Prehistoric Mound* and Relics of North West District, B.G. 13 



The hills and mounds which I have excavated and studied are as 

 follows : 



Kobarima Hill, Barambima Hill, Akawabi Hill. 

 Kumaka Hill, Ossororo Hill, Waunina Hill. 

 Koriabo Hill, Mts. Everard and Terminus. 

 Anabisi Hills, Manibari Hills, Hotakwaia Hill. 

 Hobo Hill, Simri Hill, Hanaida Hill, Hotahanna Hill. 

 Maruiwa Hill. Unnamed hills in the district. 



Of these only the following bear shell mounds : Barambima, Akawabi, 

 Hobo, Simri, Hotahana, Ossororo, and small hills between Kumaka and 

 Barambima and between Waanina and Akawabi. 



But decorated pottery, miniature heads, images and highly finished 

 stone implements were found upon nearly all the others. Only on one 

 hill (Akawabi) did the shell deposits and decorated pottery occur 

 together. 



Barambima Hill. 



This is a low hill, about 100 ft. in height, at the western terminus of 

 the irregular range known as the Aruka Hills and which abuts upon the 

 Aruka River at Kumaka Hill. It is of granitic formation* with some 

 lateritic iron stone, and is covered with heavy forest and deep, rich 

 soil. The shell deposit covered the extreme western slope and occupies 

 an area of approximately 150 x 300 ft. At this spot the forest becomes 

 stunted and more open — no doubt owing to the shells — but no trace of 

 former cultivation of economic trees or plants could be found. A careful 

 search failed to reveal any fragments of decorated pottery, any earthen- 

 ware heads, or any stone implements upon the surface. 



Excavations were carried on in the form of deep pits penetrating the 

 shell deposits and reaching the subsoil beneath, and also by long trenches 

 carried to the depth of the shells and extending completely across the 

 mound. (Fig. 1) Near the surface many fragments of plain and poorly- 

 made pottery were found and these continued to the bottom of the shell 

 deposits. A few very crude stone implements were also unearthed. 

 (Fig. 2) These consisted of some spindle-shaped objects, — probably orna- 

 ments, — rude celts or axes and a spear or arrow point. In three places 

 complete human skeletons were uncovered. In each instance the body 

 had been interred in a sitting or kneeling posture facing the east and in 

 every case a rough slab of earthenware had been placed over the occiput. 

 This slab was scarcely more than three inches below the surface and in one 

 case the soil had been washed away leaving the slab and skull exposed. 

 The bones were undisturbed and in situ but were so badly decomposed 

 and so friable that it was impossible to remove any save the larger bones 

 intact, while the skulls crumbled and broke despite the utmost care. 

 Enough material was preserved, however, to afford an excellent idea of the 



"The term " Granitic " as used here is not intended in its strict geological sense but is 

 applied to all rocks and formations not of iron-stone or lateritic formation. 



