104 TWO summers' work in pueblo ruins [eth. ANN. 22 



Many large and very heavy metates made of lava rock were found 

 at Chaves iiass, but these were not Ijrought to the railroad. Several 

 of these were worn so deep in one face as to form troughs. If there 

 were no other evidence of long occupation of this ruin the deeply 

 worn metates would furnish it. These metates were bulkj-, and were 

 quarried in the bad lands of the vicinity of the old jjueblo. It is 

 instructive to note that metates, rather than smaller and more port- 

 able stone objects, show the influence of geological environment, for 

 as a rule their size requires that they be made of the rock contiguous 

 to the riiin. Sandstone metates are commonest in the valley ruins, 

 lava in those built of lava rocks. The same is true of the stones of 

 which the walls of the ancient habitations were constructed. 



The material of the grinding stones is the same as that of the 

 metates. They are for the most part simple elongated slabs, some- 

 times with depressions along the sides to enable the maniiDulator to 

 obtain a stronger hold. Like metates they show the effect of wear on 

 one face, being generally rounded on the upper surface. Several of 

 these stones are double faced, or when seen in profile they are trian- 

 gular. These specimens, which are of softer and finer rock than tlie 

 others, were undoubtedly used in the last stage of grinding the 

 kernels of corn into fine meal. Ten of the.se meal grinders were found 

 at Ilomolobi and Chevlon. 



Stone implements of mushroom form are among the interesting 

 objects obtained in our excavations. These are well adapted for 

 paint or pigment grinders. 



The mortars in which paint is ground are ordinarily small stone 

 slabs with a depression in one face. These are sometimes rectan- 

 gular in form, often circular, and the depth of the depression varies, 

 being frequently very slight. The same variety of paint mortars is in 

 use to-day, and mauj^ of these stone objects now used in tlie kivas are 

 no doubt very ancient. The small stones with one flattened face 

 were doubtless used as grinders; in some instances thej' are much 

 worn. The list of jjaint mortars includes two from Ilomolobi and 

 three from Chevlon. 



Stone Slabs 



The use of slats or slabs of .stone decorated with figures jiainted in 

 various pigments has been described in accounts of several Hopi 

 altars. One of the most remarkable of these is probably the stone 

 called the Hokona mana, or Butterfly virgin, wliich is used in the 

 construction of the Antelope altar at Walpi. Two flat rectangular 

 stones stand back of the sand picture of tlie Antelope priesthood in 

 the Snake rites at Shumopovi, while the use of similar stones in the 

 various Flute altars may be seen by consulting articles on these rites. 



Of a similar nature, no doubt, is the painted stone slab shown in 

 plate XLVI, found in a grave at tlie Chevlon ruin. This object, which 

 is much larger than any of those which have been mentioned, is painted 



