48 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[bull. 76 



Fig 



-Perforated object 

 Sell Cave. 



of antler from 



At 24 feet from the entrance, 17 feet from the west wall, in a 

 hole dug to 20 inches below the present surface of the talus, were 

 broken and spongy bones of an adult. Pelvis, feet, and leg 

 bones were in confusion ; the tibiae were reversed in position, but it 

 ma}^ be that the body was laid on the back with the knees flexed and 

 that the bones had fallen as they were found. This is probable, as 



each i^atella was where it be- 

 longed, and the body lay ex- 

 tended toward the southeast, as 

 shown by the position of the 

 vskull. The humerus was about 

 12 inches long ; all the bones were 

 in small pieces. There were 

 many mussel shells among and 

 above the remains, over which 

 earth and small rocks had been 

 piled. 



Tavo feet south of this skeleton 

 and a few inches lower were the 

 crushed and decayed bones of an 

 old person with the head lying 

 toward the east. The one tooth 

 found (a molar) was worn en- 

 tirely below the enamel except for a small space at the front; tho 

 dentine was polished until it resembled a piece of agate. Mr. 

 De Lancey Gill first remarked the fact that wear of this character 

 denotes that the individual did not gnaw bones, crack nuts, or indeed 

 bite hard on any substance. If he had done so this thin shred of 

 enamel would have broken off. Two large rocks which lay on the head 

 and body seem to have been thus placed 

 before the grave was filled with earth. 



Near these bones were fragments indi- 

 cating three other interments ; the humerus 

 of the last was perforated. 



Other arm bones found showed the same 

 olecranal perforation. 



Twenty-one feet from the entrance, 19 feet from the east wall, was a 

 skeleton, closely folded, on left side, head toward rear of cave. The 

 teeth were worn flat. The bones were crushed by rocks laid on or above 

 the body at the time of burial, as was the case with all the skeletons 

 found in this part of the cave ; probably timbers had been interposed. 

 Near the surface, 18 feet from the entrance, 14 feet from the east 

 wall, were the right half of a skull and of a lower jaAv; a few 

 small, scattered pieces of skull were found near them. The teeth were 



Fiu. 



9. — Rubbing or polishing 

 stone from Sell Cave. 



