The existence of recesses and of refuse heaps back of the buildings in caves is characteristic of Mesa Verde cliff-dwellings. In the cliff-houses of the Canyon de Chelly and Marsh Pass regions they rarely exist, the house walls being built against the rear wall of the cave, leaving very little space behind them for refuse or fallen débris. This latter feature, due to the geological character of the caves, is also prominent in the cliff-dwellings of the Red Rock country, at the headwaters of the Verde and its tributaries, and is likewise found in a few cliff-houses of the Gila visited by the writer. From one point of view the use of the wall or walls of the cave as house-walls marks a typical form of cliff-dwelling, or a dependent village, distinguished from a cliff-dwelling like Cliff Palace, the walls of which are independent or free on all sides from the cliffs.[37]
BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY
BULLETIN 50 PLATE 14
a. RELATION IN PARTS OF CIRCULAR AND RECTANGULAR KIVAS
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, banquettes with pilasters thereon; C. O. ceremonial opening; F, fire-hole; S, sipapû (symbolic opening into underworld); V, ventilator.
b. SCAFFOLD HOUSE
A, large banquette; C, adobe roof covering; D, deflector; S, stick construction supporting roof.
DIAGRAM SHOWING KIVA ROOF CONSTRUCTION