FOWKB] AECHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS ' 31 



ered to a chalky consistency from 2 to 4 inches in depth since these 

 objects were left there. 



Owing to the uneven surface of both the bedrock and the deposits 

 on it, the thickness of the latter varied from 1 to 3 feet— not includ- 

 ing the muck, which last, however, disappeared at the level where 

 the rock rose above the water line. But, whatever the depth, more 

 than half the overlying material was pure ashes ; either resting un- 

 disturbed on the fire beds, or piled in irregular masses, where they 

 had been thrown to get them out of the way. The largest ash bed 

 was near the wall ; it measured from 4 to 7 feet across, with a very 

 uneven outline, as if many fires had been made there at different 

 times. 



The objects discovered included flint knives, spearheads, arrow- 

 heads (mostly broken), with many spalls and chips; potsherds (only 

 very small pieces were found); animal bones; mussel shells; bone 

 perforators; chert nodules, more or less flaked; two stone beads or 

 buttons; a small fragment of a pipe; but no mortars, hammers, 

 pestles, cooking-stones, or hatchets, such as are usually found on 

 the sites of Indian villages. None of the pottery was decorated, but 

 most of it was cord-marked, though some of it was so smoothed and 

 polished as almost to appear glazed. It varied through a wide range 

 of color, thickness, and general appearance, and was noticeably 

 deficient in quantity. In fact, the west side of the cave had less the 

 appearance' of a permanently occupied site than of a camping place 

 which was used as a temporary resort by traveling or hunting 

 parties ; but at the same time the depth and amount of ashes showed 

 that it had afforded shelter through a long period. 



The excavation on this side included all the space bounded by 

 the ditch, the wall, the mass of rocks piled at the entrance, and the 

 water-soaked earth toward the interior. The muck, and the large 

 blocks scattered around, prevented a complete clearing out; but the 

 part thoroughly examined had an area of about 600 square feet, 

 perhaps a little more. No human bones were found, in spite of 

 reports of their discovery and reburial by treasure hunters in the 

 past; and there was wide disagreement on the part of visitors, who 

 were also present when the bones were found, as to the number of 

 such interments. All finally conceded that there was only one adult 

 skull, though there was much argument as to the number of children's 

 remains discovered, the person who was blessed with the largest 

 memory insisting there were 13 " all in a pile." There was also some 

 discussion as to whether the remains were actually found near the 

 west wall or had been carried over there and reinterred after being 

 exhumed on the east side. 



These particulars are given merely to show how little reliance is 

 to be placed upon the statements of perfectly truthful persons who 



