76 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY (puny. 68 
fig. 28, g). In a bay at the west end of the rear bench stood the 
foundations of a small cliff*dweller building. The most promising 
indication, however, was the presence of two or three shallow holes 
in the sand, from which some recent intruder had thrown out the 
bones of several different skeletons. 
The systematic exploration was begun by opening a trench through 
a level spot in the east front, at the foot of the steep bank which 
rises to the rear bench. This was within the line of shelter, nearly 
dry, and was free from the bushes that grow so thickly outside. 
Six inches below the surface was encountered loose rubbish, running 
to a depth of 2 feet 6 inches; it lay on a well-packed floor, below 
which there was a second rubbish stratum 1 foot thick, resting on 
hardpan, the latter showing no trace of disturbance. 
Fragments of basketry, worn sandals, and broken implements 
were found in both rubbish layers, though more commonly in the 
upper one, which also contained many scattered bones from the 
skeletons of adults, adolescents, and very young children. Bones 
also were found lodged against the up-hill sides of some large rocks. 
Apparently most of the bones and débris forming the upper stratum 
had worked down from higher up. The trench at this point exposed 
a zigzag pecking on the cave wall a few inches under the surface 
sand. 
As digging progressed, rocks were encountered in such quantities 
that only the end of the trench directly against the east wall was 
carried to-the top of the bank. This ran through the spot where, 
in 1914, were found a skull and parts of two “ mummies” (see p. 82). 
A little above this was uncovered a stone slab cist (fig. 28, 4) 4 feet 
long and 18 inches deep. At the bottom, under the general rubbish 
that filled and covered it, there was found nearly a bushel of corn- 
cobs (pl. 27, a). The kernels had evidently been removed before 
the cobs were thrown into the cist. Three coils of basket splints 
were taken from the trench near the top of the bank (see pl. 75) ; these 
specimens did not seem to be part of the rubbish, but had apparently 
been placed in a hole and covered up for safe-keeping. 
Reaching the top of the bank and the floor proper of the cave, 
we removed a circle of loosely piled stones 12 feet in diameter and 
2 feet high (not shown on plan), assuming at the time that it was 
the work of Navahos, who sometimes build structures of this kind 
to corral kids and very young lambs. Traces of fires noted inside 
it, however, led Mr. Clayton Wetherill to suggest that it might 
have been made by wandering Utes, who occasionally seek shelter 
in caves and erect similar constructions for temporary dwellings. 
The complete excavation of the level area in this section of the 
cave showed it to be nearly filled by a group of cists which in 
