MiNDLLEFF) POPULATION AND EXTENT OF RUINS. 259 



clieck their conclusions, tlie immense number of ruins in tliat region 

 was commonly attributed to an immense population, some writers plac- 

 ing the number as high as 500,0(10. Beside this tiguie the preseut pop- 

 ulation, about 9,000, is so insigniticaut that it is hardly surprising that 

 the ancient and modern villages were separated and attributed to 

 different tribal stocks. 



The process briefly skerchc(l above cxjiliiins tht> way in wliicli village 

 ruins have their origin; a liaml al' ."lOit \ illagr Imilding Indians niigiit 

 leave the ruins of fifty vilhiges in the course of a single century. It is 

 very doubtful whether the total number of Pueblo Indians ever exceeded 

 30,000. This is the figure stated by Mr. A. F. Bandelier, whose inti- 

 mate acquaintance with the eastern part of the pueblo region gives his 

 opinion great weight. The apparently trifling causes which sometimes 

 result in the abandonment of villages have been already alluded to. 



The lower Verde forms no exception to the general rule sketched 

 above. Scattered along the river, and always located on or immedi- 

 ately adjacent to some area of tillable land, are found many small ruins, 

 tyi^ical examples of which have been described in detail. These form 

 the subordinate settlements whose place in the general scheme has been 

 indicated. The masonry is generally of river bowlders only, not dressed 

 or prepared in any way. The number of these settlements is no greater 

 than would be required for one complete cycle or period, although the 

 evide nce seems to support the hypothesis that the movement com- 

 menced in the nortliern j)art of the region and proceeded southward in 

 two (II perhaps thi'ee separate steps. It is possible, however, that the 

 movement was in the other direction. This question can be settled only 

 by a thoi'ough examination of the regions to the north and south. 



There are two, possibly three, points in the region discussed where 

 a stand was made and the various minor settlements were abandoned, 

 the inhabitants congregating into larger bands and building a larger 

 village for better defense against the common foe. These are located 

 at the extreme northern and southern limits of the region treated, 

 opposite Verde and near Limestone creek, and possibly also at an 

 intermediate point, the limestone ruin above Fossil creek. These more 

 important ruins are all built of limestone slabs, and the sites are care- 

 fully selected. The internal evidence supports the conclusion that the 

 movement was southward and that in the large ruin near Limestone 

 creek the inhabitants of the lower "Verde valley had their last resting 

 place before they were absorbed by the population south of tliein, or 

 were driven permanently from this region. The strong resemblance 

 of the ground plan of this village to that of ZuQi has been already 

 commented on, and it is known that Zuiii was produced in the way 

 stated, by the inhabitants of the famous " seven cities of Cibola," except 

 that in this case Zuhi was the second site adopted, the aggregation 

 into one village, or more properly a number of villages on one site, 

 having taken i)lace a few years before. The fact that Zuni dates only 



