AET. EXCAVATION AND EEPAIR OF BETATAKIN JUDD 37 



During progress of our work the southeast wall collapsed, for 

 reasons explained below. It was subsequently rebuilt; the space 

 behind its supporting log was filled with spalls and covered by 

 slabs extending out over the timber thus to provide a sturdier 

 foundation for our new stonework. A salvaged pole replaced the 

 missing ceiling beam. 



Room 60-61 lies northeast of room 57, in front of and below 

 room 69. The front wall continues from that in room 57 and, like 

 it, rested on a pecked groove several feet below the actual floor 

 level. We observed nothing to indicate that this wall included 

 other than masonry. The two sides were erected above series of 

 shallow, pecked steps. Some notion of the degree of inclination 

 here may be gained from the fact that the floor length of the lower 

 room is less than half its ceiling length. It is possible, therefore, 

 that the lower chamber was utilized primarily for storage while 

 the upper provided living quarters. 



Part of the northeast wall and a small section of that adjoining 

 on the southeast were in position when our work began. But these 

 fragments, cracked by previous settling (pi. 16, A), collapsed ut- 

 terly on April 18 after their adobe mortar had softened under the 

 clinging snow of successive storms. Twelve days later, while we 

 were reconstructing these fallen walls upon more deeply cut steps 

 (pis. 17 and 18), the upper northwest wall gave way owing to vibra- 

 tions set up by the reverberating echoes of an unusually severe 

 thunderstorm. This wall, which serves as a foundation for room 

 59, was also reconstructed and upon its original horizontal support- 

 ing log. Our experiences here afford evidence of two distinct fac- 

 tors contributing to the destruction of cave dwellings. 



A third factor might be noted in passing, namely, the abrasive 

 property of wind-blown sand. As blown sand contributed to the 

 creation of Betatakin cave, so has it played a part in destruction of 

 those prehistoric dwellings subsequently built within that huge 

 cavern. When the spring sandstorms were at their worst our work 

 was repeatedly interrupted. The wind that leveled camp on April 

 9 and hung our spare clothes on far, high branches also drove us 

 to seek shelter in the old rooms. Scouring sand cut pellets from the 

 cave roof and showered them down with surprising velocity. Came, 

 also, occasional larger stones. Storms of comparable temper per- 

 sisted well into May. Blown sand has left its mark on both cave 

 and house walls; masonry has been undercut and thrown down. 

 Over a period of years the amount of destruction so caused might 

 prove not inconsiderable. 



Room 62. As shown on Douglass's ground plan, this room does 

 not exist. 



