FOURTH REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR I907 9 1 



earthworks, it was deemed advisable to continue until it could be 

 thoroughly studied and every important fact obtainable brought to 

 light. Since the area within the inclosure refused to divulge all 

 the desired information, it was sought to discover the burials and 

 wring from the crumbling bones of these swamp dwellers some 

 word or fact to dispel the mystery. 



Burials 



Post holes were dug in the ridge to the west of the earth-walled 

 inclosure to discover, if possible, whether or not there were any 

 burials, it being the spot most suited for graves, in point of accessi- 

 bility. The surrounding ground was swampy and the loam but a 

 few inches in depth when a stiff clay or hard pan was encountered. 

 The knoll on the other hand was dry and sandy. 



After 40 tests had been made, running from the brook on the 

 north in a southerly direction, an area of disturbed earth was found 

 and a trench staked out for systematic excavation. Following the 

 rule the trench was i rod wide. Trench i was run over the crest 

 of the ridge from south to north. 



Burial i, was found at i6' in the middle of the trench 20" below 

 the surface. A root-eaten skeleton of a young female was dis- 

 covered. The skull was crushed at the top. Only the skull and 

 upper ribs and upper arm bones were found. The other bones 

 were not to be found. The head lay to the northeast, face north- 

 west. 28" southeast and above the head was an ash pit 18" deep. 

 It was filled with white ashes. The superincumbent soil was sandy 

 and intermixed with bits of charcoal. 



Burial 2. At 16' on the west side of the trench, 36" below the 

 surface and opposite burial i, burial 2 was discovered. The skele- 

 ton was that of an adult male and lay in a flexed position. Measure- 

 ments of the skeleton as it lay led to the following data: 33" from 

 top of skull to heel; knee to back, 9"; pelvis to top of head, 2)Z" - 

 The soil was strewn with charcoal bits and potsherds, A black 

 fibrous phosphate was noticeable in the grave soil. 



Two empty graves were found between this burial and the next 

 (No. 3). Their character as graves was shown by the soft, loose 

 and disturbed soil which lay surrounded by the hard, un(Hsturbod 

 grit. It was an easy matter to shovel out the grave soil because 



I of its looseness, without disturbing the wall of the grave. Only 

 a few fragments of bones were discovered in these empty graves. 

 Burial ?. Discovered at 34' on the west side of trench i, 26" 

 I 



