The oldest stem was found in stratum [I and was ap- 
parently cut from the fruit while still green. The length 
of this specimen is 4.8 cm., with a diameter at the upper 
end of about 1.8 em., and a diameter at the lower end 
about 83cm. A whole stem, recovered from stratum LV, 
is 7.5 em. long, 2 cm. in diameter at the upper end and 
3.3 cm. in diameter at the lower end. The third speci- 
men from stratum V is about 6 cm. long with a diameter 
of approximately 1.8 cm. at the upper end, and 2.8 cm. 
at the lower end. 
Phaseolus vulgaris Linnaeus Sp. Pl. (17538) 728. 
Only a few specimens of the common red bean were 
recovered. ‘These have a smooth red coat with a white 
hilum or eye. There is no marked difference in size or 
appearance from level to level. 
Common beans 
Level Number beans Average width Average length 
III q 8.5 mm. 13.0 mm, 
IV 4 7.1 mm. 11.1 mm. 
VI 1 8.0 mm. 11.0 mm. 
The largest beans and the earliest in age were the two 
specimens from stratum III (average width 8.5 mm. and 
average length 18 mm.). In stratum IV the beans aver- 
aged 7.1 mm. in width and 11.1 mm. in length. From 
stratum VI a single bean 8 mm. wide and 11 mm. long 
was recovered. A buckskin bag of beans was found in 
stratum V, but these beans were not available for study. 
The apparent decrease in size upward in the deposit is 
probably due largely to the lack of sufficient material 
for comparison. There is no ready explanation for the 
lack of beans in strata I and II where both maize and 
squash are well represented. 
Contrary to the evolutionary series presented by the 
Bat Cave maize, neither the cucurbits nor the beans show 
[ 1638 ] 
