32 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



This statement was illustrated by an enumeration of the 

 discoveries of archaeologists in Australia, New Zealand, 

 Europe, and North and South America, 



The speaker made mention of the opinions entertained 

 by different writers in relation to the origin of the shell- 

 heaps of the Atlantic coast and enumerated the facts by 

 which archaeologists had reached^the conclusion that these 

 shell-heaps are in reality accumulations of kitchen refuse 

 made by the ancient inhabitants of the shores. 



Mr. McGuire then gave an account of the shell-heaps ex- 

 amined by himself. Usually the smaller are circular or 

 elliptical rings from twelve to fifteen feet in diameter, and 

 show plainly that they are the sites of former dwellings. 

 The centre of each ring is always depressed and represents 

 an inverted cone. Upon a trench through one of these 

 heaps there is found a level substratum of earth, but the 

 shells increase in depth as the ridge is approached. This is 

 sometimes four or five feet high; then they decrease in 

 depth as the centre of the ring is reached. These rings 

 seem to have been formed by throwing the shells from a 

 common centre. 



To account for the peculiar shape of these deposits it is 

 necessary to consider the construction of the Indian house. 

 There is historical evidence showing that it was made of 

 poles with the large ends on the ground in a circle, and 

 bound at the top with the bark of the walnut tree, and the 

 whole covered with sedge matting sewed with a needle 

 made of the splintered bone of a crow's leg. Doorways 

 were covered by movable mats. His theory was that the 

 shells thrown from such a house would gradually accumu- 

 late, forming a circular wall. When the houses were finally 

 deserted, the action of the weather would reduce the shell 

 wall on the exterior to the condition in which these heaps 

 are found. 



Other shell-heaps discovered by Mr. McGuire .were sup- 

 posed to be accumulations about large communal dwell- 

 ings. In general outline they are elliptical. Low spaces 



