FuwKEs] CASA GRANDE MOUNDS 103 
several places, are now very much dilapidated. All the evidence 
indicates that this compound was of much later construction than 
Compounds A and B and that it was not inhabited long enough to 
have temples or specialized rooms for ceremonial purposes. 
Not far from the west side of this compound can be traced for a 
considerable distance the remains of an irrigating ditch, which extends 
from the Gila to a 
point west of the Casa 
Grande Group of ruins. 
This ditch entered the 
Gila at a point higher 
up, about 3 miles from 
the ruin. 
Nearthiscompound, 
averaging about 20 
feet distance from the 
surrounding walls, is 
a succession of low 
mounds resembling 
the refuse-heaps found 
in the vicinity of the 
other compounds. 
From the numerous 
fragments of pottery 
that arefound onthem, 
it may be inferred that 
some of these mounds 
were perhaps places 
where pottery was 
fired; others of cir- 
cular shape show on 
their surface char- 
coal and wood ashes. 
These elevations may 
possibly have been 
used in some instances 
for the cremation of 
human bodies. Exca- 
vations in mounds of 
this kind revealed al- 
ternate layers of charcoal and ashes, with drifted sand deposited 
upon each. From the relatively large number of pottery fragments 
and stone implements in this mound it appears that the place 
was formerly inhabited by a large number of persons. The inclos- 
ing wall served as a protection for the buildings within it that have 
long since fallen. 
Fig. 14. Ground plan of Compound C. 
