538 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 19 3 8 



work was continued through October and into November. Most of 

 the digging was confined to a deep pit in an arroyo bank, where there 

 was an exposed layer containing bones and artifacts (pi. 6, fig. 1), 

 although some excavations were made at other portions of the site in 

 an effort to determine its extent. 



In 1935 two large trenches were dug across the portion of the site 

 lying south of the deep pit in the ravine (pi. 6, fig. 2). This was done 

 to reveal a complete cross-section of the deposits overlying the speci- 

 men-bearing stratum and to determine the source of the objects found 

 in the deep pit (pi. 7, figs. 1 and 2). Trenches were also dug through 

 a portion of the area near the location of the original Coffin finds. A 

 bone pile comprising remains from nine individual bison, Bison taylori, 

 the same species found at Folsom, was uncovered (pi. 8, fig. 1). Further 

 work carried on at this location in 1936 revealed the remains of a feast 

 or barbecue. The carcasses of the animals, those found the previous 

 year and others included in the new material, had been dismembered 

 and cooked at the scene of the kill. Many bones were charred and 

 several projectile points recovered from the debris exhibit the effects 

 of fire. In addition, numerous implements of various kinds were 

 associated with the bones. Any lingering doubts concerning the con- 

 temporaneity of the makers of Folsom points and the extinct bison 

 were dispelled when the tip end of a point was found in situ in the 

 channel for the spinal cord in one of a series of articulated vertebrae 

 (pi. 8, fig. 2). Further interest was added by the fact that several foot 

 bones from a camel, probably Camelops, were in the assemblage. 

 Excavations made near the previous year's trenches yielded ample 

 evidence of human occupation. There were traces of surface fires, 

 quantities of debris left by the makers when they chipped the imple- 

 ments, and numerous broken and unfinished tools. In the summer of 

 1937 work was continued from the place where the 1936 activities were 

 stopped and further confirmatory evidence obtained. Additional pits 

 were sunk at new portions of the site during the 1938 season and several 

 areas where fires had been built, animals cut up and cooked, and im- 

 plements made were revealed (pi. 9, figs. 1 and 2). Most of the bones 

 belong to Bison taylori, but a few represent an as yet unidentified 

 deer and a group of small mammals. At some distance from the 

 excavations, yet within the boundaries of the site, a section of mam- 

 moth tusk associated with some cut and split bones and charcoal came 

 to light. There were no points or implements associated with these 

 remains, however, hence it cannot be stated definitely that they are 

 contemporaneous with the other materials. The horizon in which they 

 lay was identical with that where most of the excavations have been 

 made, and as other sites have shown that Folsom hunters did kill the 

 mammoth, there seems little doubt that such was the case at the 

 Lindenmeier ranch. 



