310 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



nothing indicating otherwise has been found. Hence it may be of 

 very early Erie origin, or perhaps was occupied by some different 

 and forgotten band of obscure connections. Circumstances pre- 

 vented a thorough examination of the site, ahhough permission to 

 excavate was secured for part of it. Perhaps it might be difficult to 

 obtain a large collection even if the ground were thoroughly gone 

 over, but from the scientific standpoint it would pay to try. The 

 place deserves at least a fuller exploration for the purpose of 

 discovering additional facts concerning the life and relationship of 

 its mysterious and forgotten inhabitants.' 



THE LE ROY IROQUOIAN EARTHWORK, GENESEE 



COUNTY 

 ACCOUNT BY E. G. SQUIER2 



WITH NOTES BY H. C. FOLLETT 



The earthwork on the hill near Le Roy occupies a portion of an 

 elevated plain or tableland, nearly surrounded by deep ravines 

 formed by Allen creek and Fordham brook, which effect a junc- 

 tion at this point. These streams have w^orn their beds through the 

 various strata of lime and sandstone to the depth of from 70 to 100 

 feet, leaving abrupt banks difticult of ascent. These natural features 

 are best illustrated by the sketch map which precludes the necessity 

 for a minute description of the geographical features. 



The peninsular hill measures about 1300 feet from north to south, 

 by 2000 feet at its broadest part, and 1000 feet across at the neck 

 connecting it with the general table. Positions similar to this were 

 often selected by the aborigines for defensive purposes, but in such 

 cases have usually an embankment and trench extending across the 

 isthmus. 



In this instance, however, the only trace of art is an embankment 

 and ditch, about 1500 feet in length, and running east and west 



1 It is difficult to identify some Chatitaiiqiia county sites because of the 

 similarity of the pottery to cord-marked Algonkian forms. An examination 

 of this site, however, seems to stamp it as Iroquoian of the transitional 

 Chautauqua period. The pottery is similar to cord-marked, flaring lipped 

 Iroquoian forms found at Burning Spring, Ripley, Westfield, and other places 

 and is quite like the pottery found at Madisonville, Ohio. It may be that 

 these early sites in Chautauqua county are proto-Iroquoian, or that they 

 mark, as we have suggested, the transitional stage in Iroquoian pottery. 

 A. C. P. 



2 Aboriginal Monuments of New York. Smithsonian Contribution to 

 Knowledge, v. 2, 1851, p. 48. 



