34- NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Ash pits were numerous and within an area of 100 square feet, 

 fourteen were noted, in nearly all of them the underlying sand 

 was burned hard and red and the accumulation of white ash in 

 several instances was from 3 to 6 or 7 inches :'n depth. In a large 

 deposit which appeared to be a central location there was a saucer- 

 shaped depression filled with ashes and carbonaceous substances. 

 This depression was 14 feet in diameter and in the center there was a 

 depression paved with flat stones. This was filled with ashes. The 

 remains of a dog's jaw, fragments of split deer bone, fish bones and 

 several kernels of charred corn and hickory nuts were found in the 

 ashes. The stone basin was taken up and has been restored for 

 exhibition purposes in the Museum. 



An examination of the pottery articles leads to the conclusion that 

 they are of Algonkian origin. They are similar in every respect to 

 articles found on Algonkian sites along the Seneca river, Oneida 

 lake and along the east shore of Lake Ontario stretching northward 

 to the St Lawrence. Similar material is also found southward in 

 the valley of the Chenango and along the tributaries of the Susque- 

 hanna. From the character of the articles we judge that the site 

 was precolonial and perhaps prehistoric. The occupants were prob- 

 ably some division of the Delaware family who came into the region 

 before the Iroquois obtained control of central New York. The 

 collection has been cataloged and has already been installed in 

 Archeology Hall. 



Fig. 47 Elbow pipe from the Owasco Lake outlet. Algonkian. X. 



One of the important specimens in the collection is the pottery 

 vessel restored from more than two hundred fragments. This vessel 

 is typical Algonkian in shape and decoration and is 'the largest 

 Algonkian pottery vessel in the possession of the Museum. (See 

 plate 107.) 



