de Laguna] ARCHEOLOGY, YAKUTAT BAY AREA, ALASKA 55 



(indicated on the plan by dark shading). The southwest side of this 

 bin was formed by a plank (A) that had fallen out. 



The rock deposit inside this container was about 10 inches thick, 

 the lowest part consisting of small rocks, above which was a gravel- 

 like layer of fine rock fragments, sand, and occasional bits of charcoal 

 and ash; on top were larger rocks, averaging 6 inches in diameter. 

 These were mostly rounded sandstone cobbles, burned a dull red brown. 

 The reddish gravel below had probably resulted from fracturing the 

 heated stones when water was poured on them to produce steam. 



At a depth of 9 inches below the bottom of the rocks in the container 

 was another layer, about 2 feet long and 3 feet wide and 4 inches 

 thick, made up of the same kind of fire-cracked sandstones. This 

 layer was at the bottom of a pit almost 2 feet below the floor of the 

 house, which apparently represents a period when the house was 

 first occupied. Later, it was evidently decided that the pit was too 

 deep, so it was filled with a homogeneous layer of brown sandy 

 midden, on top of which the rock container was built (see the cross 

 section in fig. 5). 



Fire-cracked rocks were found scattered over the floor of the 

 house outside the bin. The latter had been built up some 8 to 10 

 inches above the floor level, but when the house burned, the slabs 

 and boards forming the sides were displaced, allowing the rocks to 

 spill out. Except for the unplanked area between the container 

 and the box in the center of the floor, this spiflover is not indicated 

 on the plan. 



BOX 



A small plank-lined pit, below the level of the floor, is in the center 

 of the house. The upper edges of the plank lining were either flush 

 with the floor planks or projected only an inch above them. The 

 sides of the box were of small planks, set on edge with the grain 

 running horizontaUy. These enclosed a space 3 feet long, 2 feet 

 wide, and about 8 inches deep. The planks themselves were about 

 3 feet long, from 12 to 18 inches wide, and Yi to % of an inch thick. 

 They were not fastened together at the corners, but were simply 

 held in place by four stakes, Iji inch in diameter and 40 inches long, 

 set inside the box. These projected 2 inches above the sides, but 

 may originally have been longer. 



The box was covered with short boards, not part of the regular 

 flooring, and the bottom was lined, at least in part, with pieces 

 of bark. Quantities of carbonized moss were found on or just below 

 the bark. Above this was a laj^er of burned sand, ash, and minute 

 shell fragments, all of a very uniform texture, and a number of fire- 

 cracked rocks. On top of the sandy fill was a large angular boulder 



