33O NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



As for the specimens found here 1 will not describe them until the 

 end of this paper, when they will be taken up in connection with 

 those found at the second site ( Durfee farm), which were similar, 

 I may say identical, in character. It is sufficient to note here that 

 they were of characteristic Iroquoian type, and, in the absence of 

 European trade articles, may be considered prehistoric. 



The indications seemed to give out at Heath site about the end of 

 August, and while I thought we might find a few more skeletons at 

 Heath's it was considered best to go to a fresh site. 



Durfee Farm Site 



The place picked out for this purpose is situated on the lowlands of 

 the old lake bottom about 3 miles north-northwest of Pierrepont 

 Manor, on Taylor brook, in the vicinity of the scattering group of 

 farmhouses locally known as Taylor Settlement. The Indian village 

 site lies on a low flat-topped hill, known as the "Old Fort lot " once 

 belonging to the old Durfee farm, 1 but now divided among John 

 Eastman, Egbert Cole and a Mrs Mayo, to all of whom the thanks 

 of the expedition is due for permission to excavate. 



The part of the hill occupied by the Indians is almost flat and 

 rather sandy, the sand lying upon a clayey substratum resembling 

 till. Its longest extension is from north to south. Along its western 

 border flows Taylor brook which has formed in one place a rather 

 high-cut bank. Directly west of the hill near a limestone outcrop, 

 are two springs, one of unusually large size, whose waters com- 

 bine to form another brook, which flowing around the southern end 

 of the hill joins Taylor brook some distance below. The largest 

 spring which was probably one of the principal attractions deter- 

 mining the settlement of the site by the Indians was photographed. 

 The site is almost commanded by a higher stony knoll rising from 

 the west side of the hill, but which is apparently just outside the 

 limits of the site, and does not show much trace of occupation. 



The flat hilltop, which covers about 5 acres, and the hillside lead- 

 ing down from it show, especially toward the southern part, a con- 

 siderable area of " village dirt " on the flat averaging from 8 to 18 

 inches deep a very black soil, with occasional bits of pottery and 

 other refuse. The general distribution of these indications of habi- 

 tations is shown by stippled shading on my map of the site. Pits were 

 scarce, and very poor in relics when found, the two described later 

 being the sole exceptions. They were mainly observed near the 



1 Hough, F. B., History of Jefferson County, p. 12. 



