70 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



bone. One low type female skull marked by prognathism and 

 wormian bones has the frontal bone crushed, depressed and a per- 

 foration filled by osseous matter. 



The graves were from 12 inches to 70 inches below the surface of 

 the ground, but eliminating these extremes, 42 inches would be the 

 average. The graves seem to have been lined with bark which in 

 some instances was charred owing to the custom of building a fire 

 in the grave to drive out the dampness and " warm the bed " in 

 which the sleeper must rest so long. In other Erie graves else- 

 where fire pits are almost without exception found in the top soil 

 above. These are the remains of the ceremonial watch and feast 

 fires that were customarily burned for 10 days. Here, however, 

 only one out of 10 graves had the watch fire pit above. Perhaps 50 

 years of plowing had obliterated the shallow pits. In some places 

 the burials were crowded together, some almost intruding on others. 



The most valuable and interesting objects found by the expedi- 

 tion were discovered in the graves and include terra cotta vessels 

 of various forms and ornamentation, pipes of the local clay or of 

 stone, objects of shell, bone, chipped flint, polished stones, celts, bar 

 celts and other articles. In several graves small pieces of iron were 

 found, indicating European contact. Two graves yielded com- 

 plete outfits for the manufacture of chipped flints, the stone ham- 

 mers, anvils, flakers and pitching tools being together in one spot 

 as if originally inclosed in a bag which afterward decayed. Where 

 copper ornaments had been used the flesh, garment, or fabric in 

 immediate contact with the copper or brass was preserved by the 

 copper salts which were freed by natural agencies or by the acids 

 formed by decomposition. In graves where copper was present, 

 human flesh, skin, nails, hair and bones and animal skins, bark, 

 wood, fabrics, vegetable matter, etc. were preserved by the copper. 

 In one instance a lower arm incased by copper bands, each finger 

 also being covered by a wide copper ring of native make, was almost 

 entirely preserved by the copper salts. Upon exposure the flesh fell 

 apart in strips baring the green copper-stained bone. The hair 

 preserved by the copper is fine and black and the finger nails small 

 and shapely. 



The pottery vessels from the graves exhibit a wide range of forms, 

 the old Iroquoian square top with raised corners, the southern 

 cord-racked, and the pitcher-nosed being among the rarer forms. 

 At least 20 pots are in absolutely perfect condition, 20 more have 

 small breaks and perhaps 30 more are badly crushed, although 



