NO. 12 MONACAN TOWNS IN VIRGINIA — BUSHNELL 2*] 



reach down to their knees, with a fringe on the under part by way 

 of ornament." 



The plant to which Byrd referred was undoubtedly a milkweed, 

 probably Asclepias pulchra, often termed Indian hemp, and known to 

 many persons in this part of Virginia as silk weed. The long fiber 

 is easily detached from the stalk, and when twisted forms a very 

 tough and strong cord. 



Milkweed is plentiful throughout the region, and the fiber derived 

 from the stem was undoubtedly used by the people who occupied the 

 ancient village which stood on the banks of the Rivanna. Innumerable 

 small fragments of pottery have been recovered from the surface of 

 the site, many of which bear the imprint of cords or of basketry. 

 These fragments have been found on both sides of the river, but all ex- 

 amples to be considered at this time have been collected on the left 

 bank and, with few exceptions, have been found within 50 yards of 

 the water. The land has been plowed and harrowed for many years 

 and as a consequence it is seldom that a piece of pottery more than 

 an inch in length can be discovered. Much of it may never have been 

 very hard and the bits have now worn away until the impressions on 

 the surface of many have become faint and scarcely discernible. Casts 

 of nine small pieces are shown natural size in plate 1 1 , figure 2. These 

 are the clearest impressions selected from several hundred. 



The specimen in the middle of the top row is unusually hard and 

 compact, and for that reason the impression of cords has remained 

 very clear and distinct. It is an interesting fragment, but whether it 

 represents basketry or cloth has not been determined. On either side 

 of this are examples of coarser cords. The small triangular fragment 

 in the middle of the bottom row, and likewise the specimen on the 

 left, is believed to represent a form of basketry. No piece yet found 

 bears the imprint of a coarse, net-like material. 



White quartz, pulverized or reduced to very small pieces, was mixed 

 with the clay of which the vessels were made. 



As mentioned, the great majority of fragments of pottery have 

 been found near the left bank of the river, where the ground is rela- 

 tively high and has seldom been overflowed. A few pieces of rock 

 showing the effect of fire together with small bits of charcoal have 

 been revealed by the plow near the highest point of the bank, some 

 20 yards from the water. Quantities of flakes of quartz, quartzite, 

 chert, and some of jasper occur on this part of the site, and near by 

 were found the several pieces of worked soapstone already described. 

 This may have been a much frequented section of the village and 

 possibly sweat houses once occupied the high ground overlooking 



