NO. 7 INDIAN OCCUPANCY IN VIRGINIA — BUSHNELL 9 



this condition with that of the three specimens shown above. All 

 six are believed to have been made of the same black chert, and all 

 were found in similar surroundings. The three above are bleached 

 and weathered, and the edges are worn away and have become 

 smooth. These unquestionably belonged to the early period of oc- 

 cupancy; the former were made and used during the late or recent 

 period. The older specimens likewise differ in form from those of 

 the later period. The extreme point of the specimen on the right of 

 the upper row, a, has been broken, thus revealing the natural black 

 chert unaltered and showing the depth of the weathering. An en- 

 larged view of the fractured surface is reproduced in b. Some of 

 the crudely made quartz and quartzite points may have been pro- 

 duced during the early period, but, as already mentioned, the mate- 

 rial would not have become weathered and so present evidence of 

 great age. 



Four implements which are believed to have been made and used 

 during the early period are shown in plate 3. Above are two rather 

 small specimens, a and b, which were found on the high ground near 

 the right bank of the Rivanna, opposite the mouth of the North Fork 

 of that stream. Both are made of diabase. Below are two crude 

 specimens, c and d, found some miles eastward in Louisa County, 

 north of Louisa, near a small stream which flows into North Anna 

 River. The larger specimen, d, made of a large flake of diabase 

 which had been shaped by the removal of smaller flakes, is deeply 

 weathered and its appearance suggests great age. The smaller speci- 

 men, c, differs from all others in having been made of a quartzite 

 pebble which has not weathered, but is greatly discolored. 



The weathering of the two small specimens from the vicinity of 

 the Rivanna, a and b, resembles that of the originally chipped sur- 

 face of the ax discovered near the Rapidan. The relatively great 

 age of these and of the two examples found in Louisa County is ap- 

 parent. The black chert points, so greatly weathered, are believed 

 to have belonged to the same early period. Centuries have passed 

 since they were made and used. 



The specimens illustrated in plates 2 and 3 have been examined, 

 and the materials identified, by Dr. R. S. Bassler, Dr. W. F. Foshag, 

 and E. P. Henderson, of the Department of Geology, United States 

 National Museum. All agree that the deep weathering of the rock 

 is indicative of the long exposure of the chipped surfaces, in turn 

 proving the great age of the implements or weapons fashioned by 



