MARILYN JOHNSON, LIVES IN RUINS — [A]rchaeologists work with humble stuff... . They are expert in the way things fall apart and acute observers of context; the placement and surroundings of an object can make the difference between junk and intellectual gold.
| A. | Feature of a sinuous river | MEANDER |
| B. | From side to side; crosswise | ATHWART |
| C. | Changes for the better, in theory | REFORMS |
| D. | Study very carefully | INSPECT |
| E. | Shape of a crescent moon | LUNETTE |
| F. | Late December (hyph.) | YEAREND |
| G. | Stone ax or adz, e.g. | NEOLITH |
| H. | "Happy Days" closing credits background prop | JUKEBOX |
| I. | Best in a duel or at the box office | OUTDRAW |
| J. | Subdued at a rodeo, maybe | HOGTIED |
| K. | Just coming into being | NASCENT |
| L. | Amorphous shape, as a camouflage marking | SPLOTCH |
| M. | Weird, eccentric; unaccented part of a musical measure | OFFBEAT |
| N. | Common cause of decay | NEGLECT |
| O. | Another name for tetanus | LOCKJAW |
| P. | Crane of literature | ICHABOD |
| Q. | Position with a sweeping view | VANTAGE |
| R. | Bar from membership | EXCLUDE |
| S. | Looking out for number one | SELFISH |
| T. | Name of the mummy in "The Mummy" | IMHOTEP |
| U. | Boutique-lined street in Boston's Back Bay | NEWBURY |
| V. | Gentleman thief of British fiction | RAFFLES |
| W. | Bring to light; dig up | UNEARTH |
| X. | Alter form, in grammar | INFLECT |
| Y. | Rocky peak sticking out of a glacier | NUNATAK |
| Z. | "Madame X" painter | SARGENT |