ABORIGINAL OCCUPATION OF NEW. YORK 167 
employed a tracing or a transfer to a map on a smaller scale may 
be used for transmission. Where mere descriptions are made it — 
will be well to note the town lot, the distance and direction from 
some village, stream or road, the space occupied and the length 
of occupation, which is often indicated by the depth of fireplaces 
and the blackness of the soil. The character and abundance of 
articles are also often matters of the highest importance. The 
position of bodies in sepulture may be noted, and the absence or 
presence of articles of any kind. In some cases peculiar stones 
alone were placed with the dead, and the mode of burial varied 
greatly. _ Instances of overlying or inclosing stones should be 
particularly described. 
In either descriptions or surveys of defensive works it should 
be stated whether they were stockades, or had a bank and ditch. 
Much confusion has arisen from lack of care in this, many stockades 
having been described as earthworks, the narrow and shallow 
trench in which the pickets were placed appearing as a. ditch. 
Dimensions should be given of all works when possible, and in 
earthworks it should be specified whether the measurements are 
to the ditch or wall. The number, position and width oi gates are 
matters of importance. 
In examining mounds or graves it is well to have a camera at 
hand, to photograph sections of the mounds or the arrangement of 
bodies or bones in burial. Some of the very few remaining 
mounds in western New York should be thus carefully examined 
by an expert. The work should not be superficial but excavation 
should be carried down to undisturbed earth, and every point of 
interest noted. With similar care many old village sites may yet 
yield valuable results. The plow throws out much for a time but 
does not reach the bottom of long used fire places. These may 
have a depth of several feet, and in the ashes, fine and early bone 
implements are often preserved in all their pristine beauty. In 
fact very few of these will be obtained without the use of the spade. 
Where there are steep banks near a fort or village one or more 
dumping places of refuse will usually| be found. Amid the bones, 
ashes and coals, many broken or perfect articles may appear. 
