PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 481 
ments were often manufactured in these places. Specimens of every 
description (animal remains included) should be collected, and the con- 
figuration of the ground described. The addition of a plan of the lo- 
cality will prove useful in many cases. 
Village-sites.—They have many features in common with the camp- 
ing-grounds, and the preceding remarks are fully applicable to them. 
The places formerly occupied by habitations can often be distinguished 
by the so-called hut-rings, by excavations, &c., and, as many villages 
were fortified by embankments or pickets, or by both, their traces have 
to besought for. The former existence of pickets is sometimes indicated 
by rows of holes in the ground. A collection from a village-site showd 
be accompanied by a plan of the same. 
Forts.—The aborigines often fortified places affording special facilities 
for defense by building walls of earth or stone. Such localities have 
frequently yielded numerous relics left by the occupants, and they de- 
serve the attention of collectors. To the description of a fort should be 
added a plan showing its character and surroundings. 
Shell-heaps.—These accumulations mark the places to which the ab- 
origines resorted for catching and consuming mollusks, fish, &c. They 
occur on the sea-shore as well as on the banks of rivers, and are, there- 
fore, chiefly compused either of marine or fluviatile shells. Among 
them are found, sometimes in great number, implements of stone and 
bone, fragments of pottery, and animal remains. Also sometimes rude 
stone hearths surrounded by charcoal and ashes. The manufacture of 
flint implements was often carried on in these places. <A collection from 
a shell-heap should contain characteristic specimens of every kind of 
manufacture there found ; a full series of the species of shells, and all 
obtainable remains of reptiles, fishes, birds, and quadrupeds (skulls, 
bones, teeth, shells of turtles, &c.). The explorer should refer in his 
account to the situation, extent, thickness, and composition of the heap, 
and also state whether it is of a homogeneous character throughout, or 
consists of various layers differing in the nature of their contents. 
Caves.—Real caves, as well as recesses formed by overhanging rocks, 
were often used by the indigenes of North America as places of refuge 
or temporary habitations, and such retreats generally contain abundant 
tokens of their occupancy. It is advisable to collect all implements, 
sherds, bones, &c., exposed on the surface of the floor; and if the latter 
reaches downward, in consequence of accumulation, it should be en- 
tirely removed in sections, its stratification (if there is any) carefully 
noted, and the relative position of each discovered object recorded. A 
ground-plan and section will serve to render the description of such a 
locality more intelligible. 
Proc. Nat. Mus. 83——31 
