The western section (fig. 8, _A-D_, _M_) of Hovenweep Castle is made up
of five rooms, the most western of which, _M_, is semicircular, while
_A_, _B_, _C_, and _D_ are rectangular. Room _A_ is almost square,
one of its walls forming the straight wall of the south side of the
semicircular tower, _M_. At the union its walls are not tied into
the masonry of the circular wall of the tower, as may be seen in the
illustration, plate 14, _b_, implying that it was constructed later.
There is an entrance into _A_ from the south or cliff side, and a
passageway from _A_ to Room _B_, which latter opens by a doorway into
Room _C_. All rectangular rooms of the western section communicate with
each other, but none except A seem to have had an external entrance.
The photograph of the south wall of the west section of the ruin (pl.
14, _c_) shows small portholes in the second story and narrow slits in
the tower walls. The lower courses of masonry are formed of thinner
stones than the rows above, but smaller stones compose the courses at
the top of the wall. A view of the north wall of the western section
(pl. 22, _a_) shows the tower and rooms united to it. There is no kiva
in the western section.