The San Francisco call., 1905-08-31
MOUNDS YIELD
UP TREASURES

BERKELEY, Aug. 30.-Advance infor-
nation of the results of DIR. Uhles in
yestigation of the shell mounds in the
San Francisco Bay region is contained
in a bulletin issued by the university
authorities to-day. devoted to an account
of the work of the anthropological de-
partment. A map of the bay region has
been prepared, showing more than 100
shell mounds, with estimates of their
size. Regarding the work of the univer-
sity scientists in this direction, the bulle-
tin says:
Excavations were made by Dr. Uhle and
Professor Merriam at mound at Emeryvile.
the shore between Oakland and Berkeley,
and by Mr. Furlong. and subsequently, by
Joseph Peterson at mound in West Berkeley;
from both mounds important collections were
obtained. The Emeryville mound found TO
be thirty FIVE feet in thickness and to rest upon
clay foundation, which is now considerably
below the level of the sea. The alluvial deposit
about the mound has been built UP since the
uppermost layers OF the mound were COM
pleted and rests unconiormaby upon them.
Ten fairly distinct layers were distinguished
in the mound. The upper.nost strata contained
implements OF recent types many OF the stone
implements being of obsidian and serpentine.
In the lower layers the implements were gen
orally of very rude type and made from rocks
occurring near the mound. Bone implements
were also found in the lower strata. 1t is es-
tima0d that the mound must be at least sew
eral thousand years DID, The results of the
work this mound have been brought to-
gether in the form of paper by DR.. Uhle,
which is awaiting publication.
The bulletin sums up the work of the
survey in the State which is in progress
now. ard which was begun four years
ago, as follows:
Among the definite results of more general
nat from the work Of the survey as whole
so far may be mentioned the probable estab-
lishment of the presence of man in California
in middle Quaternary times; the determination
fornia containing severa: species of ex-
tinct mammals: the classification of the many
linguistic families of the state into three NOR
biological groups; the exlroslon of the current
Deiieis that there is evidence in the traditions
or political relations of certain native peoples
of largely extra Californian habitat to show
that they wrested their territory from the
tive Californian tribes or imposed their Ian
guage or sovereignty them in any recent
or determiDable period; the establishment of
the fact that there is a great degree OF cul-
tural assimilation between groups of people In
the came region irrespective OF their language
or several origins proving that under unre-
strcted contact and identity of surroundings
practically complete mutual accuturation
the determination OF a newly ascertained cul-
ture in Northwestern California quite distinct
from that of the larger part OF the State and
also from the North Pacific Coast, though
showing some resemblance to the latter, the de-
termination of the fact that totemism OF even
any non -totemic true clan organization does not
exist among the California Indians; the dis
guistic families in localities where their pres
cnce was previously unknown; and the recon
struction of the geographical boundaries of al
most all the linguistic families in the State.