Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-10

Washington, &C., Dec. 22d 1879
ABORIGINAL SHELL HEAPS OF SOUTH
RIVER, MD.
The regular selni-monthly meeting of the An
thropological Society was held on Tuesday eve
ming in the regents room, Smithsonian Institu-
ton; DR.. j. Meredith Toner, NJ. A., in the chair
Prof. Elmer X. Reynolds secretary.
Nh. j. d: Mcguire, Of Ellicott's Mills, Nd.
read an elaborate paper on the aboriginal shell
river and the Chesapeake bay. The article was
illustrated with fine collection of miScellane-
Gus implements from the authors cabinet. most
OF which were collected while exploring these
riparion remains.
The specimens exhibited embraced several
patterns of grooved axes, polished celtS ham,
mer stones and drills, arrows, spears and knives
OF ebert and Jasper. After a few Introductory
remarks the speaker stated that 1t has been
doubted by some authors whether these vast
accumulationS Of shells are the refuse heaps OF
the Aborigines or whether they are not rather
caused by the subsistence OF the waters and
soma have even accounted for their presence by
tie assertion that they have been deposited in
their present positions by masses of float
Ing ice. Even cursory examination of any
shell heaps would satisfy the most skepti-
cal that they are the refuse shells from Abo-
riginal feastS, for intersrersed throughout
these banks are founl In quantities decayed
wood, charcoal, the bones OF fishes, BIRDS and
mammals, fragments OF pottery and stone i'm
p e nentS, whose presence can be accounted for
on no other hypothesis than that ancient man
here made his home.
Often the shells are exposed upon the surface
as if deserted but recently. Sometimes they
are covered by few inches of mould, but in
stances are not wanting of coverings Of one or
tothirty inches In diameter are growing above
the shells. This covering can only be caused
by the accretlons of centuries; how many, 1t
would OF course he difficult to state.
THE SHELL HEAPS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY
cover In certain instances several acres some
times reaching to depth Of five or six feet and
their depth is said to be frequently as much as
twenty feet or more In places-none, however,
met the authors observation that were more
than twelve feet thick. Sometimes q small
space is found covered with a thin layer of
shells, while in the immediate vicinity great
heaps occur. They are always In proximity to
good drinking water, and as rule are located
In secluded positions.
These accomulations of shells have as many
names almost as there have been writer's KICK
kenm6ddings, Mounds, Banks and Heap are the
most familiar. The first, however, is more de-
generally be observed that these deposits are
distinct heaps although in many Instances SO
intermingled as to be hardly distfnguishable.
THIS FEATURE CAN BE ACCOUNTED FOR
upon the theory that the site having been Sc
ected, and used for season, would be deserted
In the winter during the temporary removal of
the tribe to the interior for the purpose of hunt
lng) until the following spring, when upon the
return OF the community they would again To-
cate IN the same place aud increase the heaps,
and this process would continue for an 1ndefi'
nit period, unless the oysters, as probably often
occurred, became exhausted when it would be-
come necessary to select a new site. Many of
the most extensive heaps are now plowed over
and almost neutrality-suspicious.; but great num-
bers have never been touched since deserted
by their former occupiers and here there for
nation is best observed. AS a rule, they are
circular elfptical rings from twelve to fifteen
feet In diameter, and show plainly that they are
depressed and represents an inverted cone with
the shells falling also outwardS. When they
have never been built ever naturally, they are
more more. distinct than when they overlap each
Upon running trench through one of these
heaps we find level substratum Of earth, but
the heap often beginning with few scattered
the edge OF the cone, 10 four or five feet; here
they begin to decrease as their center is ap-
preached pro-, often n running dewn to the natural
apex and decreasing outwards. These heaps
would naturally be OF this shape were the shells
thrown out promiscuously from a common CEN
as we understand such things to be? The only
plausible answer to this question is in
Thomas Morton's work on the early
that "Indian houses are made OF poles
with the large end set in the ground in circle
and bound at the top with the bark of walnut
trees, covered with sedge sewed together with
tie splinter bone OF a cranes lege, leaving sew
eral places for doors, which are covered with
mats which may be rowled up and let down at
cupied by these people, feaSting on oysters, be
Indicated by just such a heap as just described!
The shells being cast aside would gradually
:orm almost wall, which being deserted and
acted upon by the freezing and thawing of CEN
turtles, would fall outward and toward the GEN.
ter, as is frequently observed in all old stone
wall.
ONE GROUP OF SHELL HEAPS
was observed near the mouth of South River
below Annapolis, different in one or two par
ticularS from the common typec Thay aY,poor
to have been either council houses, or possibly
communal dwellings; they are about twice the
diameter Of the common heaps; are eliptical In
SHARE nave ths an opening IN one end and have
of finding hearth In one of. the Danish heaps
"a curious analogy, evincing that people under
similar circumstances resort to similar means
A curious feature noticeable in all shell heaps
Is that the shell themselves are seldom broken,
as would likely be the case were they opened
with any instrument. therefore, it is natural to
infer that they were either placed in the fire or
in hot water until they could be opened readily
by the hand.
constantly; also fragments of wood. but so far
decayed as to fall TO pieces on the slightest
exposure.
The bones are mostly those of birds. but those
OF mammals are by no means scarce. They are
invariably broken, presumably for the purpose
OF extracting the marrow. AS a rule the bones
al e soft and easily broken, and it is oftentimes
most difficult matter to avoid breaking them
while dislodging them from the surrounding
Shells Bone tools do not seem so numerous as
is generally the case in the clam beds of the
north.
Pottery is quite common. but always of the
f1sh-bone or corn-cob types. Nearly all OF the
fragments were tempered with Calcined Shells
The general impression seems to be that the
implements from the shell heaps are always
rude. The scarcity of implements in shell
heaps is to be attributed to the fact that 1t
would be somewhat difficult to loose objects OF
tits class among the shells, inasmuch as the
axes, celtS, hammer-stOneS, etc., are almost
invariably made OF dark material.
NEW CLASS OF IMPLEMENTS.
Prof. Reynolds read an interesting paper on a
new class of implements, not hitherto noticed
by any archeologist, either at home or abroad.
They are from four to eight inches in surface
diameter. by an average of one inch in thick
ness. Some are entirely circular in shape while
others are pear shaped. Each being provided
with blunt cutting surface, they were made
to be held in the hand when used, as Is readily
shown by the specimens themselves. In form
ing them stones were selected having two fiat
surfaces, situated at right angles. A large flake
was then detached in such manner as to pre-
serve a fat surface on the end, which, when
used, rested in the hand. Nearly thirty speci-
mems have been found on the Eastern Branch,
near Benning's bridge, and two at PiScataway,
and in every instance this same charac-
teristic feature has been observed In making
them. The cutting edges of several of these
disks show extended use, but for what purpose
the Professor remarked that he was able to
do little more than conjecture. Implements
OF this class are conventional-like many OF
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