84 



SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS N'OL. 66 



would yield much material bearing on the diffusion of culture of the 

 ancient people of our Southwest. The object of, the visit was a 

 reconnoissance, which was successfully completed. There are large 

 mounds indicating compounds of considerable size between Casa 

 Grande and Vekol. near Quijotoa, and at the Kwahadt settlements. 



Having made the brief reconnoissance above mentioned, Dr. 

 Fewkes returned to Deniing, New Mexico, and undertook an exam- 

 ination of ruins along the Mimbres River, inspecting various archeo- 

 logical sites as far north as Silver City. He obtained by purchase 

 valuable additions to collections of the characteristic pottery of this 



Fig. 102. — Decorated pottery from Mimbres Valley, Heye Collection. (7, un- 

 identified animal; /', bee; (■, d, unidentified composite animals. 



region, from Oldtown and elsewhere (figs. 102-111). One of 

 the most striking objects examined is a rare turquoise mosaic with 

 four figures representing flowers (fig. loi). The culture of the 

 Mimbres Valley as shown by archeological data is distinctive, with no 

 likeness to that of the lower Gila, but connecting that of the upper 

 Gila with Casa Grandes in Chihuahua. The prehistoric culture of 

 Mimbres Valley, like that of the Santa Cruz, is destined to play an 

 important role in determining diffusion of Southwestern culture. 



Important work was carried on by Dr. Fewkes during the last 

 year in the Mesa Verde National Park, where the Department of the 

 Interior is cooperating with the Smithsonian Institution in the excava- 

 tion and repair of cliff-houses and other prehistoric ruins, to increase 



