FEWKBS] ANTIQUITIES OF MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK 63 



Kiva O is rounded below and square above, with a north-south 

 diameter of 11 feet 10 inches, and an east-west diameter of 10 feet 6 

 inches. The ventilator opens in the western wall. There are 2 mural 

 niches. 



Both the plastered floor and the deflector are lacking, and there is 

 no fire-hole nor sipapu. No roof or pilasters to support it were de- 

 tected. It is difficult to measure the surrounding wall on account of 

 its varying height. The masonry is good, but there are no signs on 

 the walls that a fire had ever burned within the chamber. It would 

 appear that this kiva was roofless, and that it had broad banquettes 

 at the northern and southern sides. 



In shape this kiva is oval below and square above, without pilasters 

 or other evidences of a roof. There are no signs of a floor, a deflec- 

 tor, or a fire-hole. The surrounding wall of the kiva is high ; appar- 

 ently there was an entrance at the eastern side. Banquettes are 

 present on the northern and southern ends, and a narrow ledge skirts 

 the other tw^o sides. 



There are 4 mural niches: (1) south by east, measuring 15 by 11 by 

 13 inches; (1) north by east, measuring 11| by 8 by 15 inches; (2) in 

 the north wall, measuring 13 by 8 by 12 inches, and 12 by 8 by 13 

 inches ; the latter three being placed in a row and separated by slabs 

 of stone. In the south wall there is a tunnel terminating bluntly 

 and bifurcated at the end. 



Although kiva R was regarded by Xordenskiold as furnishing 

 evidence of a transition form connecting circular and rectangular 

 kivas, it seems to the author a new type rather than a modification 

 of the circular or the rectangular kivas. 



Kiva W is not generally included among the Cliff Palace ceremonial 

 rooms on account of its isolation from the houses; but there is no 

 doubt that it should be so enumerated. It lies about 50 feet west of 

 the end of the last room in the cliff-dwelling, and is not accom- 

 panied with secular rooms. Although situated on the same level as 

 the houses, its walls rise two tiers high, but no part of the inclosure 

 is subterranean. 



From the height of the walls it at first seemed as if in kiva W there 

 were evidences of a room above. This condition would be contrary 

 to the rule and, to *the Ilopi mind, ceremonially impossible ; but if 

 its upper walls are regarded as homogeneous with the high walls that 



