386 EEPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



slabs, which are set in the ground and arranged in circles or parallelo- 

 grams of greatly varying dimensions. At first sight the idea of a cem- 

 etery is suggested, although on examination it is found that the soil 

 cipon the solid rock surfaces is but a few inches deep, or if deeper, so 

 compact that with the best implements it is very difficult to pene- 

 trate it. 



On the west bank of the Dolores, near the second bend, 1 came upon 

 a cluster of these standing stones on the summit of a low, rounded hill, 

 and in the midst of a dense growth of full-grown piiion pines. Scattered 

 over the ground were many fragments of the ordinary varieties of pot- 

 tery, together with arrow-points and chips of obsidian, agate, and 

 quartz. 



The rows of stones were arranged to inclose a number of parallelo- 

 grams that would probably average 3 feet by 8 in dimensions. The 

 stones were generally quite flat, and never more than 2 feet in length or 

 width. They were not perceptibly cut or dressed. Many of them had 

 fallen over and lay strewn irregularly about, while few of them were 

 buried deeper than a few inches. The soil, however, was unusually 

 firm, and it was with the greatest difficulty that we succeeded in pene- 

 trating to the depth of 2 feet. Near the surface were a few thin layers 

 of bits of pottery and charcoal, but at 6 inches in depth the soil had 

 apparently never been disturbed. 



That the placing of these stones occurred at a very early date is at- 

 tested by the growth of forest, which is at least three or four hundred 

 years old. In a number of cases the stones are deeply embedded in the 

 sides and roots of the trees. 



At two other localities near the south bend of the Sio Dolores I ob- 

 served similar groups of standing stones, about which was the usual 

 accompaniment of pottery and flint chips. 



On a high promontory between the McElmo and Hovenweep canons, 

 at their junction, I discovered a fine group of similar remains. Here a 

 number of the enclosures were circular, and in a few cases were as much 

 as 20 feet in diameter. A full description of this locality will be found 

 in Mr. Jackson's report. 



The impression that these places, if not actually burying-grounds, 

 Tvere at least places used for the performance of funeral rites is con- 

 firmed by the well-known fact that many of the American tribes perform 

 these rites in similar situations, the remains of the dead being burned 

 or left to decay in the open air. 



The occurrence of such quantities of pottery and arrow-points sug- 

 gests the idea that these, and perhaps other more destructible articles, 

 may have been left with the dead to be used by the departed spirit on its 

 way to the " happy hunting grounds." 



The accompanying plates are, with a few exceptions, reproductions of 

 pen-drawings. The plans are not drawn to a uniform scale, because of 

 ithe inconvenience of such an arrangement ; but measurements are so 

 frequently given on the plates themselves that no confusion need occur. 

 Measurements were taken by tape-line in all the more important struct- 

 ares ; but in many of the ordinary ruins, where exact dimensions were 

 not considered essential, the distances were estimated. It is to be 

 greatly regretted that extreme haste frequently prevented close and 

 accurate work. 



The map which follows this report will give the locaition of all the 

 more important groups of ruins. 



