82 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 51 



who built the smaller subterranean rooms of the Southwest can be 

 determined only by excavations and a study of the features of both 

 types. 



The most important step that remains to be taken in the scientific 

 study of the ruins of the Mesa Verde National Park is to discover the 

 relation of the culture of Cliff Palace to that of the neighboring 

 pueblo. This will necessitate the scientific excavation and repair of 

 the latter ruin and a comparison of its major and minor antiquities 

 with those of Cliff Palace. The age of cliff-dwellings in different 

 parts of the Southwest undoubtedly varies. Certain Pueblo ruins 

 are older than some cliff-dwellings, and there are cliff-houses more 

 ancient than Pueblo ruins. Continued research in the Mesa Verde 

 region will doubtless shed light on the relative age of Cliff Palace 

 and the great pueblo ruin opposite it. 



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