AKCHEOLOC 

 FOWK 



E J 



HUMAN REMAINS FROM GALA 



21 



bones of a quadiupe<l were loiiiid near it, but no otLer trace of liunian 

 bones were seen. 



Tlie skeleton of a very young infant also was found; the crowns of 

 the teeth had not yet reached the surfax^e of the bone. About 20 

 Mard'uieUa shells and a number of periwinkles were with it. The body 

 was folded, rested on the right side, with head toward the east. A 

 bowlder about 30 pounds in weight lay above its feet, with 10 inches of 

 earth between. 



The first skeleton found on the eleventh day was lying in the small- 

 est space possible; the grave, dug a foot into the clay, could barely 

 contain it. The body lay on the right side, with head toward the east; 

 the back nearly in a straight line, not beut toward the knees, as in most 

 of the skeletons exhumed. The fibular and tibia' were all in contact, 

 though the heels were not drawn up against the pelvis, being o or 

 inches from it. The fenuirs measured 17i inches in length. About 20 

 beads, "with Marginella shells, and small disks were among the leg 

 bones, possibly having been used as legging oriniments. Under the 

 pelvis w^ere twelve elliptical shell ornanieuts, from 1;^ to 2 inches long, 

 the shorter diameter about tw^o-thirds the 

 longer, made from the harder ])art of a conch 

 or other large shell, and perforated length- 

 wise (figure 2). On the bottom of the grave, 

 between the knees and the elbows, were four 

 finely worked chalcedony arrowpoints; a thin 

 jjolishcd celt M'ith a shar}) edge; a l)o:ie pol- 

 isher of uniform diameter, blunt at the ends; 

 o needles or perforators; 4 bone fishhooks; 

 and a dozen ])erforated scai)uhe of some very 

 small animal. With the bones of the forearms and wrists were G50 

 Marginella shells; around and under the skull were 025 beads, most 

 of them long, slender, tubular pieces. The lower Jaw held a quantity 

 of earth, in which many beads w^ne packed. At the top of the head 

 were 2 or 3 flint cores, a number of chij)s and s])alls, and several per- 

 forated scapula'. 



Immediately west of this skeleton lay another, extended on the back, 

 with head toward the east; the legs drawn up until the thighs were 

 fully flexed, and i)ushed over to the left until the knee was almost on a 

 level with the spine. The left humerus lay along the side, the forearm 

 under the pelvis; the right forearm was between the pelvis and the 

 femurs. In one of the dorsal vertebra? was imbedded a flint arrowpoint, 

 which had penetrated the abdominal cavity from the left side; the bone 

 had made no new growth abrmt the injured part. The femur was IG 

 inches long. With the exception of the single arrowi)oint mentioned 

 no art re'inains were found with this skeleton. 



Three skeletons of children not more than 2 years of age were next 

 exhumed, the heads toward tin? east; bones almost completely decayed. 

 Near them was a hole 3 feet deep and 4i feet in diameter; and just 



Fig. 2.— Shell disk from Gala, 

 IJotetonrt comity, Virginia. 



