19 families and 89 genera. Although the selection of 
these plants was entirely dependent upon the needs of 
the people, it nevertheless provides us with a fairly sat- 
isfactory record for several thousand years of the vege- 
tation in the Bat Cave area. 
As has been previously noted, the vegetation during 
the period of the occupation of the Cave was remarkably 
similar to the present day vegetation. Three species 
present today are represented from stratum I to stratum 
VI, and five additional species are represented from stra- 
tum II to stratum VI. These plants include Pinus edu- 
lis, Juniperus pachyphloea, Sporobolus airoides, Bouteloua 
hirsuta, Juglans major, Quercus grisea, Amaranthus 
Powellti and Helianthus annuus. All of these, with the 
exception of the Juglans, are represented in the area 
today. Moreover, species of Opuntia are represented from 
stratum IIT to stratum VI, further emphasizing the sim- 
ilarity to modern climatic conditions. 
On the other hand, there are some evidences for a 
slightly higher rainfall in the area during the Bat Cave 
occupation. The persistent presence of Juglans major 
may mean that it once grew in the vicinity. To the 
author’s knowledge, the nearest walnut trees at the pres- 
ent time are about 25 miles away in the Tularosa Moun- 
tains. It could have been traded in just as easily. But 
the presence of Typha latifolia in strata LV and V, and 
Scirpus validus, Scirpus Olneyi and Populus tremuloides 
in stratum V can only reasonably be explained by a 
nearby body of water. At the present time, pools of 
water remain on the playa for many days during the 
summer rainy season. A better distribution of this rain- 
fall throughout the year, together with a slight increase 
in the average annual precipitation, would result in a 
permanent shallow lake on the playa in front of Bat 
Cave. The number of acorn shells in stratum ILI may 
[175 | 
