THE ANCIENT PEOPLES. 53 
RELIGION. 
We know little of the religious practices in pre- 
historic times. There are many objects which may with 
reason be supposed to have been ceremonial in their 
use. In the Rio Grande region, are found large stone 
images that have long been supposed to be idols. Mr. 
N. C. Nelson, while excavating Pueblo Largo ruin in 
Galisteo Valley, found a stone image before which on a 
raised adobe platform were several pottery vessels and 
queer-shaped stones. These objects and their arrange- 
ment certainly present an early type of the altar still 
in use among the Pueblo Indians. 
SUMMARY. 
Perhaps nowhere in North America is it possible to 
reconstruct so detailed and vivid a picture of the life 
of a prehistoric people as in the Southwest. The gen- 
erally arid climate and the protection of large caves 
have preserved textiles and other objects which usually 
perish. 
The large community houses brought together con- 
siderable numbers of people who lived together in close 
association. Such communities subdivided no. doubt 
into small groups on the basis of relationship, wealth, or 
ceremonial and religious duties. We must assume 
rulers or officers both political and religious. They 
were of necessity an industrious people since consider- 
able tracts of land were planted each year to corn, beans, 
squash, and probably cotton. In addition, consider- 
able quantities of wild grass seeds, nuts, and similar 
food were gathered. There are evidences that flocks of 
turkeys proportional to the needs of each settlement 
were kept and that they were given proper care and 
housing. We do not know that their flesh was used 
