NO. 10 



NEBRASKA ARCHEOLOGY STRONG 



185 



portion (figs. 25, 26). Away from the hearth the ash stratum thins 

 out, though in a few cases it may continue on to another hearth (see 

 I, fig. 25, with fireplaces III and IV), as does also stratum 2 (fig. 26), 

 which runs for 30 feet to the north, where it widens out into another 

 fireplace. In general, however, one fireplace to a stratum (fig. 25, I) 

 is usual. In some cases the gully of Sterns Creek passes directly 

 through a habitation area, as is the case at exposure 8 (map, fig. 24). 

 Here thin ash layers on both sides of the creek indicate that the cen- 

 tral portion of the deposit has been washed way. The composition 

 of these strata is mainly gray ash containing large numbers of calcined 

 limestone fragments, wood, charcoal, animal bones, mollusk shells, 

 and occasional potsherds and artifacts. The fireplaces or hearths 

 are marked by a greater accumulation of ash and charcoal and an 

 underlying lenticular stratum of baked clay (figs. 25, 26). Numerous 



t 



/■S rCET YELLOW, i^/tSHCD/ff SOIL 

 /)/VO BANCieD CLAY 



\ 



Fig. 25. — Ash strata and hearths at exposure 4, Sterns Creek culture, 

 Walker Gilmore site. 



stone fragments occur around and in these hearths, but no regular ar- 

 rangement of such stones has been noted. Certain rather thick layers 

 of ash are without any hearths and often contain masses of squash 

 seeds, mussel shells, bones, and broken artifacts. These are probably 

 refuse heaps. They occur on the same levels as the hearths but are 

 usually located apart from thetn. 



We were fortunate in finding more direct evidence as to the na- 

 ture of the dwellings themselves than did Sterns. At exposure 10 

 (fig. 26) two post molds were noted in the intermediate stratum (2) 

 and three post molds in the lower stratum (i). The upper molds were 

 filled with the black sandy soil of the sterile area above the ash 

 stratum. They averaged a little less than 3 inches in diameter and 

 strongly suggest the refilled holes of posts in use during the occupa- 

 tion of stratum 2. The post molds in the lower stratum (i) were even 

 more convincing, since the small eastern mold (fig. 26) contained 

 charred wood, whereas the larger one 6 inches to the west was lined 



