NO. 12 ARCHEOLOGY OF TAOS VALLEY — JEANCON 7 



CEREMONIAL CAVE 



About seven and one-half miles north of Fernandez de Taos, at 

 the foot of a mountain called " Water Fall " or " Cascade," is a cave 

 to which tradition ascribes ceremonial usage. Whether it was actually 

 used for ceremonies cannot be verified at this time, as the Indians at 

 Taos refuse even to mention it. Its situation at the foot of the moun- 

 tain would be ideal for ceremonial purposes. The opening is heavily 

 screened with trees and shrubs and would be difficult for anyone, not 

 knowing its location, to find. The cave is not over 75 feet in depth 

 and is about 30 feet high at the entrance. The ceiling attains a greater 

 height inside, however. At about the middle of the back wall a trail 

 leads to a formation which is suggestive of a seat and pulpit. The 

 formation is between 35 and 40 feet above the floor. The trail is 



Fig. I. — Circles painted on the roof of the ceremonial cave. 



very smooth and highly polished, showing that many feet have passed 

 over it. In front of and above the pulpit are two paintings, crudely 

 done in white paint, possibly intended for sun symbols. Both are 

 circular, one being filled in almost completely, while the other has a 

 cross marked in the circle (fig. i). 



Falling from the rock, in front of the cave, is a thin trickle of 

 water which forms a lovely little pool. The pebbly bottom of the 

 latter was searched for offerings but none was found. 



Americans who have lived at Fernandez de Taos for a long time 

 state that the cave was actually used in comparatively recent years in 

 connection with the August dances and other ceremonies, but no 

 information as to their nature could be obtained. One informant 

 said that the use of the cave was discontinued because the Mexican 

 village of Seco was built too near to it. 



THE EXCAVATIONS AT LLANO 



Beginning at a point a half-mile south of the plaza at Ranchos de 

 Taos and extending a mile east from there is the village of Llano. 

 The ruin excavated is just beyond the last house at the extreme 



