172 



probable that such had not been the case in this instance. The 

 following section was laid Ijare on excavation : — 



1. Thin surface layer of black soil... 



2. Yellowish-white tire layer 



3. Black carbonized soil 



4. Second fire layer... 



5. Black soil, as before 



6. Third fire layer ... 



7. Black soil, as before 



8. Fourth tire layer 



9. Black soil, as Ijefore 



Feet 



The black carbonaceous layers were of the usual kind found in 

 these shelters, a mixture of earth, sand, humus, shells and shell- 

 fragments, with an occasional fish or ujaunnalian bone, and a few 

 stones. The shells are the commoner species now living on the 

 coast, more particularly those of an edible nature. Tlie fire layers, 

 of which we dug through four, without reaching the bottom of 

 the shelter, consisted of a friablt; white, or y<llowish-white, limey 

 deposit, which, if at all dry, is most trying to the eyes when 

 digging. The lai-gest fire layer in lateral extent, and at the same 

 time the thickest, was almost in the centre of the Shelter. This 

 recess had clearly been long used by the Aborigines of tlie locality 

 as a cooking place, and, it may be legitimately inferied, as one of 

 residence also, for temporary periods perhaps considering their 

 nomadic habits, but periods extending o\er many years. 



A second Shelter some little distance along the escarpment to 

 the west was next examined. This was seventy-four feet in 

 length, twelve feet in depth, eight feet in height, with a total 

 height from the floor to the top of the shelter rock of twelve 

 feet. It was an unusually long and narrow retreat, and contained 

 similar fire layers, although not to so great a depth as the first 

 described. Aljout nine inches below the surface soil we disinterred 

 the partially complete skeleton of a young child, now set up in 

 the Ethnological Hall of the Museum. As usual, the body had 

 been protected by stDne slabs placed more or less all round and 

 above, but apparently not below it. The bones missing were 

 those of the right hand, the left forearm and hand, the right 

 foreleg bones, and both feet. The remainder were in a good 

 state of preservation, and such of the teeth as are present are 

 sound and very strong. 



Beyond the position of the second Shelter the escarpment trends 

 in a slightly north-west direction, and cuts the Manly-Pittwater 

 Road. Between these points are a string of large Rock-shelters, 

 and as the floors had been dug and explored by others we did not 



