20 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 35 



Domestic Life 

 dress and adornment 



Much that is interesting in respect to clothing may be learned from 

 perishable remains preserved in caves, and from the more durable 

 organic substances derived from the cemeteries and the houses of the 

 pueblos. It is possible with their aid to reconstruct in large measure 

 the costume and personal adornment of the ancient population of 

 this region, especially of those living on the south-flowing streams 

 descending from the great escarpment. The major west-flowing 

 streams, which run through warm valleys at the base of the moun- 

 tains, do not so often present the juxtaposition of pueblo and cave or 

 cliff-house, and for this reason the story is not so complete in this 

 portion of the environment. 



Throughout this region, however, some adjuncts of costume, such 

 as necklaces of stone or shell beads, armlets, wristlets and finger rings 

 of shell, anklets of shell, and pendants of stone, occur in all localities. 

 These are supplemented from the mountain caves by ornaments of 

 feathers and fur, portions of insects, dyed cords, and other objects, 

 showing the extent of this early manifestation of the esthetic in per- 

 sonal decoration. 



No evidence appears that head covering of any description was 

 worn, nor, unless certain small perforated stone tablets were for ear 

 pendants, was any ear decoration practised. In the lower country, 

 as on the Blue at Bear creek (p. 51) the costume consisted of front 

 and back fringed skirts of cords, like those worn some years ago by 

 the Mohave, Cocopa, and other southern Arizona tribes. Small fac- 

 similes of this garment were deposited as offerings in the Bear Creek 

 ceremonial cavern. Here also small cotton blankets were worn around 

 the shoulders, and larger blankets of the same material, fragments of 

 which are found, probably served to wrap the whole body. Sandals 

 of yucca fiber, consisting of a simple braided rectangle for the sole 

 of the foot, answered as a protection from the sharp volcanic rocks. 

 The costume of the Indians in this zone showed that the need for pro- 

 tection against cold was not great, and few traces of garments made 

 up of cords wound with feathers or fur are found in the caves, while 

 they occur plentifully in the northern and more elevated districts. 



In contrast with the costume worn by the inhabitants of the lower 

 Blue river that of the upper Tularosa shows markedly the effect of 

 extreme cold. Pelts of animals were used here, the larger mammal 

 skins being employed entire and the smaller cut in strips and wound 

 around cords which are combined to form a texture. The downy 

 feathers of the turkey were deftly wound about cords which were 

 then made into blankets and garments or employed as parts of cos- 

 tumes or as ornaments. 



