Kivas are circular, underground chambers traditionally used by the Ancestral Puebloans of the American Southwest. They served various purposes, including religious ceremonies, social gatherings, and community meetings. Kivas are often constructed with stone or adobe and feature a fire pit, ventilation shaft, and sometimes a bench around the interior walls. These structures are significant in Native American culture, symbolizing the connection to the earth and the spiritual world. Kivas are typically associated with the Pueblo peoples, who continue to use them in modern times for rituals and cultural practices, preserving their historical and spiritual significance.