344 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



TWO CHARACTERISTIC COASTAL ALGONKIAN SITES 

 BY ARTHUR C. PARKER 



The coasts of Long Island, both north and south, stretching to 

 its eastmost limits, are marked with evidences of former Indian 

 occupation. Some of these sites are inland upon some portion of 

 the land naturally attractive in aboriginal times but most of them 

 are adjacent to the shores of sheltered bays and coves or upon tide 

 creeks. 



Matinicock Point Site 



In 1901 it was my privilege to join an expedition sent out by the 

 American Museum of Natural History under the leadership of M. 

 Raymond Harrington, then working under the direction of Prof. 

 Frederick W. Putnam. Mr Harrington, who had made a good sur- 

 vey of the Long Island coast, found that there were a number of 

 camp and village sites along Oyster Bay, especially near the villages 

 of Oyster Bay, Bayville and at Matinicock point. It was the latter 

 place that was chosen for excavation. Here upon a rise of ground 

 between Peter creek and a small fresh-water brook was what seemed 

 to be an extensive shell heap and evidences of a village site. Mi- 

 Harrington secured permission of Miss Matilda Cock, the owner 

 of the land, to conduct his investigations. 



Investigation revealed scattered deposits of shells and heavily 

 disturbed earth running several hundred feet back and up 'the slope 

 from the swampy land near the brook. It was only by diligent post 

 holing that the occupied area was outlined, for while there were 

 surface indications in the way of shells and occasional potsherds, the 

 land had been plow-torn and cultivated for nearly 200 years. It was 

 interesting to note, however, that the portion of the land modified by 

 the presence of " Indian dirt " grew the rankest grass and the tallest 

 weed?; This w&s one way that the village site was located. The 

 postholing assisted to determine the depth of the deposits. 



The area was staked out and trenches were outlined running up 

 hill and away from the brook. The digging was done down hill to 

 the brook. By our excavations it was found that the soil stained by 

 occupation varied from I foot to 2 feet in depth. There were fre- 

 quent ash pits, in the form of bowl-shaped depressions filled with 

 ashes, charcoal, animal bones, and the shells of clams and oysters. 

 There were occasional sea 'snail and scallop shells. 



Deer bones were fairly plentiful and one complete antler was 

 found. Other bones were of turtles, snakes, raccoon, dog, mink, 



