SKINNER, INDIANS OF MANHATTAN ISLAND 181 



Algonkian inhabitants, who at a hxter period, prohably l)y barter, and 

 perhaps by inter-marriage, aequired or learned the art of Inxptoian (h'sign 

 and decoration. 



"Of the period during which the race occupied this locaUty, we can only 

 make conjectures. The extent and character of the shell heaps at Cold 

 Spring and the pits and burials at Seaman Avenue, certainly indicate a 

 settlement of large numbers or of considerable age. The ceremonial pits 

 at 212th Street and certain remains of aboriginal feasting, such as fish bones 

 and oyster shells, appeared to exist at a level below the graves of the slaves 

 of the settlers, buried at that place. 



"While these conjectures may carry back the period of occupancy to 

 antiquity, the tools and weapons are all of the modern order, and no objects 

 of true paleolithic character have been discovered, so that we have as yet 

 nothing definitely reaching back into the remote ages of the most primitive 

 mankind, although on Hunt's Point in the Bronx, at no great distance away 

 from our island, a very interesting rude ax and a hammer were discovered 

 by Mr. Calver in a gravel-pit, near the old Hunt burying-ground." 



Location of Arch^ological Remains on Manhattan Island.^ 



The first field work done on Manhattan Island is of very recent date. 

 Doubtless many articles of Indian manufacture and evidences of Indian 

 occupation were found as the city grew up from its first settlement at Fort 

 Amsterdam, but of these specimens we have very few records. The first 

 specimens found which have been preserved, to the knowledge of those now 

 interested in the subject, were found in 1855, and consisted of a deposit of 

 Indian arrow-points found in Harlem during excavation for a cellar on Avenue 

 A, between 120th and 121st Streets. Some of these are spoken of by James 

 Riker ^ as being in the author's cabinet. Riker also speaks of shell heaps 

 near here.^ The next specimens preserved were found at Kingsbridge Road 

 (now Broadway) and 220th Street in 1886, and are in the John Neafie col- 

 lection at the Museum. These consist of an arrow point and a few bits 

 of pottery. The next work was begun in 1889 by Mr. W. L. Calver of this 

 city, and has led to the discovery of much valuable material which has been 

 preserved.* 



1 By James K. Finch. 



2 History of Harlem (1881), footnote, p. 137. 



3 Ibid., p. 366. 



■• In the Spring of 1890 Mr. Edward Hagaman Hall began his investigations and at al)Oiit 

 the same time Mr. Reginald P. Bolton entered the field of local research. In many instances 

 these gentlemen and Mr. Calver collaborated with valuable results. In the preservation of the 

 traces of Indian occupation of Manhattan Island the American Scenic and Historic Preservation 

 Society (formed in 1895 under the presidency of the late Hon. Andrew H. Green, but now 

 under that of Dr. George Frederick Kunz) has done much pioneer work. Editor. 



