l66 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



more experienced than the rest dug pits near it. Beyond this no 

 systematic effort has ever been made to excavate the site. 



A lease was secured August 20, 1905, and excavations begun in 

 a narrow strip that lay on the southern end near the wall, all other 

 portions at the time being under cultivation. Between August 2Oth 

 and October I5th twenty-five trenches 8 to 10 feet wide were dug 

 through the stratum showing signs of disturbance, crops having 

 been removed about September 2Oth, permitting free use of the 

 ground. In the trenches were found thirty-five pits while fifteen 

 others were discovered by the " post holing " method. These pits, 

 with few exceptions, were fireplaces. Fifty inches was the maxi- 

 mum depth to which disturbed earth extended and 30 inches was 

 the average. Usually the pits contained several layers, the bottom 

 being composed of a deposit of charcoal and ash intermixed with 

 fragments of broken pots, flint chips, etc. A layer of stained 

 yellow sand covered this and above it another stratum of charcoal 

 and ash, while above all was the top soil that gave no clue to the 

 pit beneath. 



Nearly all the objects in the collection of archeological material 

 were discovered in these pits. 



Pits of this kind are common on most Indian sites ; as is commonly 

 known fires were built within them for heat, light and for cooking 

 purposes. A deposit of charcoal and ash thus accumulated in the 

 bottoms of the excavations. To extinguish the fire loose dirt or 

 sods were thrown in, covering the embers and smothering the 

 flames. Sweepings from the wigwam floor were also thrown in. 

 This refuse consisted of broken earthenware, bones of animals, 

 shells of shell fish, waste food, discarded stone implements and 

 other similar things. Often by accident or intent objects of value, 

 such as perfect flints, bone implements, trinkets etc. were swept or 

 thrown in. A new fire was built and the process repeated until 

 the pit was filled and abandoned. Pits are therefore places in which 

 one may find many things of interest bearing on the life and arts 

 of the ancient people whose history he is endeavoring to discover. 



Much of the vegetable matter thrown upon the fire in pits 

 became carbonized, thus preserving its form. In the Burning Spring 

 pits were found charred walnut and butternut shells, corn and wild 

 plum pits. We may be fairly sure therefore that the occupants of 

 the site ate such things though they probably ate many other things 

 besides. 



The bones in Burning Spring fort pits were so far decomposed 

 that only a few were discovered, a few bones of bear, deer and fish 



