INDIAN BURIAL PLACES IN CARPINTERIA. 17 



selenite among the number seems to have been of too soft a 

 material for their uses, for it bears marks of an endeavor to 

 fashion it into an arrow point and an evident failure. A frag- 

 ment of a square green glass bottle was observed, and near it 

 was a finely finished arrow point, with serrated edges, made 

 from the same material. Large quantities of glass beads, of 

 varied size, form and color, showed a traffic with the early 

 Spanish adventurers, or the later Jesuit missionaries, and the 

 lower half of a common pint bottle, oxydized remnants of 

 steel knives and other iron trinkets, together with a brass 

 ring, bear the same testimony. Previous to our excavations, 

 parties obtained from the same burial place several ollas, 

 mortars, two pipes, a metallic cup and other objects, some of 

 which will come into the possession of our Society of Natural 

 History. Excavations were also made on an elevation nearer 

 the point where the Carpinteria creek enters the sea. Human 

 bones were found, but no objects of interest were secured. 

 We are inclined to the belief that a much more extensive 

 burial place exists in the immediate neighborhood of the 

 higher elevation before mentioned, that must have been used 

 by the earlier population occupying it, but thus far we have 

 been unable to detect the locality, the plow having obliterated 

 all evidence. Near this hill, on the bank of the neighboring 

 creek, is a vertical section cut by the washing of the water, 

 showing a deposit of shells, usually found in the older ranch- 

 erias, ten or twelve feet below the surface, over which a stratum 

 of sand and yellowish soil has accumulated, either by flood or 

 drifting, and above this a more recent deposit of shells and 

 soil, dark with vegetable matter. The lower accumulation 

 would indicate the human occupancy of this locality at a very 

 remote period, and again at a comparatively recent day. 

 Mention of this deposit has been made by Dr. Stephen 

 Bowers, and he concurs with us in opinion as to its great age. 

 The neighborhood still affords a rich field for the archaeologist 

 and patient investigation may yet give us many interesting 

 facts connected with the daily life, customs and religion of 

 the race that occupied these shores and enjoyed the delicious 



