Fig. 5. — Maya arch in flue of kiva A 

 (Schematic). 



476 ANNUAL EEPOET SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION^ 1916. 



arch. The masonry about the entrance into the ventilator (fig. 5) of 

 the large assembly kiva, A, recalls this form of arch and is unique in 

 the construction of Mesa Verde ruins. It consists of a flat slab of stone 

 forming the top resting on other stones, each set a little back from 

 the one above it, making a form of arch, but not the keystone type, 



which, so far as known, is ab- 

 sent in Mesa Verde buildings. 

 It may be said that on the 

 whole the best masonry is found 

 in the kiva walls, as is true in 

 other types of buildings. The 

 indications are that the large 

 central kiva. A, is the oldest 

 and that the other three, em- 

 bedded in surrounding rooms, were later added to its outer walls. 

 Changes in the walls and reconstruction of sections of the same 

 were made after the original foundations were laid. This is espe- 

 cially noticeable in the position of the supports of the roof. Evi- 

 dently the roof of the great kiva fell in before those of the smaller. 



SECULAR ROOMS. 



Besides the circular kivas this pueblo has many chambers which 

 were secular in character, crowded about the ceremonial rooms. 

 Among these the rectangular form predominates, although the inter- 

 vals left between some of their walls and the outer kiva walls are 

 inclosures of triangular or other shapes (see pi. 13). These recesses 

 often have doorways but were not used as rooms, as is also indicated 

 by the fact that the wall is jagged and destitute of evidences of 

 chinking or plastering. 



It may be seen, in the ground plan, that there are no courts or 

 open passagewaj^s running between the rooms in the pueblo, and that 

 the partitions are made compactly, forming a solid mass of buildings. 



The rooms, as a rule, are larger that those of cliif dwellings. 

 Their entrances are higher and broader, generally rectangular, but 

 there are two doorways situated back of the large kiva, apparently 

 in a third story, which are T-shaped like those in cliff houses, open- 

 ing out over the roof of this kiva. There are no external, lateral 

 doorways in the north, east, and west walls, and but three instances 

 where rooms open directly on the court through the south wall. The 

 evidences of a third story are confined to the north side, which sug- 

 gests a terrace to the south; but as all the rooms are not exca- 

 vated it is not possible to determine whether or not three-storied 

 rooms are limited to this section or how extensively a terraced form 

 characteristic of a large pueblo was followed. The smoke on the 



