568 ` WYMAN ON THE SHELL-HEAPS 
less rough in their texture. Shells of the oyster and the 
Mactra were found, but few in number. Somewhat ex- 
tensive excavations* yielded bones of the deer, beaver, 
dog, birds, among these the bones of the turkey, and of 
fish; but only a single implement of stone, which was 
spherical in shape, with a groove around the middle of it. 
This was found by Mr. Putnam just beneath the surface. 
Some of the bones showed distinct marks of cutting in- 
struments, and a few pieces of wrought bone were found, 
three of which are represented in Pl. 15, figs. 15, 16, 17. 
Two distinct fireplaces, indicated by hard-wood charcoal, 
ashes, and blackened earth were found, resting on the 
earth and beneath the shells. 
In the town of Salisbury, Massachusetts, a series of heaps 
thirteen in all, quite near together, consisted exclusively 
of the shell of the clam. They are about a mile from the 
left bank of the Merrimack River, near its mouth, and sur- 
rounded by a series of sand-downs, some wooded, others 
naked; these last constantly changing from the action of 
the wind. They vary in size from about twenty to more 
than one hundred feet in diameter, but the shells form a 
layer of only a few inches, and are largely mixed with 
sand. After a careful search, in company with Mr. Alfred 
Osgood, of Newburyport, we failed to find in most of 
them any of the works of man, except only a few flakes 
or “chips” of flint; but on two, both near together, large 
quantities of chips were scattered over the surface, and 
more than five pounds were picked up. Besides these, 
several arrow-heads and fragments of pots, made of 
burned clay mixed with coarse sand, were found. No 
bones of animals, which might have served for food, were 
noticed, though carefully looked for. In previous years, 
a = *Made by Messrs. E. 8. Morse, P. W. Putnam, C. Cooke, and the writer. 
