7 Go PAPERS RELATING TO ANTHROPOLOGY. 



Another implement is composed of a very hard quality of baked clay, 

 and probably used in polishing. Chert flakes are everywhere picked up 

 in the two principal shell-heaps. Nodules of red hematite are common 

 here, but do not belong to the island. 



Some of the coarser implements found are a broken flesher or bark- 

 peeler, polished and made from sandstone, a pestle, made of quartz and 

 finely polished, another unpolished and composed of a compact sand- 

 stone, a double mortar, composed of sand-rock. The obverse bowl is (> 

 inches long, 5 wide, and IJ in depth. The reverse bowl is of the same 

 depth and 5J inches in diameter at the top. 



Double mortars are seldom met with in the Ohio region. The collec- 

 tion contains also a so-called spindle-rest, with three perfect circular de- 

 pressions. On the opposite side is one similar depression. The mate- 

 rial IS a fine sandstone. It was found in Highland County, Ohio. The 

 mortar is from the alluvial deposit on the Ohio side of the river, imme- 

 diately opposite Blennerhassett's Island. 



The implements above described do not represent all that are found 

 on the island, but only those obtained. Some very fine hatchets, com- 

 posed of brown hematite, and grooved stone axes were seen, but they could 

 not be purchased. Doubtless other classes of implements are picked up 

 from time to time. 



After a careful study of what wa.s observed at Blennerhassett's Island 

 the following conclusions were reached : 



(1.) The shell-heaps were all deposited by the same race of people 

 and at the same period of time. 



(2.) The deposits were formed by that race commonly known as the 

 American Indians. 



(3.) The evidence appears to lead to the conclusion that the Indians 

 who formed these heaps belonged to the earlier tribes ; for {a) time 

 must be allowed for the formation of the vegetable mold, and [b) also 

 a period must elapse for the growth of the forest trees. When the 

 island was first known to the Caucasian it was covered with forest trees, 

 which extended over the shell-heaps. 



(4.) The island was a permanent home for the savages, and chosen 

 on account of its natural advantages. The savage races of North 

 America chose their abodes, whenever practicable, along the margin of 

 streams, partially because it afforded them protection against a sudden 

 attack. The high bank near the point of the confluence of two streams 

 was always chosen either for villages or camping parties, for the reason 

 that only one side needed to be guarded. Blennerhassett's Island was 

 protected on all sides, thus giving natural advantages not afforded on 

 the main land. The deer and other animals were hunted on both sides 

 of the river and brought over in their canoes. 



(5.) The evidence that the island formed a permanent habitation is 

 further shown by the vast amount of chert chips scattered throughout 

 the heaps. The chert was brought from " Flint Eidge," in Licking and 



