MYER] THE FEWKES GROUP 567 
time arrived for celebration of certain rites. The sacred variety was 
not, as a rule, different in size of ear from the corn cultivated for 
food. It is therefore probable that the ear of Cuban corn fairly 
represents in size, at least, one of the varieties of corn used for food 
by the Fewkes people. 
Buriprnes oN First Lever 
Not more than one-fifth of the area of this large mound was exca- 
vated. From the limited space uncovered it is impossible to discOver 
the extent of the buildings or their number. Judging from the post- 
holes found in all three of the sections of the mound excavated, it is 
probable that the mound at this stage had upon it one or more large 
buildings, some of which were subdivided into two or more rooms, 
or there may have been two or more isolated buildings upon it. 
Mounds with both characters of buildings have been known in the 
South. 
MOUND NO. 2 AT SECOND LEVEL 
After the buildings on the first level had been used for some un- 
known length of time the structures appeared to have been torn 
down. At least there was no trace of their having been burned. 
The mound was then raised about 3 feet higher, to its second level. 
Before it had quite reached its second level it appears that a portion 
of it had been used for a short time for domestic purposes, as the 
remains of a large domestic ash bed were found at 8, Figure 156. 
This ash bed contained a large amount of fragments of domestic 
pottery and broken animal bones, but the soil under it did not show 
signs of long continued action of fire. Ash bed 8 also yielded two 
bone awls. 
After this period of domestic use the mound was raised or leveled 
a few inches, and reached its second stage. 
Fire Pir 
At 24, Figure 156, was found a large fire pit. No fragments of 
pottery or animal bones were found in it. From the large amount 
of ashes in this bed and the appearance of the surrounding soil, a fire 
must have been maintained here for a long period of time. 
Buitpinc A—Hovusr or THE MystTERIEeSs 
After long use of the fire pit at 24 the ancient inhabitants decided 
to erect an important town house or House of the Mysteries. They 
smothered the fire with earth, and over the former fire pit, which 
they had left filled with ashes, they laid a floor of black, glossy earth, 
erected a building, and established an altar therein. This altar is 
shown in vertical section in Figure 156. A study of the vertical 
53666°—28——37 
