28 BUREAU OP AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY I bull. 70 



depth of 12 feet; on the south there was discovered a well-made wall 

 of a circular opening, now visible, by which there was a communica- 

 tion through a horizontal tunnel with the open air. ^The author was 

 informed that this tunnel is artificial and that one of the workmen 

 crawled through it to its opening in the side of a bank many yards 

 distant. 



No attempt was made to get the exact dimensions of the com- 

 ponent houses at Aztec Spring, as the walls arc now concealed in the 

 mounds, and measurements can only be approximations if obtained 

 from surface indications without excavation. The sketch plan here 

 introduced (fig. 1) is schematic, but although not claimed as accurate, 

 maj; serve to convey a better idea of the relation of the two great 

 structures and their annexed buildings than any previously advanced. 



The author saw no ruined prehistoric village in the Montezuma 

 Valley that so stirred his enthusiasm to properly excavate and repair 

 as that at Aztec Spring, 1 notwithstanding it has been considerably 

 dug over for commercial purposes. 



Great Open-Air Ruins South and Southwest op Dove Creek Post Office 



In the region south and southwest of Dove Creek there are several 

 large pueblo ruins, indicated by mounds formed of trimmed stone, 

 oolean sand, and clay from plastering, which have certain charac- 

 ters in common. Each mound is a large heap of stones (pi. 3, a) 

 near which is a depression or reservoir, with smaller heaps winch in 

 different ruins show the small buildings of the unit type. These 

 clusters or villages are somewhat modified in form by the configura- 

 tion of the mesa surface. The larger have rectangular forms regu- 

 larly disposed in blocks with passageways between them or are 

 without any definite arrangement. 



Squaw Point Ruin 



This large ruin, which has been described by Doctor Prudden as 

 Squaw Point Ruin and as Pierson Lake Ruin, was visited by the 

 author, who has little to add to this description. One of the small 

 heaps of stone or mounds has been excavated and its structure 

 found to conform with the definition of the unit type. The subter- 

 ranean communication between one of the rectangular rooms and 

 the kiva could be well seen at the time of the author's visit and 

 recalls the feature pointed out by him in some of the kivas of Spruce- 

 tree House. The large reservoir and the great ruin are noteworthy 

 features of the Squaw Point settlement. 



It seems to the author that the large block of buildings is simply a 

 congeries of unit types the structure of one of which is indicated by 



i Mr. Van Klecck, of Denver, has offered this ruin to the Public Parks Service for permanent preser- 

 vation. It is proposed to rename it the Yucca House National Monument. 



