1 6 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 94 



ever it is possible to examine the surface carefully. Often it is liter- 

 ally a trace — ^an arrowpoint, a bit of pottery, or a flake of stone. 

 Again, the occurrence of a large accumulation of material within a 

 rather restricted area will indicate the location of an extensive village, 

 or of a site that had been frequented by small groups at intervals 

 during a long period. But all the fragmentary pottery and objects of 

 stone encountered in the region must not be attributed to the Siouan 

 tribes who claimed the country at the beginning of the seventeenth 

 century. They had been preceded by other groups, many of whose 

 weapons and implements may now be intermingled with those of the 

 later people. 



A large part of the land above the falls remains heavily timbered, 

 and some interesting sites may be hidden beneath the tangled mass of 

 vegetation bordering the streams. But some tracts that were once cul- 

 tivated are now overgrown ; some such areas may be distinguished in 

 the photographs taken from the air. Springs of clear cold water 

 occur throughout the region. Game was abundant, and much may 

 still be found. 



The depth of water in the rivers varies greatly, and freshets and 

 droughts often follow in quick succession, as during the summer and 

 early autumn of 1934. In some places the banks of the rivers are 

 of sufficient height to confine the streams at all times, but the flats 

 are frequently overflowed. Strange as it may seem, the greater part 

 of the material found has been recovered from land that has often 

 been covered by water. 



Many sites have been examined along both rivers and will be de- 

 scribed separately, beginning at the falls and continuing up the Rappa- 

 hannock to Kellys Ford, then along the Rapidan from its mouth 

 to near Mortons Ford. The distances between the places mentioned 

 are : From the falls to the junction of the two streams, in a direct 

 line, about 8 miles, thence to Kellys Ford about 13 miles. From the 

 mouth of the Rapidan in a direct line to Mortons Ford is approxi- 

 mately 17 miles. The distances between the same points by the me- 

 andering courses of the rivers would be at least twice as great. 



All sites mentioned in the text are indicated on the map of the 

 region, figure 2. 



THE ISLAND AND VICINITY 



The waters flowing past the large island, and the rapids both above 

 and below, appear to have been favorite fishing places for all who 

 had occupied or frequented the region since it was first known to 



