E. L. Furlong — Exploration of Sarnwel Cave. 235 



Art. XXII. — The Exploration of Samwel Cave ; by E. L. 



Furlong. 



Introduction. 

 History of Discovery. 

 Description of Cave. 

 Character of the Deposits. 



Method of Excavation. 

 Fossil Remains. 

 Age of Samwel Cave Fauna. 

 Possible Quaternary Artifacts. 



Introduction. 



The first active work in the exploration of caves in north- 

 ern California was commenced in the summer of 1902. 

 Though the presence of caves in the region was known for 

 many years, yet no scientific work had been carried on in them. 

 The excellent results derived from the exploration of Potter 

 Creek Cave* stimulated exploration in this region for other 

 caves. Of these the Samwel Cavef has furnished the most 

 valuable results. 



The cave investigations have been conducted under the 

 auspices of the Department of Anthropology of the Univer- 

 sity of California. The exploration of Samwel Cave in 1905 

 was supported by a grant from the American Archaeological 



Institute.^ 



The work has been carried on under the immediate direc- 

 tion of Professor J. C. Merriam, whom the writer desires to 

 thank for material aid in the work of exploration and in the 

 description of the cave fauna. Thanks are due Mr. Walter 

 King and Mr. William Boynton for valuable service rendered 

 in excavating and removing fossil remains under somewhat 

 hazardous conditions. 



History of Discovery. 



The initial exploration of Samwel Cave in Shasta Co., Cali- 

 fornia, for scientific purposes was carried on in the summer of 

 1903. An interesting legend, the scene of which was laid in 

 Samwel cave and told by a Wintun Indian, led to its explora- 

 tion. This story has a double value in making known an 

 important cave, and in the verification of the legend, which 

 now becomes an interesting piece of Wintun history. The 

 Win tuns believe that caverns are of supernatural origin and 

 have used them as places of magic. A courageous Indian, 

 who had any important undertaking in view, such as a long 



* The Exploration of the Potter Creek Cave ; by Wm. J. Sinclair, Publ. 

 Univ. Calif., North Amer. Arch, and Eth., vol. ii, No. 1. 



f Prelim. Note on Expl. of Samwel Cave, Science, N. S., vol. xx, p. 53 ; E. L. 

 Furlong. 



X The above is submitted as a part of a report on investigations carried on 

 under a grant from the American Archaeological Institute for cave explora- 

 tions in California, under the direction of Professor F. W. Putnam. 



