NO. I 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS^ 19^9 



59 



Earth Lodge A was not only excavated but a shed (fig'. 59) was 

 built over it for permanent preservation. While it is interpreted as 

 the prototype of a kiva, it was formerly the dwelling of a family or 

 other social unit dating" to an epoch much older than that of the 

 cliff dwellers. On opposite sides of the fire hole at the periphery of 

 the floor, but within the outer walls, are small square or rectangular 

 cists made of stone slabs set on edge. The indications are that these 

 were covered with sticks and clay, suggesting the so-called slab 

 houses. The pottery found in these cists is very crude, undecorated, 

 and not of the cliff' house type. 



Fig. 59. — Shed Iniilt over Earth Lodge A to protect it from the elements, 

 north end, entrance opposite. Photograph hy Fred Jeep. 



There are many sites resembling that of Earth Lodge A before 

 excavation awaiting investigation on the top of Mesa Verde. Near 

 it was a mound which when opened proved to be a unit-type house. 

 The crude masonry and rough pottery found in it indicate an advance 

 on the walls of an earth lodge, but the former is inferior to that of a 

 kiva of the highest development, suggesting that it is an intermediate 

 form between Earth Lodge A and Square Tower House. The 

 spade revealed that after this room was first deserted debris had 

 filled the depression a few feet deep on which a new fire hole and a 

 grmding bin had been made of stone slabs on edge in the middle of 

 the depression. Later on it was again abandoned and human bones 

 had been thrown on the debris that formed over the grinding bin. 



