JUDD— USE OF ADOBE 



than any other trained archeologist with the ancient ruins of the 

 Navaho-mountain region, therefore his statement that walls of this 

 type have not been found in prehistoric dwellings outside of the 

 area mentioned is of importance. It is to be regretted that the few 

 published reports on the archeological remains of this extremely inter- 

 esting region consider so sparingly the architectural details of the 

 cliff-houses and other aboriginal habitations to be found therein. With- 

 out such reports it is not only difficult to form a proper appreciation 

 of the ancient culture which once flourished there, but it is also im- 

 possible to compare successfully that culture with similar cultures 

 as represented by the prehistoric ruins in other regions. 



The third general type of adobe walls found in prehistoric dwell- 

 ings of the Southwest is known as the caliche (caleche) or pise con- 

 struction, well represented by the ancient structures of the Gila and 

 Salt river valleys. Of these, Casa Grande is undoubtedly the most 

 famous, but it has been already so thoroughly described and figured 1 

 as to preclude the necessity of giving at this time more than a mere 

 review of the generally accepted methods by which this and similar 

 huge structures were erected. 



Mindeleff, probably influenced by Cushing, 2 writes of Casa Grande 

 as follows: 3 



The walls are composed of huge blocks of earth, 3 to 5 feet long, 2 feet high, 

 and 3 to 4 feet thick. These blocks were not molded and placed in situ, but were 

 manufactured in place. The method adopted was probably the erection of a 

 framework of canes or light poles, woven with reeds or grass, forming two parallel 

 surfaces or planes, some 3 or 4 feet apart and about 5 feet long. Into this open 

 box or trough was rammed clayey earth obtained from the immediate vicinity 

 and mixed with water to a heavy paste. When the mass was sufficiently dry, the 

 framework was moved along the wall and the operation repeated. This is the 

 typical pise or rammed-earth construction, and in the hands of skilled workmen 

 it suffices for the construction of quite elaborate buildings. As here used, how- 

 ever, the appliances were rude and the workmen unskilled. An inspection of the 

 illustrations herewith, especially of plate lv [pi. v], showing the southern wall of 

 the ruin, will indicate clearly how this work was done. The horizontal lines, mark- 

 ing what may be called courses, are very well defined, and, while the vertical 

 joints are not apparent in the illustration, a close inspection of the wall itself 

 shows them. It will be noticed that the builders were unable to keep straight 

 courses, and that occasional thin courses were put in to bring the wall up to a 

 general level. This is even more noticeable in other parts of the ruin. It is 

 probable that as the walls rose the exterior surface was smoothed with the hand 

 or some suitable implement, but it was not carefully finished like the interior, 

 nor was it treated like the latter with a specially prepared material. . 



1 Mindeleff in Thirteenth Rep. B. A. E., p. 289, 1896; also Fifteenth Rep. B. A. E., p. 315, 

 1897. Fewkes in Twenty-eighth Rep. B. A. E., p. 25, 1912. 



2 Report Seventh International Congress of Americanists, 1888, Berlin, 1890. 



3 Mindeleff in Thirteenth Rep. B. A. E., pp. 310-311. 



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