ARTICLE Yll. 



ON THE CONTENTS OF A ROCK RETREAT IN SOUTH EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 



BY S. S. HALDEMA1SJ-. 

 Read before the American Philosophical Society, June 21, 1878. 



The retreat or shelter in question is in the antichnal axis at the base of a cUtf of 

 Potsdam Sandstone (qnartzite), fronting the river Susqnehanna at the iron manufac- 

 turing village of Chickis, named fi'oin a stream (the Chikiswalungo), which enters 

 the Susquehanna at this point, about 390 yards north of the retreat. See Plate XV. 



A traveler by the railway, which passes in front, may observe a vaulted i-ecess 

 open to the light of day, where formerly the occupation of arrow-making was fol- 

 lowed. It is about seven feet high in the middle of the arch in front, whence it 

 slopes north, south, and east, to the ground, much as an oven declines in all direc- 

 tions from the mouth, the space occupied by the recess being about ten b}^ fourteen 

 feet in extent, and here most of the implements were found; but some from the earth 

 a few feet beyond the opening have been included as pertaining to the general 

 deposit, for a fragment of pottery occurring within the recess would be matched by 

 one or more pieces from the outside. The cavity is due to the falling away of stones 

 forming the anticlinal curve, several of which were removed in clearing the space, 

 and, to prevent accident, one which seemed ready to fall was detached from the roof. 

 'No stalagmitic material was present. 



This paper being devoted chiefly to a detailed illustration of the implements 

 found, the reader is referred to a preliminary sketch of the retreat and its contents, 

 sent to the Societe des Americanistes in 1877 and to a verbal communication made 

 to the Academy of the ^Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, in March 1876, from both of 

 which, necessary material will be reproduced, adding the results of later researches. 



Such stone implements as are found singl}^ on the ground, or are turned up by 

 the plow, are regarded by Sir John Lubbock (Prehistoric Times, 1875, p. 105), as of 

 "comparatively little scientific value: it is only when they occur in considerable 

 numbers, and especially when associated with other remains, that they serve to throw 

 much liolit on the manners and customs of ancient times." The Chickis retreat has 



* Published 1878, iu the Compte-rendu, vol. 2, pp. 310-337, with a figure of the Retreat. 

 A- P. S. — VOL. XV. 4b. 



