128 THE CLIFF RUINS OF CANYON DE CHELLY [ETH. ANN. 16 
branches, incorporated in it and curved with the wall—apparently some 
kind of a vine twisted together and incorporated bodily. On the edge 
of the rectangular space there is a drilled hole, 3 inches in diameter, 
shown in the illustration. Three feet to the south there is another, 
6 inches in diameter. 
If this structure was a dome shape oven, and it is difficult to imagine 
it anything else, its occurrence here is important. It is well known that 
the dome-shape oven, which is very common in all the pueblos, in some 
villages being numbered by hundreds, is not an aboriginal feature, but 
was borrowed outright from the Mexicans. If the strueture above 
described was an oven, it is clear evidence of the occupancy of these 
ruins within the historic period—it might almost be said within the last 
century. No other structure of the kind was found in the canyon, 
however, aud it should be stated that the ovens of the pueblos are as a 
rule rather larger in size than this and usually constructed of small 
stones and mud—sometimes of regular 
ue masonry plastered. There is a sugges- 
SOLE tion here, which is further borne out by 
the chimney-like structures to be dis- 
cussed later, that only the idea of these 
structures was brought here, without de- 
tailed knowledge of how to carry it out— 
as if, for example, they were built by 
novices from description only. 
Figure 27 is the ground plan of a small 
village ruin situated at the mouth of Del 
Muerto at the point marked 16 on the 
map. The site, which is an excellent 
one, but rather difficult of access, over- 
looks the bottom land at the junction 
of the canyons and a long strip on the 
Hie. 26—Flan ofoven-like structure. opposite side, together with a consider- 
able area above. The approach is over smooth sandstone inclined at 
such an angle as to make it difficult to maintain a footing, but the ruin 
can be reached without artificial aid. 
The village was not of large extent and contained but one kiva, but 
the walls were well constructed and the masonry throughout is excep- 
tionally good. ‘The exterior wall of the western rooms was constructed 
of small stones neatly laid. The eastern room of the two was built 
after the other, and entrance was had by an almost square opening 
2 feet from the ground. ‘To facilitate ingress, a notch was dug in the 
wall about 8 inches from the ground. There was no communication 
between the rooms, the western room being entered by a small doorway 
on the western side, about 8 inches from the ground, feet high and 14 
inches wide. There was no plastering in the interior of these rooms. 
The kivais 15 feet in diameter on the floor, and about 23 feet in its exte- 
rior diameter. The walls are 3 feet thick above the bench level and 4 feet 

& HOLE 
