234 PREHISTORIC FISHING. 



shells, the bones of animals that have been split for the purpose of extracting 

 the marrow, fragments of pottery, and charcoal. The latter formed a prominent 

 constituent of the mass, and is so free from extraneous substances, that it was 

 difficult to realize the fact that these aboriginal fire-places had remained undis- 

 turbed for at least two centuries. Under the roots of a lofty pine tree, where 

 the cinders were especially abundant, I dug up pieces of earthenware of extra- 

 ordinary size and quite black, either from usage or contamination with the char- 

 coal in which they were buried. Wherever excavations were made at Long 

 Neck Branch, the quantity of broken pottery was greater and the sherds in a 

 more perfect condition than on the unprotected sands of Rehoboth and Lewes. 

 In ornamentation, however, and in the composition of the clay, which has an 

 admixture of sand and pounded shells, the specimens are identical. From a 

 careful measurement of the curved lines of these fragments, the vessels of which 

 they were once a part could not have contained more than two or three quarts of 

 liquid, and both in design and dimensions show very little variation. 



" The results of my investigations at Long Branch Neck were not as satis- 

 factory as I had reason to expect. I was led to anticipate a valuable addition to 

 my collection, on account of the situation of the deposit in an unfrequented 

 section of country where its existence and prehistoric character being almost 

 unknown, it had been left undespoiled by the relic-hunter; but, besides the 

 pottery, I only obtained a number of rough hammer-stones and flint knives, 

 some finished and unfinished arrow-heads, and an abundance of calcined beach- 

 stones. My researches did not yield a single specimen of the larger and finer 

 class of stone tools, or an ornament of any description. With a view of ascer- 

 taining a cause for so unlocked for a disappointment, I made a close survey of 

 the surroundings, and finally reached the conclusion that the remains were simply 

 those of a fishing-post lying midway between the two great encampments of 

 Rehoboth and Lewes. There was insufficient space for the comfortable accom- 

 modation of a large community, which in a measure may explain the remarkable 

 absence of the ordinary stone implements. 



" An interesting discovery here was that of a well-defined trail through the 

 glades connecting the shell-heaps with two miniature lakes of fresh water, where 

 the Indians doubtless obtained their supply. 



" There was no evidence that any part of the deposit had been converted 

 into a place of sepulture. 



"A far more extensive series of irregular heaps can be traced for over a mile 

 on the downs in front of the town of Lewes, where they first become visible 

 about half a mile from the bay-shore. After running parallel with the latter 

 for some distance, in the direction of Cape Henlopen, they make a rather excen- 

 tric curve to the southeast, from which, and other indications, it was supposed 

 they followed the bed of a dried -up water-course. I consulted the old map of 



