124 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 60 



sufficiently for convenient reference in describing the anti(|uities 



and in coui])aring the cultures of the regions in a broad way. 



In passing from the arid region of the southeastern United States 



into northern Mexico but slight change is observed 



Continuous Arid -^^ ^^^^ character of the country and in the status 



Culture •' 



of the aboriginal culture, either present or past. 

 Similar conditions prevail over a wide zone extending from the 

 Gulf and the Rio (Irande on the east to the Pacific on the 

 west. The prevailing arid characteristics of the countrj^ are in- 

 terrupted only by the forested belt of the Sierra Madre. Xo very 

 dehnite line can be set for the southern limit of the area until fuller 

 studies have been made of the antiquities. The tribes of the pres- 

 ent and of the historic past represent numerous linguistic stocks — 

 Nahuatlan, Athapascan, Serian, Yuman, Janambrian, Tamaulipe- 

 can, and Pankawan. In the north, apart from the Casas (jrandes 

 group of ruins, few architectural remains worthy of particular note 

 have been observed. The cliff dwellings of the mountain tribes cor- 

 respond closely in most respects with those of the north, and nu- 

 merous caves which have been used for dwelling and burial occur 

 in the general region ; from these mummies or desiccated bodies and 

 certain primitive artifacts have been recovered. Village sites yield- 

 ing the usual varieties of relics are common along the streams, more 

 especially along those which descend from the plateau to the Gulf 

 on the east and to the Pacific on the west. The minor relics include 

 some crude sculptures and numerous mealing stones, axes, hammers, 

 and other artifacts of tyi)es not differing radically from those of the 

 northern Pueblos, yet showing in some respects the influence of the 

 farther south. Pottery of excellent make and tasteful decoration 

 is found in a few localities, that from the Casas Grandes in Chi- 

 huahua having exceptional interest and rivaling the best wares of 

 Arizona. It appears, however, that over a large part of the area, 

 especially on the east and west, culture never rose far above the 

 primitive hunter-fisher level. This fact is graphically set forth by 

 Father Paegert, who had a most intimate knowledge of the tribes of 

 the California peninsula,^ and by McGee, wlio made valuable studies 

 among the Seri on the island of Tiburon and the neighboring main- 

 land. - 



It is assumed that this region witnessed the passage southward 

 of the racial currents which overspread central Mexico in prehistoric 

 times, reaching the culmination of their advancement and power in 

 the valley of Mexico at the period of the Spanisli invasion, but it is 

 not likel}^ that the scattered antiquities will ever contribute mate- 



1 Baegert, An Account of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of the California Peninsula. 



2 McGee, The Seri Indians. 



