122 THE CLIFF RUINS OF CANYON DE CHELLY _ [e7u. nn. 16 
There is a suggestion in this that the site of the kiva was originally 
occupied by rectangular rooms, and there is a further suggestion, in 
the end sections referred to, that the kiva had at some period fallen 
into decay and was subsequently rebuilt. All this oceurred before the 
first falling out of the front. 
The section shows that the original walls were not so thick as the 
present ones, and that there was formerly a slight setback in the wall 
of 24 or 3 inches at the level of the present bench, reducing the thick: 
ness of the wall by that amount. The original outside wall on the 
east extends only 6 inches above this setback. The upper portion of 
the exterior wall was added at the same time that the bench was con- 
structed and is the same thickness as the lower part of the original 
wall. Figure 22 will make clear the changes which have taken place. 
There was a recess of some 
kind in the original wall on 
the east and a similar one on 
the west side, but they have 
been filled up by the later 
additions. The upright logs 
which were built into the 
masonry are incorporated in 
the older walls. Under the 
floor, and apparently under 
the walls themselves, there 
is a layer nearly a foot thick 
of loose débris consisting of 
cornstalks, corn leaves, ashes, 
and loose dirt. The floor of 
the east cireular room, which 
still covers about half the 
interior, rests similarly on a 
layer of ashes. The expe- 
dients employed to hold the 
ERE SOREN Poa" OMENS front walls of these kivas in 
place are later discussed at some length. 
Figure 23 shows the character of site ocewpied by a village ruin of 
some size situated in the first cove in the cliff wall below the mouth 
of Canyon del Muerto. The cliff here is about 300 feet high and the 
ruin is located on a ledge in a cove about 70 feet above the stream bed. 
Although seemingly very difficult to reach, the ruin is of comparatively 
easy access without artificial aid. The cavity was caused apparently 
by the occurrence of a pocket of material softer than that about it, and 
this softer material has weathered out, showing very strongly the lines 
of cross bedding, which, in the massive rock on either side, have been 
almost entirely obliterated. The strata are inclined at an angle and 
the edges project from a few inches to about a foot, forming a series of 




New MMASOnTYy 

Bench, new 71asonry 
Kea Hoar 
