with but sparsely, and most of them were in friable 

 condition. 



Geology (Figure, p. 7). 



For the following description of the site from the geo- 

 logical point of view and for the sketch of the section, here 

 given, I am indebted to Mr. Howchin, F.G.S. 



The ground in which the remains were found forms a 

 river terrace on the right bank, having an average height of 

 10 ft. above high- water mark. 



The bed-rock of the locality consists of the well-known 

 Swanport granite, which is quarried near by for building 

 purposes. There are large irregular outcrops of this granite 

 fronting the river, at the base of the bank which has yielded 

 the aboriginal skeletons. 



Resting on the granite, is a layer of calciferous sandstone 

 of Eocene Age (Murray Bridge freestone), having a thickness 

 of 2 or 3 ft. 



This calcareous bed has given rise to a layer of imper- 

 fectly consolidated travertine limestone about 2 ft. in thick- 

 ness, which at one time formed the surface of the ground. 

 The upper portion of the bed forms an irregular crust, and 

 the lower portion a marly and sandy rubble. 



At a later stage, and before the site was utilized as an 

 aboriginal burying-ground, the limestone became covered with 

 blown sand, forming a capping about 4 ft. in thickness on 

 the limestone. This deposit of sand is divided into two very 

 distinct portions — the lower 2 ft. 6 in. consists of clean red 

 sand with small pockets and thin layers of broken Unio shells, 

 while the upper 1 ft. 6 in. is a dark-coloured sand mixed 

 with black pellets of travertine limestone and a large quantity 

 of Unio shells broken into by small fragments. 



The red colour, present in the lower portions of the sand- 

 bed, is a characteristic feature of deposits of this nature, 

 in all arid climates, when left for a long time undisturbed. 

 The colour is caused by the presence of iron oxide carried 

 down by the rain-water from the surface, as a mineral 

 residue from the decomposition of vegetable organisms. When 

 exposed to the weather and blown by the wind the sand 

 loses this colour by friction and bleaching. 



The upper part of the sand-bed has taken its dark colour 

 from the fires made by the aboriginals on the spot. The 

 charcoal and ashes from the fires, as well as a certain amount 

 of animal refuse, became mixed with the superficial sand, 

 imparting a dark colour to it. The considerable thickness 

 of this deposit, besides the large quantities of broken Unio 

 shells in the kitchen-midden, gives evidence of a prolonged: 

 occupation of the site. 



