FBWKES] ANTIQUITIES OF MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK 19 



entrance being through the roof. Another lateral passagewa}^ is 

 found in kiva D, where there is an opening in the south wall communi- 

 cating with the open air by means of an exit in the floor of room 26 ; 

 another opening is found in the wall on the east side. Kiva C has 

 a lateral opening communicating with a vertical passageway which 

 opens in the middle of the neighboring plaza. In addition to 

 lateral openings all kivas without exception have others that serve 

 as ventilators, as before mentioned, by which air is introduced on the 

 floor level of the kivas. The opening of this kind communicates 

 through a horizontal passage with a vertical flue which finds its way 

 outside the room on a level with the roof. In cases where the kiva 

 is situated near the front wall these ventilators open through this 

 wall by means of square apertures. All ventilator openings are in 

 the west wall except that of kiva A, which is the only one that has 

 rooms on that side. 



The construction of kiva roofs must have been a difficult problem 

 (pis. 14, 15). The beams (L-1 to L-4) are supported by the six ped- 

 estals (C) which stand upon the banquettes (A), and in turn are sup- 

 ported by the outer wall (B) of the kiva. On top of each of these 

 pedestals is inserted a short stick (H) that served as a peg on which 

 the inmates hung their ceremonial paraphernalia. The supports of 

 the roof w^ere cedar logs cut in suitable lengths by stone axes- Three 

 logs were laid, connecting adjacent pedestals upon which they rested. 

 These logs, which were large enough to support considerable weight, 

 had been stripped of their bark. Upon these six beams were laid 

 an equal number of beams, spanning the intervals between those 

 first placed, as shown in the illustration (pi. 15). Upon the last- 

 mentioned beams were still other logs extending across the kiva, as 

 also shown in the plate. 



The main weight of the roof was supported by two large logs 

 which extended diametrically across the kiva from one wall to the 

 wall opposite ; they Avere placed a short distance apart, parallel with 

 each other. The distance between these logs determines the width of 

 the doorway, two sides of which they form. The other two sides are 

 formed by two beams (L-4) of moderate size, laid across these logs, 

 the space between them and the two beams being fillad in with other 

 logs, forming a compact framework. No nails are necessary in a 

 roof constructed in this way. 



The smaller interstices between the logs were filled in with small 

 sticks and twigs, thus preventing soil from dropping into the room. 

 Over the supports of the roof was spread a layer of cedar bark (M) 

 covered with mud (N), laid deep enough to bring the top of the roof 

 to the level of the plaza in Avhich the kiva is situated. 



No kiva was found in which the plastering of the walls was sup- 

 ported by sticks, as sometimes occurs here, according to Nordenskiold, 



