508 ARCHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS—IL [BTH. ANN. 44 
for its formation existed only in restricted localities, often widely 
separated. Even with these limitations, only a very small percentage 
of it could be utilized by primitive man. He needed stone that was 
extremely hard, homogeneous or nearly so in texture, fairly easy to 
chip into desired forms, and capable of receiving and retaining a keen 
edge. A prime requisite was that it should still retain the “ quarry 
water”; when this evaporated the stone became brittle and would 
shatter under a blow, or fracture in unexpected directions when sub- 
jected to pressure. Consequently, “flint” picked up on the surface 
where it had been exposed for any great length of time to atmos- 
pheric influence would not be suitable for the needs of the arrow 
maker. He must go down into the undisturbed clay or the unaltered 
stratum to obtain stone possessing this indispensable quality. 
Here and there, in all the States above specified, are found places 
where extensive excavations were made; either pits dug from the 
surface or quarries carried into the sides of the hills. Several of 
those reported have been carefully investigated; but no doubt there 
are many sites as yet unknown or overlooked, where diggings exist. 
It may be added here that in other portions of the country, both 
cast and west of the Mississippi Valley, flint—using this term 
in its ordinary meaning—is not to be found. In such localities 
recourse was had by the aborigines to other forms of stone; as quartz, 
quartzite, argillite, rhyolite, in the east; obsidian in the west. 
Omitting further mention of such sources, this report will be con- 
fined to a description of the sites which have been examined for the 
Bureau of American Ethnology, beginning at the north and extend- 
ine toward the south and west. 
Furnt rx Cosnocron County, Onto 
NEAR WARSAW 
Metham place—Three miles west of Warsaw, on the right (south) 
side of the Walhonding River, which here makes a sharp bend to 
the north, east, and south, is the estate of Col. Pren Metham. His 
residence stands on a terrace of diluvial or glacial origin rising 
some 50 feet above the level of the river-bottom lands. A ravine 
putting into the river at this point has its beginning on the high 
land a mile south of the house. A few hundred yards to the east- 
ward is a similar ravine, nearly parallel with the first. The ridge 
between these two ravines, out nearly to its end, carries its crest but 
very little lower than the level at which the ravines have their origin. 
At the termination of the ridge the slope on either side and the end 
facing the river are so steep as to be difficult of ascent. The summit 
of the ridge is narrow, and level for a sufficient distance back from 
the point to contain an area of about 5 acres, then it suddenly rises 
to an elevation 25 or 30 feet higher. Close to the surface was a cap- 
