FDWKES] CASA GRANDE MOUNDS 99 
oven,! the cavity being used formerly for storage of fuel. A some- 
what similar object was found buried under or near the west wall of 
Compound C (see fig. 14). The other objects found in these rooms 
are evidently ceremonial and perhaps served somewhat the same 
purpose as those found in the large rooms of Casa Grande. 
In the floor of what appears to have been either a room or a small 
plaza, on top of Pyramid B at its southwest corner (pl. 35), was found 
a shallow pit or depression about a foot in diameter, which had a 
hemispherical cover made of caliche; this cover, which was perforated 
by two holes, fitted accurately into the depression. The purpose of 
this pit and cover was not ascertained, nothing being found that 
afforded any clue to their use. 
ROOMS EAST OF PYRAMID B 
The inclosure east of Pyramid B and south of Pyramid A forms 
a large plaza, in the southern part of which are several buildings 
of massive proportions. These (pls. 30; 36, a; 37, 6, c) have been 
excavated to their floors, which are well preserved. Two of these 
- rooms are especially noteworthy. These were formerly a single story 
in height and show no evidence of ever having been higher. Although 
separated by a narrow court or passageway, both rooms open into 
the same court through well-made doorways the jambs and thresholds 
of which are smooth and well preserved. When these rooms were 
uncovered it was found that their floors were made of hardened 
adobe upon which, when first brought to light, could be seen impres- 
sions of matting, laid upon them when the room was inhabited. 
This would seem to show that the ancient people of Casa Grande 
used a kind of sleeping mat, similar to that employed by the Pima 
Indians. The preservation of these impressions for so long a time is 
certainly remarkable. 
The walls of these rooms are covered with several layers of smooth 
plaster, each very carefully applied. The size and shape of the 
rooms lead to the belief that they were connected with ceremonial 
rather than with domestic life. In the open places (pl. 37, 6, c) adjoin- 
ing these chambers, the former existence of rectangular rooms is 
indicated by rows of holes in which were found decayed fragments 
of wooden posts that had formerly supported the fragile walls, 
long since fallen. Where possible, these were carefully replaced by 
new logs. The number of these habitations could not be determined. 
Their floors may be traced by the remaining cement, hardened by 
the tramping of many feet, but no fireplaces were found in these 
floors or in the walled buildings east of Pyramid B. 
1 Like the pits the Hopi use in baking their ceremonial pudding (pigume). 
