50 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 41 



the convex instead of in the flat side, was found at Spruce-tree House. 

 Probably both objects were formerly used as ornaments, being sus- 

 pended about the neck. No similar specimen has thus far been 

 described from Mesa Verde ruins. 



CORN, BEANS, AND SQUASH SEEDS 



All indications point to maize, or Indian corn, as the chief food 

 plant of the prehistoric people of this cliff-dwelling. This is evi- 

 dent not only from the presence in the ruins of metates and grinding 

 stones, but also from the abundance of corn ears and other fragments 

 discovered ; corn husks and seed corn were especially plentiful in 

 rooms and in the refuse-heaps. As in the case of the modern Pueblos, 

 the corn appears to have been of several colors, while the size of the 

 cobs indicates that the ears were small with but few rows of seeds. 

 In addition to cobs, fragments of corn stalks, leaves, and even tassels 

 were found in some of the rooms. Beans of the brown variety, spe- 

 cimens of which were numerous in one room, were the most esteemed. 

 There were obtained also stalks and portions of gourds some of which 

 are artificially perforated, as well as a gourd the rind of which is 

 almost complete. Apparently these gourds were used for ceremonial 

 rattles and for drinking vessels. The form suggests that of a Hopi 

 netted gourd in which sacred water is brought from distant springs 

 for use in the kivas, or ceremonial rooms. 



HOOP-AND-POLE GAME 



It appears from the discovery of a small wooden hoop in one of 

 the rooms that the prehistoric people of Spruce-tree House were 



Fig. 36. Hoop used in hoop-and-pole game. 



familiar with the hoop-and-pole game (fig. 36) so popular among 

 several of our aboriginal tribes. But whether or not the indi- 



