HISTORICAL REVIEW 15 



question; but no evidence has been found which would support such a conten- 

 tion. All available data lead to the conclusion that the shells found on Mr. 

 Welch's farm were not deposited there by natural means. If this be true 

 then how did the shells come to be in their present location? 



Some time ago, (1910) Mr. A. Scharf, an archaeologist who spends consider- 

 able time locating Indian camp sites, discovered a few marine shells at Palos 

 Springs, in a deposit 300 feet west of the postomce. This is on the Glenwood 

 beach, and would lead to the conclusion that the waters of this stage were salt. 

 Four species were found: Area ponder osa, Cardium muricatum, Ostrea virginica, 

 and Venus cancellatus. The last two species were also found in the Chicago 

 Lawn deposit, but the first two are new. All are southern species. With 

 these were found flint chips! It seems quite evident from subsequent study, 

 that all of these marine shells were artificially introduced by man, and mark 

 old camp sites. The specimens were doubtless obtained by trading with the 

 Indians of the east and southeast, and were used for making wampum, as well 

 as ornaments. The Omaha Indians used pieces of the large conch shell (Strom- 

 bus gigas) to ornament the robes of their medicine men. The writer has 

 observed the presence of oyster shells (Ostrea virginica) in the fields bordering 

 the north shore channel, especially in the neighborhood of Bowmanville, where 

 Indian relics of various sorts are common. Dr. Stuart Weller, of the University 

 of Chicago, has examined the sand contained in the gastropod shells found at 

 Chicago Lawn, and finds it to be different from the sand of the Calumet beach, 

 and of the Chicago region. The proof of artificial origin at once settles the 

 question of the status of these shells and removes them from further considera- 

 tion in connection with the life of Lake Chicago. 



Toleston Stage (page 51) 



"In striking contrast with the Glenwood and Calumet beaches, the Toles- 

 ton beach contains abundant traces of life closely related to the life of Lake 

 Michigan, if not identical with it." 



1899. leverett. 22 — In this publication reference is made to the presence 

 of life in the old beach deposits. 



Glenwood Stage (page 440) 

 The statement made in a previous work, concerning shells in Haas' gravel 

 pit, is repeated. Leverett adds: "Another locality in which supposed Unio 

 shells have been reported is found in a marsh on the inner side of the beach 

 north of New Buffalo, Michigan. Mr. Glavin, formerly county surveyor of 

 Berrien County, reports having observed shells as large as the ordinary clam 

 shell in ditching near the borders of this marsh. He has, however, preserved 

 none of the shells, and possibly may be mistaken in his identification. So far 



"Monograph 38, U. S. Geol. Surv., Chapter XI. 



