48 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 51 



KlVAS 



There are in Clitt' Palace 23 ceremonial rooms that may he called 

 kivas." These consist of two types: (1) generally circular or cylin- 

 drical subterranean rooms, Avitli pilasters to support the roof, and 

 Avith fireplace, deflector, and ventilator. (2) Circular or rectangu- 

 lar rooms with rounded corners, M'ithout pilasters, fireplace, or de- 

 flector. In the first group may be placed provisionally a subtype 

 (kiva M, for example), without pilasters but Avith a single large' 

 banquette. As this subtype is the dominant one in the western part 

 of the San Juan drainage, it may be necessary later to regard it as 

 a type. .Vs a rule rooms of the second type are not subterranean, 

 but are commonly surrounded by high Avails, being entered by a 

 doorAvay at one side. There are 20 rooms pertaining to the first 

 type and three to the second type in Clitf Palace. '^ 



The majority of the kivas are situated in front of the secular build- 

 ings, but several are in the rear of the cave, Avith high rooms in 

 front of them. The largest cluster of kivas on the cave floor lies in 

 the so-called plaza quarter, Avhich takes its name from the open space 

 occupied by the kivas in that section. The rooms on the terraces, 

 especially those near the southern end of the ruin, AA-ere covered Avith 

 fallen rocks and other debris Avhen the excavation and repair Avork 

 began. The Avails of most. of the kiA'as, whether in front or in the rear, 

 were greatly dilapidated and in all instances it Avas necessary to 

 rebuild them to the level of the plazas in wdiich the kivas are situated. 



Following comparisons with modern pueblos, there is eA^ery reason 

 to suppose that the kivas preserve the oldest types of buildings of 

 the cliff-clAveller culture, and it is belicA'ed that the form of these 

 archaic structures is a survival of antecedent conditions. They be- 

 longed to the men of different clans, as in a measure is the case among 

 the Hopi at the present day, Avith Avhom every kiva is spoken of as that 

 of a certain man Avho is a clan chief. The male and female members 

 of every Hopi clan have afliliation Avith certain kivas (a survival of 

 archaic conditions), and in certain clan gatherings, as the dramatic 

 exhibition Avhich occurs in March, the celebration takes place in their 

 respective kivas. 



"The word Jam, now universally employed in place of the Spanl.sh designation " es- 

 liifa '■ to designate a eeremonial room of tl]e Pueblos, is derived from the Hopi language. 

 The designation is archaic, the element ki being both Tima and Hopi for " house." It has 

 been sought to connect this word with a part of the human body, and esoterically the kiva 

 represents one of the underworlds or womb of the earth from which the races of man 

 were born. U is higlily appropriate that ancient ceremonies should take place in a kiva, 

 the symbolic representation of an underworld, for many of the ceremonies are said to 

 have been practiced while man still lived within the I'^arth Mother. The word kiva is 

 restricted to subterranean chambers, rectangular or circular, in which secret ceremonies 

 are or were held, and the term kUiu is suggested for ceremonial rooms above ground. 

 The five kivas at Walpi are examples of the true kiva, while the Flute chamber may be 

 called a kihii. 



'' The so-called " warrior room " in Spruce-tree House belongs to the second type. 



