NO. I 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I919 



53 



sacred because it symbolizes tbe entrance to the underworld. Over 

 it in Hopi ceremonies is erected the altar, and through it the priests 

 call to their kin in the underworld. A most instructive feature in 

 the structure of the kiva is the means of ventilation. Between the fire 

 hole and the wall there is an upright slab of stone, //, a wall of 

 masonry, or simply upright sticks covered with clay. The function 

 of this object is to deflect pure air which enters the room trom a 

 shaft opening outside. G: the ventilator is morphologically the 

 survival of the doorway of the earth lodge or prototype of the kiva. 



Fic. 53. — View fruin Ijcluw ol urn.- .M-clur of original roof logs of kiva A. 

 Photograph by Gordon Parker. 



A characteristic feature of the kiva is the roof, which rests on six 

 mural pilasters, C; the intervals between which are called ban- 

 cjuettes, B, that (A) over the ventilator being wider and broader than 

 the others. The pilasters support logs, D, D\ D\ laid one above 

 another in the form of cribbing". Short sticks, D'\ are placed at right 

 angles to the cribbing to prevent sagging. Upon this cribbing are 

 laid logs over w'hich is spread cedar bark to support the clay covering 

 the roof. The hatchway, which also served for the passage of smoke, 

 is situated in the roof above the fire hole. In the construction of this 

 roof, men of the Stone Age in America were not far from the dis- 

 covery of the principle of the dome. 



