CHAPTER IV.
A Splendid Field Prepared for Us by the Ancient Agriculturists of Cave Valley--House Groups in Caves Along a Pretty Stream--Well-preserved Mummies Found in Caves--More Trincheras--Our Excavations in Caves and Mounds Confirm to the Mormons their Sacred Stories--We Move to the Plains of San Diego--Visit to Casas Grandes and the Watch-tower--Successful Excavations of the Mounds near San Diego.
Finding the locality so inviting for research, I decided to remain here, returning to Pacheco only to despatch the rest of my party to make excavations at the ranch of San Diego, thirty miles to the east, down on the plains of Chihuahua.

The ranch was temporarily leased by an American, Mr.Galvin, who received my expedition hospitably, and invited the members to remain as long as they pleased and to make excavations wherever they wanted.
Cave Valley is the widening of a long, low-walled canon through which the Piedras Verdes River flows.

As its name implies, it contains many caves in the felsitic conglomerate overlying the region.

It is from one-quarter to half a mile wide, and has a fine, rich, loamy soil.

The stream is ten to twenty feet wide and from one to three feet deep.