256 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



again so compact as originally, and even if there were not intruding* 

 substances in the sand its very looseness as distinguished from the 

 rather compact sand surrounding it was a sign of its disturbance. 

 The topsoil over the grave was removed ;md its outline ascertained. 

 The superincumbent earth was removed for a foot and a depth of 6 

 inches below explored for signs of the grave bottom and if not 

 found the earth for another 6 inches was shoveled out with great 

 care, the shovel scooping up the earth rather than spading into it. 

 The trowel was used again to dig down and the process repeated until 

 the skull or pottery vessel top was reached. The soil was then removed 

 carefully with trowels. The skeleton and grave bottom were cleaned 

 with fine pointing trowels and finally swept with a brush, care being 

 taken not to move any bone or other object in the grave. A diagram 

 of the grave and its contents was made, the exact position of these 

 objects ascertained by means of a compass and tape. The dimen- 

 sions of the grave, its number and position in the trench and the 

 character of the soil and other items of importance were recorded 

 in the field book. If the burial was of sufficient interest photographs 

 from one or more positions were made. The skeleton when removed 

 was wrapped in excelsior or cotton and placed in a labeled box but 

 not finally packed until dry. The objects found in the grave were 

 placed in a tray with a proper label and afterward marked with the 

 serial field number, this number being distinguished from the 

 museum serial by prefixing the letter " F." Data slips numbered to 

 correspond with the specimens were filled out and give all the neces- 

 sary details. Any information not found on the slip may be found 

 in the field record. The various records thus countercheck one 

 another. 



New York State Museum Bulletin 117 describes the graves in this 

 site. 



Significance of Some of the Data 



From the data secured in the course of the operations one might 

 construct a fairly correct account of the life and activities of the 

 people who left so many significant traces. One might picture the 

 scenes of primitive agriculture, the excitement and dangers of the 

 chase, the industries of the pot-maker or the flint-worker or the 

 home life of the warrior father and his wife and children, but this 

 picture is left for the reader to produce. Our work is rather to tell 

 how the facts were gathered and for the guidance of those who 

 wish to revivify the scenes of the past, to suggest how this may 

 be done. Hasty conclusions and 'preconceived ideas are to be stu- 

 diously avoided and no theory should be considered more than 

 tentative unless the proof is so strong as to eliminate doubt. 



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