54 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



The fort is separated from the point of which it is a part by a 

 wall 205 feet in length that curves irregularly from bank to bank. 

 All of this wall is palpably of artificial origin as again shown by 

 the disturbance of the soil layers. The base of the wall is 14 feet 

 in thickness while the depth from the crest of the wall to the 



Small mm:* w *"- 



outer edge of the excavation is 16 feet. The average hight 

 of the wall from the bottom of the trench is .5 feet. Near the 

 eastern side of the fort, where the hill is not steep, the wall becomes 

 higher and steeper and the trench deeper. A depression in the 

 top of the wall at this point seems to indicate an ancient gateway. 

 A log probably bridged the ditch at this place over a deep pit. 



Excavation of this site was begun on a narrow strip that lies 

 on the southern end near the wall, all other portions at that time 

 being under cultivation. Work was carried on steadily and 

 between August 20 and October 15 25 trenches were dug 

 through all the soil strata showing signs of disturbance, the crops 

 having been removed toward the latter part of this period. In 

 the trenches were found 35 pits and 15 others were discovered 

 by the method of "post holing." With few exceptions these 

 pits were aboriginal fireplaces. Fifty inches was the maxi- 

 mum depth at which disturbed earth extended, but 30 inches 

 the average. Usually the pits contained several layers, the bottom 

 being composed of a deposit of charcoal and ash intermingled 

 with fragments of broken pots, flint chips, etc. A layer of stained 

 yellow sand covered this and above it lay another stratum of 

 charcoal and ash while above all was the top soil which in most 



