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 of 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^ 

 ^shes and coals, many broken or perfect articles may appear. 



