12 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 63 



over the heads, an exceptional feature in Mimbres burials ; and in 

 some instances the bowl had been placed over the face. In the case 

 of numerous infant interments the bowl covered the whole skeleton. 



RUIN ON BYRON RANCH 



This ruin lies not far from the present course of the Mimbres near 

 the Little Florida A^ountains. The place has long been known as an 

 aboriginal village site and considered one of the most important in 

 the valley. The remains of buildings cover a considerable area. 

 They have a rudely quadrangular form, showing here and there 

 depressions and lines of stones, evidently indicating foundations of 

 rooms, slightly protruding from the ground. Although this ruin 

 has been extensively dug over by those in search of relics, no system- 

 atic excavations seem to have been attempted. It is said that valu- 

 able specimens have been obtained here, and fragments of pottery, 

 arrowheads, and broken stone implements are still picked up on the 

 surface. 



The important discovery of burial customs of the ancient Mim- 

 breiios was made by Mr. Dufif at this ruin. He excavated below the 

 floor of one of the rooms and found a human cranium on which was 

 inverted a food bowl pierced in the middle, the first example of this 

 custom noted in the Mimbres region. 



RUIN NEAR DEMING 



About seven miles northwest of Deming, in a field on the north 

 side of the Southern Pacific Railroad, there is a small tract of land 



Fig. 2. — Paint mortar. Diam. 2j4". 



showing aboriginal artifacts strewn over the surface, affording good 

 evidence of prehistoric occupation. There are no house walls visible 

 at this place, and only a few fragments of food bowls, but in the 

 course of an hour's search several small mortars (fig. 2), paint 

 grinders and other objects were procured at this place.' 



^ Although not placed in the proper locality on his map, this ruin seems to be 

 one of.the "pueblos" (Nos. 162-164) mentioned by Dr. Hough. 



