14 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 63 



Mr. Webster discovered on a rocky ridge near Swarts' ruin, some- 

 what higher on the Mimbres than Brockman's Mill, seven similar 

 earthen pits of much interest, which remind the author of subter- 

 ranean or half-sunken dwellings. They are saucer-shaped or linear 

 depressions, averaging about two feet in depth ; when circular they 

 are from five to fifteen feet in diameter the linear form in one instance 

 being fifty feet long. Some of these have elevated margins, others 

 with scarcely any marginal ridge. The western margin in one 

 instance has a " wall of rounded stones." 



There are similar saucer-shaped depressions near Brockman's 

 Mills and elsewhere in the Mimbres, almost identical with " pit dwell- 

 ings " found by Dr. Hough near Los Lentes. These saucer-like 

 depressions, often supposed to have been the pits from which adobe 

 was dug, were also places of burial, the dead being presumably 

 interred under or on the floors ; the original excavation being a 

 dwelling that was afterwards used as a burial place for the dead. 

 Their form suggests the circular kiva of the Pueblos and has been 

 so interpreted by some persons. 



RUINS ON THE MIMBRES RIVER FROM OLDTOWN TO BROCKMAN'S MILLS 



On low terraces elevated somewhat above the banks of the river, 

 between Oldtown and Brockman's Mills, there are several village 

 sites, especially on the western side. 1 The most important of these 

 is situated about four miles north of Oldtown. The ruin at the 

 Allison Ranch, situated at the Point of Rocks where the cliffs come 

 down to the river banks, is large and there are many pictographs 

 nearby. The ruins at Brockman's Mills on the opposite or eastern 

 side of the river lie near the ranch-house. Many rooms, some of 

 which seem to have walls well plastered, can be seen just behind the 

 corral. North of the ruin is a hill with low lines of walls like trin- 

 cheras. On some of the stones composing these walls and on neigh- 

 boring scattered boulders, there are well-made pictographs. 2 



PICTOGRAPHS 



Pictographs occur at several localities along the Mimbres. As 

 these have a general likeness to each other and differ from those of 

 other regions, they are supposed to be characteristic of the prehistoric 



1 For a description of ruins at Swarts' and Brockman's Mills see C. L. 

 Webster, Archaeological and Ethnological Researches in Southwestern Xcw 

 Mexico. (The Archaeological Bulletin, vol. 3, No. 4.) 



2 It is said that a Spanish hell in the Chamber of Commerce at Deming, 

 was dug up on this ranch near the ruin. This bell might indicate an old mission 

 at this place. 



