308 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS [VOL. 5a 



There was excavated from this plaza, near the passageway west 

 of the tall wall of Font's room, the skeleton of an eagle and several 

 rabbit bones. It was probably customary at Casa Grande to domesti- 

 cate eagles for their feathers and to keep them in confinement. 



13. East Plaza 



This plaza was almost wholly surrounded by rooms, and from its 

 position was evidently one of the most popular of all the enclosures 

 of this kind. From the roof of the main building one could probably 

 look over Font's room into this plaza. Although the plaza is a small 

 one, its eastern position would give it considerable ceremonial im- 

 portance. The accumulated earth was cut down to the original 

 level and removed outside the compound. There does not seem to 

 be sufficient evidence that there was an eastern entrance way to this 

 plaza, although it was looked for when excavations were made. 1 



14. Southwest Plaza 



This plaza adjoins the west wall of the compound, extending from 

 the rooms southwest of the main ruin to the first of the cluster of 

 rooms in the southwest angle. Although large quantities of earth 

 were removed from this enclosure, it has not been wholly leveled 

 to the floor, especially on the east side, near a wall which is a con- 

 tinuation of the rooms at the southwest corner of the main ruin. 

 This wall was exposed along its whole length, but showed no rooms 

 on the west side, although probably there are several on the east, or 

 unexcavated, side. 2 



15. South Court 



A long court extends across the whole south end of the com- 

 pound from the southwest cluster of rooms to the east wall. Its 

 form suggests a ball court or course for foot races. In connection 

 with the former suggestion, it is interesting to note that several stone 

 balls, such as were used, according to Pima legends, in a game of 

 kicking ball, were found in this court; this game is still practiced 



1 The present passageway was cut by the author, and marks the place where 

 the old stage road entered the compound. 



2 A ridge of earth joining this wall with the east wall, upon which the tents 

 of the custodian stand, probably marks the position of a row of one-storied 

 rooms the walls of which have been located on the inner side of the east wall 

 (see plate xxrv). 



