94 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



west wall, which uo doubt was the water-gate of the Fort, as some of the 

 springs which feed the creek are not more than thirty feet distant from it. 

 The north wall like the west one extends parallel with the ravine, but is at a 

 higher level and overlooks a steeper slope. As already stated, the enclosure 

 occupies three distinct levels, separated by cross walls, the lowest one on the first 

 bench of small extent, and the upper ones which rise by successive steps 

 embrace about 7,000 square yards each. 



Numerous openings had recently been made on the upper level and also 

 upon the enclosing walls, at almost every one of which we found ashes, bones 

 and pieces of pottery. Along the northern side of the second bench we were 

 attracted by a small but distinct depression, about six feet in width and lying 

 5° west of north. As it seemed to be a likely spot for exploration we made 

 an opening along the middle of it, at a point twenty-five feet from the base 

 of the north wall. At a depth of eighteen inches the spade struck and broke 

 what proved to be a thigh bone, and the limb was carefully uncovered down to the 

 foot. We then opened towards the head, measuring about six feet from the 

 heel, and struck upon a skull in such a position as led us to suppose it 

 must be part of the sanae skeleton as that of the thigh and leg bones already 

 uncovered. Extending the work from the head downward we found the 

 position to be such as would suggest that the pelvis had been bent from the 

 general line of the body ; but further digging showed that we were upon a second 

 skeleton, lying upon the east side of the first. Having removed the earth 

 from a space seven feet long by four wide, the true situation was apparent. 

 The bodies had been laid side by side on a north and south line, but with 

 the heads inclining towards each other at an angle of about 15°. 



The bones had the usual j^ellowish brown color peculiar to extremely old 

 bones, and were so fragile as to crumble almost at a touch. The sutures 

 however indicated that the age of the persons at the time of death would 

 not exceed 40 years. 



The skeleton lying upon the right or westerly side was obviously that 

 of a male person, as it measured five feet nine inches in length and was 

 relatively narrow across the pelvis region. It was equally obvious that the 

 other was a female, the length of which was five feet five inches with a 

 relatively broad pelvis. The head of the male was thrown forward, with the 

 lower jaw fallen down upon the vertebrae of the neck, the cause of which 

 was discovered in the root of a walnut tree which had entered at the right 

 ear, and, passing through to the left side, pushed the sub-maxillary bone out of 

 position. The skull may be described as rather brachy cephalic, but with 

 retreating frontal bones, broad occiput and dome-shaped vertex. It was com- 

 pletely filled with a fine black mould, upon removal of which the parts 

 separated and fell to pieces. A curious find in the base of the skull was the 

 under-jaw of a chipmunk. There were twelve teeth in the lower jaw of this 

 skull, well preserved, but the two left incisors were blackened and worn 

 down about one-twelfth of an inch below the level of the other teeth. The 

 two bicuspid teeth on each side were missing, but the molars were sound. 

 The bones of the vertebrae and all the lower parts of the body were in position. 

 Those of the feet were lying outwards. The bones of the left side were 

 throughout more fragile than those of the right, except in the skull, which 

 was injiu-ed by the root that had penetrated it. The arms lay alongside the 

 body, extending two-thirds of the way down the thigh bones, but with the 

 fingers of the right hand underlying the thigh. 



The female skeleton was in a better state of preservation than the male, 

 except as they were injured by the root, which, extending under the skull 

 and spinal column, had destroyed the occipital bone and portions of the spine. 

 The head was very nearly within the brachycephalic limit, with high and rather 

 broad frontal bone, wide occiput and large eye sockets. The teeth were in 

 good condition, and only three were missing — two bicuspids in the lower and 

 one in the upper jaw. The front lower teeth were slightly worn. 



There is no doubt from the color and condition of these skeletons that 

 they had lain a long time in the earth ; but additional evidence of time is afforded 

 by the root which had disturbed them. This root, which was two-and-a-half 



