We know very little about the game that was played in this court. However, in Arizona sites two rubber balls have been found which are similar to those seen in use in the Mexican ball courts by the Spanish conquerors when they first entered Mexico. The game played here, if like those in Mexico, was part of religious ritual. This ball court is unique among Arizona ball courts for it is constructed of masonry. Others are generally made of adobe. Take the marked trail to the ball court for a closer look if you wish. 12. In adding this room to the pueblo the builders joined their walls to ones already existing, as can be seen on your left. As a result of constructing rooms in this fashion the builders were unable to interlock building stones of the new room with those of the old one. It was usually at these points that walls collapsed first, because they were not adequately tied together. [Illustration: _Unbonded walls more often collapsed._] [Illustration: _One of the seven infant burials mentioned at Stake 12._] In this room seven infant burials were found in slab-lined pits (only one pit can be seen today). As with most people, the Indians held a close relationship to their children, probably believing, like the Hopi today, that the spirit of the dead child would be reborn in the next baby. Consequently the deceased were often buried in the mother’s house. [Illustration: _Collapsed roof._] The roof as built before collapse Mud Bark Split beams Main beams 13. Work area. The area in front of you was an outdoor workshop, or patio, where the people could grind corn, make pottery, mend clothes, gamble, or gossip. It was surrounded by a low “windbreak” wall and perhaps in the summer was partially covered by a brush “shade.” 14. Room construction. Upon entering this room one can see how the original builders took advantage of two natural rock walls. This eliminated construction of two sides of the room. The lower portion was filled 5 feet (1.5m) deep with trash before the first floor was laid. Original timbers are still in place above the opening in the rear wall. Holes for beams that supported the second story are visible in the side walls. A considerable number of beams was recovered during the excavations at Wupatki, and the study of this material has contributed greatly to the tree-ring method of dating in the Southwestern region. Most of these beams were of ponderosa pine, not present nearby. It is possible the pine forest was closer to Wupatki then than now. 15. Trash deposit. The sloping ground all along this side of the ruin is the rubbish heap. It is from trash deposits such as these that archeologists are able to obtain a great deal of information about material developments and changes that occurred in the history of the people who lived in these villages.