Ill 
THE EISEN HAUER SHELL-HEAP, MAHONE BAY, 
NOVA SCOTIA 
INTRODUCTION 
The Eisenhauer shell-heap is one of several small shell-heaps on the 
shore of Mahone bay, Lunenburg county, on the south coast of Nova 
Scotia, about 70 miles west of Halifax. It is on land owned by Mr. James 
Eisenhauer, on the north side of the road, between the villages of Mahone 
Bay and Indian Point, and about 1| miles west of the latter place (Figure 
2 and Plate XXII). It was entirely excavated by the writer as part of the 
archaeological work of the Geological Survey, Canada, in September, 1913. 
Thanks are due to Dr. Charles A. Hamilton, of Mahone Bay, for infor- 
mation about the discovery of the shell-heap; to Mr. James Eisenhauer 
for permission to excavate on his property ; to E. R. Faribault and Eugene 
Poitevin, of the Geological Survey, for determinations of the rocks and 
minerals; to Dr. George F. Eaton, Curator of the Osteological Depart- 
ment, Peabody Museum of Natural History, Yale University, for identi- 
fying most of the mammalian and fish remains; to Dr. Gerrit S. Miller, 
Curator of the Department of Mammals, U.S. National Museum, 
for identifying the deer remains, and to Dr. Alexander Wetmore, of the 
Bureau of Biological Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, for identi- 
fying the bird bones. 
PHYSICAL FEATURES, TIMBER, ETC. 
The country surrounding the Eisenhauer shell-heap is rugged and 
most of the high land is covered with glacial boulders. North of the 
shell-heap is a hill that runs parallel with the shore and ends in the pro- 
montory known as Andrew point, south of Weihnacht cove. A salt 
marsh on the south, where canoes could land safely, may atone time have 
been an extension of the cove. It has a sandy bottom, such as is the usual 
habitat of the most numerous species of clam found in the heap, the 
abundance of which was probably an inducement to select this place for 
habitation. Red oak, birch, red pine, black and white spruce, and several 
varieties of small trees and shrubs flourished here. The wild black cherry 
and choke-cherry were also seen. 
SHELL-HEAPS IN THE VICINITY 
Besides the Eisenhauer heap there are several other shell-heaps on 
Mahone bay and harbour (Figure 2). 
(1) In a yard north of the Presbyterian church, in the village of Mahone 
Bay. 
(2) On the west bank of Mushamush river, on the farm of John Keddy. 
(3) A small, shallow heap in William Hyson's woods, a few hundred 
yards west of the Eisenhauer heap. 
(4) The Eisenhauer shell-heap. 
(5) A small heap on the Weihnacht farm. 
(6) A deep heap on the shore of Weihnacht cove. 
(7) On property owned by C. P. Thomas, about half a mile north of 
the village of Indian Point. 
(8) On the southeast side of Steves or Rouse island. 
