THE ABARY RIVER 
THE ABARY PHASE 
DESCRIPTION OF SITES AND EXCAVATIONS 
Three sites were excavated along the course of the Abary River 
(fig. 61). All are habitations with sufficient depth of refuse for 
stratigraphic excavation, and all belong to the same culture, the 
Abary Phase. 
B-1: TIGER ISLAND 
The majority of the land along the lower Abary River is low and 
subject to flooding in the rainy season. About 43 km. above the 
mouth, there is a low rise on the left bank known as Tiger Island 
(fig. 62; pl. 38, a). Its nearly flat surface is 1.5 meters above high 
water level. During the rainy season the surrounding area is flooded 
except for a stretch of about 100 meters along the riverbank just 
south of Tiger Island, which remains exposed but somewhat soggy. 
Tiger Island is rectanguloid, with sloping edges. Its eastern side 
is 25 meters from the river channel. The summit, which corresponds 
to the area of the site, is 60 by 180 meters, with the longer dimension 
paralleling the shore. The island was occupied in 1953 by a house 
and a rice barn. The northern half had been used for gardening, 
and the southern part was in grass closely cropped from grazing 
cattle. Sherds were abundant on the eroded slopes and on the 
surface where the grass was short and worn away. 
Two small stratigraphic excavations were made in the south half 
of the site, where the disturbance appeared to be minimal. Cut 1, 
3 by 1 meters, was placed on the highest part of the southern half 
of the site, in the quarter nearest the riverbank. It was excavated 
in 8-cm. levels. The following features were observed : 
Level 0- 8cm__ Black, loamy clay, packed hard from trampling of cattle; 
a few quartz chips and hunks of fire-burnt clay; sherds 
small and abundant. 
Level 8-16 cm__ Soil looser black loam; sherds larger. 
Level 16-24 cm__ Conditions same. 
Level 24-32 cm__ Conditions same. 
Level 32-40 em__ Soil still black; sherds sparser; clear quartz chip. 
Level 40-48 cm__. Black soil streaked with tan to yellowish particles, more 
compact and damper; sterile at 40-45 cm.; sterile soil 
below 45 em. is light tan to grayish tan. 
154 
