i-EWKEs] ANTIQUITIES OF MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK 53 



Terraced fgure. — Covering almost the whole side of a Avail north 

 of kiva C and overlooking the plaza of which this room forms in 

 part the northern wall, is a conspicuous figure painted white. If 

 we regard the building of which this is a side as formerly two stories 

 high, this painting would have been on the inside of a room, other- 

 wise we have the exceptional feature of a painting on an outer wall. 

 The purpose of this painting is not clear to the author, but similar 

 figures, reversed, signify rain clouds. The figure recalls in form a 

 representation of a T-shaped doorway and appears to be a unique 

 one among j\Iesa Verde ruins. 



CONCLUSIONS 



From the preceding facts it is evident that the people who once 

 inhabited Spruce-tree House were not highly developed in culture, 

 although the buildings show an advanced order of architecture for 

 aborigines of North America. Architecturally the cliff-dwellings 

 excel pueblos of more recent construction. 



The potter}^ is not inferior to that of other parts of the Southwest, 

 but has fcAver symbols and is not as fine or varied in colors as that 

 from Sikyatki or from Casas Grancles in Sonora. It is better than 

 the pottery from the Casa Grande and other compounds of the Gila 

 and about the same in texture and symbols as that from Chelly canyon 

 and Chaco canyon. 



The remaining minor antiquities, as cloth, basketry, wood, and 

 bone, are of the same general character as those found elsewhere in 

 the Southwest. Shell work is 'practically lacking; no objects made 

 from marine shells have been found. 



The picture of culture drawn from what we know of the life at 

 Spruce-tree House is practically the same as that of a pueblo like 

 Walpi at the time of its discovery by whites, and until about fifty 

 years ago. The people were farmers, timid, industrious, and super- 

 stitious. The women were skillful potters and made fine baskets. 

 The men made cloth of good quality and cultivated corn, beans, and 

 melons. 



In the long winters the kivas served as the lounging places. for the 

 men who were engaged in an almost constant round of ceremonies 

 of dramatic character, which took the place of the pleasures of the 

 chase. They never ventured far from home and rarel}'^ met strangers. 

 They had all those unsocial characteristics which an isolated life 

 fosters. 



AA-liat lang-uage they spoke, and whether various Mesa Verde 

 Houses had the same language, at present no one can tell. The cul- 

 ture was selfcencered and apparently well developed. It is not 



