10 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 32 



The leadino; topographical features of the entire area are mountains, 

 characterized by massive rounded contours, the liighest peak attaining 

 an altitude of 11,200 feet; flat mesa lands of an altitude of 7,000 to 

 8,000 feet, cut up by innumerable canyons from 100 to 1,500 feet deep, 

 the mesas sloping gently from the mountains to the valleys, on whose 

 borders they terminate in bold perpendicular escarpments (pi. i) ; and 

 narrow sandy valleys at altitudes ranging from 6,000 to 7,000 feet. 

 The mountains are for the most part well forested with pine, spruce, 

 fir, and aspen. No peaks extend above the timber line, as is popularly 

 supposed, the baldness of their tops having been caused by fires. The 

 mesas are rather thinly covered with pinon, juniper, and cedar inter- 

 spersed w^ith many small open parks. The valleys naturally produce 

 sage, chaparral, and cactus, and can be adapted to agriculture and 

 fruit-growing by means of irrigation. 



There are but few permanent streams throughout this area. Pre- 

 cipitation ranges from 10 to 15 inches annually. There are a high 

 percentage of cloudless weather, little snow^ except in the high moun- 

 tains, excessive evaporation, summers never excessively hot or win- 

 ters very cold, an atmosphere of marvelous clearness and dryness, and 

 generally speaking, a climate unsurpassed for salubrity. The country 

 is poor in game and fish, nor are wild fruits or other natural food 

 products abundant. 



This region became the seat of a considerable population in prehis- 

 toric times and almost innumerable ruins of the ancient civilization 

 are distributed through the Pajarito plateau, the Chama drainage, 

 and the Jemez valley. 



The culture that developed here was evidently molded largely by 

 the physiographic conditions above described. Being deficient in 

 game and other natural food suppl}^, the country did not offer an 

 inviting prospect to a nomadic people, while, on the other hand, the 

 adaptability of soil and climate to agriculture, and the natural protec- 

 tion from enemies afforded by cliffs and canyons rendered it attrac- 

 tive to a people of sedentary inclinations. The selection and prepa- 

 ration of ground for agriculture naturally tended to permanency of 

 abode, and the peculiar geological conditions as naturally determined 

 the character and construction of the dwellings of the people. 



ARCHEOLOGICAL REJVIAINS 



The ruins of prehistoric habitations, occurring in vast numbers 

 throughout the Jemez plateau, are of two general classes, cliff- 

 dwellings and pueblos. 



The cliff-dwellings of this district are quite generally of the exca- 

 vated type, whence is derived the term "cavate dwellings," which is 

 sometimes applied to them. This type embraces a wide range of 

 domiciles. The most primitive is the natural open cave, formed 

 principally by wind erosion and only slightly, if at all, enlarged and 



