does, or ever did, make this country possible as ;i home for man. 



Here, however, was evolved ;i culture which manifested 

 itself architecturally in many-storied buildings, constructed of 

 rudely squared blocks of stone, laid in mortar composed of 

 sand and clay. 



Frequently these buildings — outside and in — were plas- 

 tered. Interiors were often, and exteriors sometimes, given a 

 coal of whitewash over the plastering. 



Ii was here thai —within the limits of the United States 

 fictile and textile ar1 were brought into their highesl expres- 

 sion by primil ive man. 



Culinary operations were conducted within the buildings, 

 in rooms set aparl for that purpose. 



Fireplaces made of squared slabs of stone were buill 

 againsl the wall, or in the corner of ;i room. In some of the 

 larger and better constructed buildings, however^ 1 found in 

 the renter of the rooms what were, practically, box-stoves, or 

 ranges. Three slabs of sandstone were wrought to equal di- 

 mensions, aboul <i dm. in length and 4 dm. in width. One of 

 these slabs was laid upon the stone floor in the center of the 

 room, the remaining two were placed on edge by its sides. ;i 

 shorter slab, hut equal in height to tin' sides. was plareed across 

 one end. the other end being lefl open. These slabs vvere se- 

 curely held in proper position by clay that, while moist, was 

 plastered over and banked up around them on the outside. 



The lop was made id' a slab somewhat shorter than die 

 sides. A circular hole. 15 to IS em. in diameter, was wroughl 

 in the center of the slab. This hole, over which a cooking pot 

 was placed during culinary operations, facilitated the cooking 

 of its contents, exactly as do the holes in the top of" a modern 

 range. 



A propei' draft was secured by the fronl of the stove being 

 lefl open, while the removable top could he pushed forward 

 or back, as was required for leaving a suitable opening for 



the escape of Sllloke. 



That, however, which primarily distinguishes the culture 

 of these people is ihc skillful engineering displayed in estab- 

 lishing grades and levels for canals, ditches, and reservoirs, 

 made necessary by their system ol irrigating land for agri- 

 cultural purposes. 



I have personal knowledge that, in many instances, the 

 grades and levels of these ancient canals have been — without 

 alteration— incorporated in plans of modern engineers. 



Invest igal ion has disclosed that these people were p >ssessed 

 of a sufficient supply of suitable foodstuffs. Cultivation of the 

 soil gave them corn, squashes, pumpkins and beans in abund- 

 ance. They had domesticated the wild turkey, ami possibly 

 deer and rabbits. 



1.1 



