SKINNER, IXDIAXS OF MANHATTAN ISLAND 



13 



The position in which several of the points were found certainly speaks 

 well for the great force which propelled them. The long bows of the local 

 Indians must indeed have been formidable weapons. Taking into con- 

 sideration the number of arrows which must have been imbedded in the 

 bodies of the warriors, it is perhaps probable that the majority of the pro- 

 jectiles were driven into the victims at close range after death. 



In the wall case (11) south of the exhibit will be found the model of a 

 rock-shelter and typical objects found in such places. These, as the name 

 implies, are protected spots in rocky ledges, where Indians once made more 

 or less permanent places of abode. Many such shelters exist in the vicinity 

 of Xew York, one or two having been discovered at Inwood, Manhattan 

 (Fig. 1). The most important rock-shelter so far discovered is the so-called 



77Tn-/W/ / T/W/////;/ff////////,/////l///// l ', 



FIG. 8. VERTICAL SECTION OF REFUSE IN FINCH'S ROCK HOUSE. ABOUT MIDWAY OF THE 



CAVE 



Finch House (Fig. 2) reproduced in the model. The original is near Ar- 

 monk, "Westchester County, Xew York. One point of special interest is the 

 fact that the Finch shelter contained two layers bearing relics separated by 

 sand as shown in the drawing (Fig. 8). As no pottery was found in the 

 bottom layer, it has been inferred that we have here the remains of two 

 different races of Indians, the older not yet advanced to the pottery-making 

 stage. This conclusion, is, however, far from final, for the whole arrange- 

 ment may be due to accident. 



The table case 8B contains objects selected from the Henry Booth 

 collection illustrating the life of the Indians of the Upper Hudson. They are 

 especially interesting on account of the number of ceremonial "banner stones" 

 found in that region, which are apparently not nearly so abundant any- 

 where else in this vicinity. 



