Probably not more than four of the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings fall into
this group. The difficulty is that of all the cliff dwellings only eight
have been completely excavated. It is impossible to make even a fairly
accurate count of the rooms in a large unexcavated ruin for the mass of
debris often hides the lower walls.
Cliff Palace, with its 23 kivas and more than 200 rooms is, of course,
the largest, but originally Long House may have been a close rival in
size. Long House was so badly knocked about by the early explorers that
it is impossible even to estimate how large it once was. Certainly it
was second in size. The other two that fall into this group are Spruce
Tree House and Spring House. Excavation and careful counting of rooms
would perhaps add one or two more to this group but at present one can
not be certain.
[Illustration: When the matter of size is considered, Cliff Palace,
of which a portion is shown here, heads the list. Dr. Jesse W.
Fewkes, who cleaned out and repaired the ruin in 1909, counted 23
kivas and over 200 rooms. Originally it contained many more rooms
for several high sections had fallen before excavation.]