1889.] Cayuga Indian Relics. 
CAYUGA INDIAN RELICS. 
T HAVE been much indebted to Mr. W. W. Adams, of Maple- 
ton, Cayuga County, for valuable information regarding New 
York Iroquois sites, and for the opportunity of examining and 
figuring many fine and remarkable relics. Like some other 
parts of the Iroquois territory, the occupation of the country 
about Cayuga Lake, by settled inhal^itants, seems very recent. 
There are a few old sites, but by far the larger part are of 
historic times. There are half a dozen early earthworks in 
the county, but most of them are distant from the lake. As- 
in the country of the early Senecas, there is little earthenware,, 
and that of a coarse kind, contrasting strongly with the abun- 
dant supply of the territory of the Onondagas and Mohawks. 
From history, traditions and remains, as well as language, it 
seems probable that the Cayugas and Senecas branched ofif 
from the parent stock at Lake Erie, perhaps on both sides ; 
while the three eastern nations led the van on the north of 
Lake Ontario to the St. Lawrence, and thence passed south- 
ward to their later homes. Archaeologists certainly have good 
reasons for such a belief. 
There were travelers and early hunters and fishermen along 
Cayuga Lake, some of whom had small villages there for a 
time. A few left mica in graves, and lost some fine articles in 
the camps or by the wayside. Long shell beads were used hy 
some, and as these have been found in recent graves as well^ 
they form a link with the past. The wearers were probably 
the first true Cayugas. These long beads were formed fron> 
the columellas of sea shells, and one is six and three-quarter 
inches long, while a number are but Httle less. Out of one 
^ Rev. V^. M. Beauchamp has loag been noted for his investigation of Indian 
archaeology in Western New York. He is an indefatigable laborer, and his in- 
vestigations have been of great benefit to the science. He is more disposed to 
