FEWKES] CAVATE DWELLINGS IN VERDE VALLEY 539 
The section of the cliff which was examined embraced the northern 
series of these caves, extending from a promontory forming one side of 
a blind or box canyon to nearly opposite our camp. Adjacent to this 
series of rooms, but farther down the river, on the same side, there 
are two narrow side canyons, in both of which are also numerous 
cayes, in all respects similar to the series we chose for examination. 
At several points on the summit of the cliffs, above the caves, large 
rectangular ruins, with fallen walls, were discovered; these ruins are, 
however, in no respect peculiar, but closely resemble those ordinarily 
found in a similar position throughout this region and elsewhere in 
Arizona and New Mexico. From their proximity to the caves it would 
seem that the cavate dwellings, and the pueblos on the summits of the 
mesas in which they are found, had been inhabited by one people; 
but better evidence that such is true is drawn from the character of 
the architecture and the nature of the art remains common to both. 
Let us first consider the series of caves from a point opposite our 
camp to the promontory which forms a pinnacle at the mouth of the 
first of the two side caverns—a row of caves the entrances to which 
are shown in the accompanying illustration (plate xc11). Ihave lettered 
these rooms, as indicated by their entrances, a to 1, beginning with the 
opening on the left. 
The rock in which these caves have been hewn is very soft, and 
almost white in color, save for a slightly reddish brown stratum just 
below the line of entrances to the cavate chambers. Although, as a 
general thing, the wall of the cliff is almost perpendicular, and the 
caves at points inaccessible, entrance to the majority of them can be 
etfected by mounting the heaps of small stones forming the débris, 
which has fallen even to the bed of the river at various places, and by 
following a ledge which connects the line of entrances. The easiest 
approach mounts a steep decline, not far from the promontory at the 
lower level of the line, which conducts to a ledge running along in 
front of the caves about 150 feet above the bed of the stream. Roughly 
speaking, this ledge is about 100 feet below the summit of the eliff. It 
was impossible to reach several of the rooms, and it is probable that 
when the caves were inhabited access to any one of them was even 
more difficult than at present. 
Judging from the number of rooms, the cliffs on the left bank of the 
Verde must have had a considerable population when inhabited. These 
caverns, no doubt, swarmed with human beings, and their inaccessible 
position furnished the inhabitants with a safe refuge from enemies, or 
an advantageous outlook or observation shelter for their fields on the 
opposite side of the stream. The soft rock of which the mesa is formed 
is easily worked, and there are abundant evidences, from the marks of 
tools employed, that the greater part of each cave was pecked out by 
hand. Fragments of wood were very rarely seen in these cliff dugouts; 
and although there is much adobe plastering, only in a few instances 
