8o JOHN LYON RICH AND EDWIN A. FILMER 



It will be evident from the foregoing summary of the literature 

 that more than one set of buried gorges has been recognized, or at 

 least suspected. The problems still left unsolved were: (i) the 

 details of these gorges, and the number present in different valleys; 

 (2) the gradient of the gorge bottoms; (3) the possibility of the 

 explanation of one of the buried gorges by preglacial rejuvenation. 



BROADER BEARINGS OF THE PROBLEM 



The buried gorge phenomena of Six Mile Creek do not stand 

 isolated. Similar phenomena in many other valleys of the region 

 have been recorded. 



If our interpretation is correct they all form a definite part of 

 the sequence of events connected with the glacial epochs. Some 

 valleys should show several gorges; some, perhaps, in cases where 

 the stream happened to find the same channel each time, should 

 show only one. The phenomena in Six Mile Creek valley point to 

 at least three glacial epochs separated by periods of time longer 

 than that since the last epoch. Other valleys may show an even 

 more complete record. Buttermilk valley shows a more complex 

 series than Six Mile, and Butternut Creek has a splendid series of 

 old gorges, very little studied as yet. 



As the study of these gorges progresses it should be possible to 

 settle many points now in question. For instance: the 600-foot 

 gorge of Six Mile Creek was cut to a base level approximately 80 

 feet above present lake level. The largest gorge of Buttermilk was 

 cut to approximately the same base. The base of the largest gorge 

 in Butternut Creek lies at approximately the same level — perhaps 

 somewhat higher. By careful leveling it should be possible to 

 determine with close approximation the base level to which each 

 of these gorges was cut. It may be possible in this way to deter- 

 mine whether a lake (horizontal base level) or a river (inclined base 

 level) occupied the main valley at the time of the cutting of the 

 gorges. The Finger Lake valleys and their tributaries afford 

 abundant evidence which must be studied carefully before a final 

 decision as to the full complexity of the glacial period in central 

 New York can be made. 



