254 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 







The archeologist examined this cross section and if indications 

 pointed to the probable presence of objects he troweled into the 

 bank, allowing the earth to fall to the floor until it had filled, when 

 it was removed bya laborer. If the indications pointed to a barren 

 spot the workmen spaded ahead until signs of disturbance again 

 appeared, when the section was again examined. When a pit was 

 discovered a clean working space was made and the pit vertically 

 exposed at one side. The pit filling was then troweled from top to 

 bottom, great care being taken not to break the specimens that 

 might come to light with any trowel stroke. As the work progressed 

 measurements of the pit were taken and all the important specimens 

 labeled and placed in trays for subsequent numbering. The refuse 

 material, such as animal bones, potsherds, flint chips and rude 

 implements, were placed in labeled bags. A diagram of the pit was 

 drawn and the details of its excavation recorded in the trench book. 

 Trenching was continued until the trench became barren, when 

 another trench was worked. 



Every pit, pocket or post hole was charted, the varying character 

 of the soil and the manner of its disturbance was noted and it is 

 possible for anyone familiar with our methods to take a specimen 

 from the collection and after examining its number and referring to 

 the records, point out on the map or on the actual site itself exactly 

 where the object was found. 



To insure accuracy in field records, three of a different kind 

 were made, so that any circumstance omitted in one might be found 

 in one of the others. The first record was made in a " trench book " 

 and written as the actual work progressed; the second record was 

 made on data slips and supplemented the trench book in the matter 

 of measurements, locations, positions etc. of trenches, pits and 

 objects and added the details of the particular thing described on 

 the slip; the third was a survey record, in which every pit, grave or 

 trench cutting was charted to a degree of mathematical exactness. 

 All these records are supplemented by drawings, diagrams, maps 

 and photographs. 



Method of Excavating Graves 



The burial section was staked out in the same manner as the vil- 

 lage section. The workmen in excavating removed the disturbed top 

 soil for a distance of 3 feet, leaving a working space 3 by 16 feet. 

 Excavations were continued until signs of deeper disturbances 

 appeared. These " signs " were foreign substances in the regular 

 strata, such as fire-burned stone, flint chips, charcoal and lumps of 

 clav. Earth of the character here found once disturbed is never 



