152 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



A PREHISTORIC IROQUOIAN SITE^ 



ON THE GEORGE REED FARM, RICHMOND MILLS, 



ONTARIO COUNTY 



By ARTHUR C. PARKER 



This site, first examined by me in 1905, affords an unusual 

 example of a type site that we may study as a definitely prehistoric 

 Iroquoian place of occupation. From it we may gain some inkling 

 of the ancestors of the historic Seneca and indeed make some sur- 

 mises as to their more remote progenitors. This site is of the Burn- 

 ing Spring cultural horizon, but is not of so great an age. 



It was not until 191 6 that it was possible for the writer to make 

 any intensive study, when through the generosity of Mr Alvin H. 

 Dewey, president of Lewis H. Morgan chapter of the New York 

 State Archeological Association, several trips were made to it, and 

 supplemented by nearly a month's study of Mr Dewey's remarkable 

 collection made from this site and from the surrounding region. This 

 collection is now the property of the State Museum. Mr Dewey's 

 interest in this site and his conviction of its importance as a 

 key site to Seneca and general Iroquoian archeology has inspired 

 the paper here presented. 



The Reed Fort Site 



The general location of the Reed Fort site is in the northwest 

 portion of the township of Richmond, Ontario county. It is located 

 on lot 50, about one-fourth of a mile due east from the line of 

 Livingston county and 280 rods due south of the Livonia-Richmond 

 Mills road. From the town or settlement of Richmond Alills, 

 measured from the bend of the south-bound road, the site is almost 

 exactly i mile up the outlet of Hemlock lake. It is frequently called 

 the " Richmond Mill Site " from its proximity to the village of that 

 name, situated in the narrow valley and between the steep hills to 

 either side. 



The site may be reached either from the Alva Reed farm or from 

 the George Reed farm, it being situated upon the latter. The nearest 

 railroad point is Hemlock, a small terminal station on the Lehigh 

 Valley Railroad, Hemlock branch, out of Rochester. A better route 

 is probably the Erie Railroad out of Rochester to Livonia Station. 

 Here auto or horse liveries are available and the site mav actuallv 



1 From the Transactions of the New York Archeological Association, Mor- 

 gan Chapter, v. i, no. i, Feb. 1918. 



