To Mary Chilton Gray, I wish to express my appreciation of her fine execution of the cover design and the line drawings. The pattern used on the cover is derived from an encircling band on a Mesa Verde bowl. The services of Walker Van Riper, who devoted many hours to checking spelling and punctuation in the manuscript and to proof-reading, were of immeasurable assistance. I am also greatly indebted to Nedra McHenry, to Harvey C. Markman and to Margaret Roush for their assistance in proof-reading. Dr. Alfred M. Bailey and Albert C. Rogers gave valuable aid in the preparation of photographs. Most especially I am grateful to my husband, George D. Volk, for his unfailing interest and understanding and for the preparation of the maps and the execution of the lettering on illustrations. My sincere thanks are due to Dr. Alfred M. Bailey, Director of the Colorado Museum of Natural History, who made it possible for this book to be written and published, and to Charles H. Hanington, President of the Board of Trustees, for his constant interest in the project. H. M. Wormington Denver, Colorado TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Preface 3 Chapter I—Introduction 11 Chapter II—The Most Ancient Cultures 20 Sandia 20 Folsom 20 San Jon 22 Yuma 22 Gypsum Cave 22 Cochise 22 Tabeguache Cave 26 Chapter III—The Anasazi Culture 27 General Remarks 27 The Basketmaker Period 27 The Modified-Basketmaker Period 49 Summary 56 The Developmental-Pueblo Period 57 Peripheral Areas 72 Summary 75 The Great Pueblo Period 76 The Largo-Gallina Phase 102 Athapaskan People 105 Summary 106 The Regressive and Historic Pueblo Periods 107