DISCOVERT OF nTDULN" EEMATNS, COTJKTT NOBFOLK. 517 



or the greater number of the fragments be collected, and carefully- 

 packed so as to protect them from further injury, it may be quite 

 possible to rejoin them, and so reconstruct the cranium, or such 

 other portions as may be desired. 



TVhen ancient barrows, grave-mounds, or other sepulchral deposi- 

 tories, are explored with the express purpose of adding to archaeolo- 

 gical or ethnological data, the zeal of the investigator is likely to 

 suggest due care in prosecutiug the research ; but in Canada it is to 

 be presumed that, in the great majority of cases, such remains will be 

 discovered by chance, and their preservation from further injury in the 

 hands of their original exhumers will be more a matter of accident; 

 than design. By and by, however, we may hope to create an intelli- 

 gent interest in this department of scientific inquiry, and so find 

 zealous explorers of the sepulchral chronicles of Canada, as well as of 

 those of Egypt, Britain, or Central America. To such, the following 

 additional hints, derived from practical experience, may be of some 

 value. 



In exploring any locality in search of such memorials of the past, 

 whether it be a grave-mound, ossuary, or cemetery, that is uncovered, 

 — the ruder instruments of excavation, such as the pick-axe and spade, 

 ild be laid aside as soon as any portion of a shull or skeleton 

 has been exposed. The whole must then be cleared from the 

 surrounding earth by means of some light implement, such as a gar- 

 den trowel, with the assistance of the hand. In removing the earth, 

 strict attention should be paid to any small objects contained in it: 

 as the practice of the Indians of this continent, as well as of most 

 other savage races, of burying weapons, implements, personal orna- 

 ments, and relics of various kinds, with the dead, is well known. 

 And here the distinctions of sex, above referred to, become of spe- 

 cial interest, so that it is of great importance to avoid mixing the 

 contents of two or more graves, before the peculiarities of each are 

 noted. With the male skeleton will generally be found the weapons of 

 war and the chase, and the peculiar decorations of the warrior or the 

 priest, while that of the female is accompanied with domestic imple- 

 ments, personal ornaments, and other relics, properly pertaining to 

 her sex. 



Numerous personal ornaments, however, which closely correspond 

 to those used in civilized life as parts of female decoration, are re- 

 served by the savage excl own personal adornment ; 

 and hence, an additional reason for carefully apportioning to each 

 skeleton its accompanying relics. 



Iu order to avoid injuring the most essential parts of the skel- 



