, was likely on the banks of the Walnut River
at present-day Arkansas City.
To further prove his theory, Blakeslee has sought the assistance
of high-tech tools such as drones with thermal cameras, ground-penetrating
radar, "and another piece of fancy gear that detected soil disturbances
below the ground at three different levels," Blakeslee said.
This past summer, Blakeslee and many of his anthropology
students did some old-fashioned digging in the dirt. They found pieces of
pottery, stone tools and bone tools. More importantly they found a Spanish
horseshoe nail and a metal button, more proof that Spaniards visited Etzanoa.
The discovery potentially changes
nearly everything scientists and historians have long thought about the Plains
Indians: They weren't just bands of nomadic tribes following herds of buffalo.
Before white explorers and settlers brought disease and war to the Great
Plains, there were possibly large, flourishing cities.
But interest in Etzanoa is mushrooming faster than Blakeslee,
and others in Arkansas City, can keep up with.
"I'm worried about that, because we're not quite ready to
deal with international tourists yet," Blakeslee said.
"The big deal for the community and for the region is
tourism and economic development, but you have to give people a good
experience, and we're going to have to work quickly," Blakeslee said.
Hap McLeod, who up until recently
was the president of the Etzanoa Conservancy, agrees.
"The town of Arkansas City is way behind the curve on what
needs to be done and they need to catch up quickly," he said.
"This is a huge opportunity that may be lost."
It may take years to make the area of Etzanoa ready for
year-round visitors, but in the meantime, tours of some remnants of site are
available.
The $10 tours, booked through the Cherokee Strip Land Rush
Museum, take people to three or four of the major contributing sites around
Arkansas City, including the bluff where Juan de Oñate would have first seen
the city, according to Randel.
Arkansas City Manager Nick Hernandez cautions that it's going to
take time. He said that civic and education leaders are trying to do their part
to make sure the area is ready.
In the past month, a governing
committee was formed that includes the city of Arkansas City, Cowley College,
Wichita State University and the Etzanoa Conservancy. The idea behind the
council is that every interest is represented, from the landowners who live
around the area, to the research community and to the tourists who want to
visit the area.
Pam Crain, head of the Arkansas City Convention and Visitors
Bureau, agrees with Hernandez.
"It's beyond exciting. It can be so huge, to be honest.
That's why we are taking our time. So that we can do it correctly," Crain
said.
"If you get too excited, you don't look down the road far
enough. We're trying to be diligent and respect what that big picture looks
like."
Hernandez said a five-year-plan has been discussed by the
council: Start small with tour groups. Possibly give tourists the opportunity
to take part in excavations. Use revenues to eventually build up to something
like an interpretive center.
"It could become a World Heritage site," Hernandez
said referring to 1,092 sites worldwide that the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization considers to have special cultural or
natural significance.
Randel, who has been the director
of the Cherokee Strip Land Rush Museum since 2010, said she understands the
interest.
"The reason I'm not surprised is the story itself is
nothing short of fascinating," she said.
"It really rewrites the history the Plains Indian."
David Ross, the newly appointed president of the Etzanoa
Conservancy, also understands the fascination.
"Growing up, we'd be like 'let's go find some arrowheads,'
and we'd go out by the country club and look for pieces of flint," Ross
said
"No one ever stopped and
asked 'why are all these things here?'"
Donald Blakeslee continues to uncover the answer to Ross'
childhood question. Now Ross is excited about the possibilities for his
hometown.
"I think it's a great thing for Ark City, I think it's
gonna have a positive effect on the city," he said.
"I'm excited about the possibilities."
According to Hernandez, the city manager, there is some pressure
to get ready for tourists quickly. Hernandez said he understands that, but
feels more strongly that everyone from scientists to landowners to civic
leaders need to be on the same page.
"You only get one shot to bring individuals to your
community. We have to make sure that it leaves a lasting impression," he
said.
And he doesn't think interest will wane anytime soon — not as
long as Blakeslee continues to uncover more of the story that lies along the
river banks and beneath back yards and putting greens on the eastern side of
Arkansas City.
"There's so much history that's still below the ground just
waiting to be discovered."
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