Trenches were dug in both chambers. Deeper deposits 
were encountered beneath the structures in the rear 
chamber. Trench 4 was dug to a depth of 86 inches 
(six levels) before the rock floor was struck. Cultural re- 
mains, including maize, were encountered throughout 
the deposits. 
CULTURAL SEQUENCES AND AFFILIATIONS 
The analysis of the archaeological remains from the 
five caves described above, and from seven other caves 
in the northern Sierra Madre Occidental, provides data 
which are helpful in characterizing the prehistoric cul- 
tural sequence in that region, in setting up an affiliation 
with a culture in a neighboring area, and to a certain 
extent, in dating the remains. 
It is the opinion of the junior author that the archae- 
ological data furnish the basis for establishing a Chihua- 
hua branch of Mogollon culture. Prior to our research, 
it was believed by some (Brand, 1953) that the cliff dwell- 
ings of the Sierra Madre represented’a final stage of Casas 
Grandes culture. It was postulated that this southern 
extension of Pueblo culture had developed in the valleys 
and basins to the east and had then spread to the moun- 
tains as a result of pressure of nomadic peoples. ‘This 
move provided more protective sites at a sacrifice of agri- 
cultural land. Other students felt that the cliff dwellings 
in the mountains, as well as a number of open sites to the 
east, represented the earliest well-developed phases of 
Casas Grandes culture (Sayles, 1936). These individuals 
noted the Pueblo features of Casas Grandes culture, but 
felt that its earliest manifestation showed relationships to 
the Mogollon culture which had been recognized to the 
north in southwestern New Mexico and southeastern 
Arizona (Sayles, 1986; Gladwin, iz Sayles, 1936). The 
above deductions were made mainly asa result of archae- 
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