OPENING OF A NEWLY DISCOVERED SHELL- 

 HEAP AT IPSWICH. 



COMMUNICATED BY JOHN ROBINSON. 



THE shellheaps in the vicinity of Ipswich have long 

 been a subject of study and investigation for the archae- 

 ologists of this region. Messrs. Wyman, Putnam, Morse, 

 Cooke, Lebarron and others have^ from time to time, 

 worked upon these shellheaps and collected many inter- 

 esting specimens from them besides adding to the scientific 

 knowledge of the subject. In no single instance, how- 

 ever, has any particular shellheap been carefully turned 

 over from end to end, nor have the contents of a heap 

 been collected and preserved as a special collection. This 

 is to be regretted, as there is now hardly any shellheap to 

 be found in this vicinity at which some one has not worked 

 to a greater or less extent. 



Early in September (1882), Mr. I. J. Potter of the 

 Ipswich Chronicle, an earnest student of the Indian re- 

 mains in the neighborhood of Ipswich, called the attention 

 of the officers of the Peabody Academy of Science to a 

 shellheap which he had observed on the shore of Ipswich 

 river. An examination showed that this heap had never 

 been disturbed and it was at once determined to investigate 

 it carefully and to retain as one exhibit everything of 

 scientific value that might be obtained. Permission was 

 kindly given to the Academy by Mr. Perkins, the owner 

 of the land upon which the heap was found, to do the work, 

 and on September 17, the first examination was made. 



The shellheap is situated on the northeastern end of 

 Perkins island in Ipswich river, now incorrectly known as 



(158) 



