1872.] 35 (Putnam. 
were most carefully examined, to ascertain if they were places of 
burial, one of them () being opened by digging a trench through 
it some three or four feet in width, and to a depth of about one to 
two feet below the level of the surface on which the mound was built. 
The other three were opened from the top, by digging down in the 
centre until the original underlined surface was reached. None of 
these excavations brought a single bone, or an implement of any 
kind to light, but, on the contrary, showed that the mounds had been 
made of various materials at hand, and in one case ashes was found 
which had probably been scraped up with other material and thrown 
upon the heap. 
Fourthly, the ridges surrounding four of the mounds may be the 
dirt thrown up to help support a palisade, or stake fence enclosing 
these particular mounds for some special purpose. ‘The absence of 
human remains and all refuse in the shape of “kitchen heaps,” as 
well as implements, would seem to indicate that the place was not 
inhabited for any great lenoth of time, and that it may have been 
simply a place of resort at special seasons, or for some particular 
purpose. That the mounds are of quite ancient date there can be 
no question; but beyond the fact that at least a second growth of 
trees has taken place on some of them, we have no data for indicat- 
ing their age. 
Dr. Chas. Pickering remarked, in confirmation of Mr. Put- 
nam’s theory, that the Indians along the Sacramento live in 
similar pits, and also in huts erected on slight elevations, and 
use obsidian arrow-heads at the present day. 
Mr. R. C. Greenleaf, in behalf of the Nominating Commit- 
tee, appointed at the last meeting, reported as their nom- 
inee for the offices of Recording Secretary and Librarian, 
Mr. Edward Burgess. 
February 21, 1872. 
Prof. A. Hyatt in the chair. Thirty-three persons present. 
The following paper was read :— 
