96 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



flint and jaspar chips, heat cracked stones and a number of tri- 

 angular flint points. In the ash pit at the bottom, objects of the 

 same character were found. 



The presence of this large central excavation presents the prob- 

 lem of its purpose. To solve this question a number of hypothet- 

 ical answers are adduced for consideration: 



ist, it may have been a central refuse pit; 2d, it may have been 

 a place of assembly, its gradual slope affording a seating place; 

 3d, it may have been an inner stockade; 4th, it may have been a 

 reservoir into which water was conducted from the spring on the 

 hillside to the east ; 5th, it may have been excavated to obtain earth 

 for filling in the northwest corner of the inclosure which is low 

 and sloping toward a small gully which drains a spring marsh. 



A careful examination of the ground showed that the northwest 

 corner had been filled in, presumably with the soil excavated from 

 the central pit. This examination also led to the several consider- 

 ations. That the pit was not a reservoir is shown by the fact that 

 ashes and refuse matter were found within it, though not in large 

 quantities. That it was not a reservoir is also indicated by the fact 

 that no ditch or outlet could be discovered. However,- one may 

 have existed and the pit been a ^|gj||[|i:yoir previous to its use as a 

 refuse dump, if such it was. The refuse matter in the pit did not 

 occur in such quantities that it would be differentiated from " oc- 

 cupied soil " elsewhere, so that it may have been an inner stockade 

 or place of assemblage.' 



Extent and character of occupation. There is evidence enough 

 to point out that there was no long occupation of the site, the 

 surface soil being but slightly disturbed to any depth. This evi- 

 dence also suggests a settled occupation only in winter. The 

 shallow pits seem to have been dug during the frozen season by 

 alternately thawing and digging and in many instances also, to have 

 been the sunken floors of lodges. If animal bones had been buried 

 some would have remained as human *bones did elsewhere in the 

 site. This suggests that they were cast on the surface and after- 

 ward devoured by animals or lost by decay. 



Purpose of the earth wall. The earth wall and trench are 

 palpably parts of a fortification. From the crest of the wall, with- 

 out doubt, rose a line of palisades which surrounded the inclosure. 

 Indeed traces of these post holes were discovered all along on the 

 ridge. 



One of the strange facts which at once appears a curious anomaly 

 is that if this inclosure had been a fortification why such a position 



