148 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



is called the deflector and was so placed to prevent the inrushing air 

 from blowing directly on the fire. The draft at times was so strong 

 that it was necessary to stop the opening completely. A well-worked 

 oval slab of stone was provided for this purpose. The cover stones 

 were in position over the opening in a number of the pits when they 

 were excavated. 



In general it may be said that the structures uncovered in 1931 con- 

 formed to the widespread semisubterranean type of house built in 



Fig. 143. — Group of three connected pit houses. 



many sections of the Southwest. They are particularly comparable to 

 the pit dwellings which the writer found during previous seasons' in- 

 vestigations in the Chaco Canyon, in northwestern New Mexico, and 

 at the old Long H Ranch, Ariz., some 30 miles south and west of the 

 present location. All showed individual differences and variations as 

 may be expected in any group of ruins, but in their main essentials 

 they exhibited a striking similarity. 



One really unique feature was brought to light by the excavations. 

 In two different groups the houses were connected. There were no 

 partitions at the sides where they joined and long, narrow dwellings 



