NO. 8 MANAHOAC TRIBES IN VIRGINIA BUSHNELL 37 



graph was made, the river was higher than it had been for years, and 

 much of the low ground was flooded. A road can be distinguished 

 running from a group of barns near the left center of the picture to 

 the river on the right. This is lost in the fringe of timber, but leads 

 down to the ford, which here crosses to the left bank of the river near 

 the cluster of trees. This is just above the lower fish trap, which 

 cannot be distinguished by reason of the depth of the water, which 

 likewise covers much of the low ground on the left bank of the river 

 between the two traps. The second or upper trap crosses the river at 

 the far end of the low ground, just below the heavy mass of timber 

 that reaches the bank of the river where it begins to bear to the right. 

 Nothing of the history of the traps is known to the present occupants 

 of the adjoining farms. The traps have existed in their present con- 

 dition as long as can be remembered and have never been used. 



A view down the river over the ford, showing the position of the 

 lower fish trap, is reproduced in plate 15. figure 2. 



A sketch of the lower trap is shown in figure 11. This was not made 

 to scale, no actual measurements having been taken, but it is sufficiently 

 accurate to reveal the several peculiar features. The river at this point 

 is approximately 25 yards in width. The two lines of boulders touch 

 the banks and extend down the stream approaching to within 6 or 7 

 feet near the middle of the channel. The two walls then continue for 

 about 10 feet, roughly parallel. Logs extending transversely are still 

 remaining, both above and below the opening, under water and partly 

 covered by sand and gravel. The ends of these are held in place on 

 the right by a long log, extending with the current, and this in turn 

 is held down by a large fiat boulder. Probably a similar log, likewise 

 held in place by a boulder, once stood on the opposite side. The 

 upper trap is said to be of similar construction, but viewed from the 

 left bank of the river, it appears to be rather more massive and to 

 l)e better preserved. 



Although it is well known that traps of this general form were con- 

 structed by Indians in- prehistoric times, it is difficult to accept these 

 two examples as having existed in their present condition for more 

 than a century. But their history is unknown and consequently nothing 

 definite can be told of their origin — when and by whom they were 

 constructed. As previously mentioned, traps similar to these occur 

 in the Rappahannock just below the large island at the falls. 



Undoubtedly, innumerable objects of native origin were once scat- 

 tered over the surface of the site or accumulated in refuse heaps, 

 but little can now be found. However, considering the number of 

 years the land has been cultivated and the frequent floods that have 



