ANTIQUITIES OF THE OUACHITA VALLEY. 9 
Incidentally it may be said that our work during the season referred to was 
confined almost entirely to land that was, or had been, under cultivation. Along 
Bayou Bartholomew practically all land is cultivated, and along other waters visited 
by us the same is true of the arable sites. 
When the aborigines selected dwelling-sites along rivers subject to overflow 
they naturally chose high ground; and later, when Europeans selected land to 
clear for cultivation, they were similarly influenced, especially as much of this 
ground already had been enriched by aboriginal deposits. 
Now we shall consider those dwelling-sites which still remain notwithstand- 
ing all the factors that have contributed to their destruction. 
A successful quest for dwelling-sites along the Ouachita valley is largely a 
matter of chance. Obviously one cannot search for them over the whole extent of 
each plantation one comes to, especially along Bayou Bartholomew, where planta- 
tions extend continuously on both sides throughout the length of the bayou. There- 
fore, one must depend largely on information derived from inhabitants, and from 
inhabitants of all classes. 
Dwelling sites are often encountered near mounds, and most persons living in 
the vicinity of a mound are able to give information concerning its situation. 
Having determined the locality of the mound the investigator can search in its 
vicinity. 
Many dwelling-sites, however, are apart from any tumulus, and a large propor- 
tion of inhabitants are not acquainted with the various features that indicate the 
presence of these sites, or perhaps, though familiar with these features, they fail to 
connect them with particular sites in the neighborhood. Hence one’s discoveries 
depend greatly on the character of the persons one happens to meet, and it is obvi- 
ous that even the most conscientious investigator in this region must fail to find 
some of the cemeteries which are situated along his line of work. 
All these facts! in relation to the Ouachita valley will explain the difficulty 
of obtaining there a great quantity of desirable material, The investigator of the 
present time visits that locality many years too late. Nevertheless we unearthed 
some pottery which is to an extent distinctive and representative of the region, and 
fills a gap that has existed hitherto. 
Perhaps a few words as to our means and method of work in the field may not 
be out of place. 
Our steamer, with captain, pilot, engineer, and a crew of five men, had aboard, 
in addition, eight men who, with three of our crew, made a force of eleven to dig. 
There were also of the party Dr. M. G. Miller, anatomist of the expedition, 
who has aided in all our field-work since its inception, and in putting through press 
| z Incidentally we may say that in a few cases permission to investigate was withheld or prohibi- 
tive conditions were im , but fortunately in no case, so far as we could learn, did we suffer these 
restrictions in connection with sites of importance. 
2 JOURN. A. N. S. PHILA., VOL. XIV. 
