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NYSAA Bulletin No. 39 — Hudson Valley Shell Midden Dating — Passage 9 (part 5)

Various (1967) 250 words View original →

[Various (1967)] The undisturbed subsoil was yellowish brown, pebbly sand at least 5' thick which, except for features 1 and 2, was free of evidence of aboriginal occupation. Six trenches, one 50' by 3', the others 25' by 3', were plotted and dug from a datum stake in such a way as to sample much of the site for - postmolds. Unfortunately, the plow blade had apparently destroyed any molds that might have existed. However, in three airplane flights over the site Paul Weinman sighted what may be the outline of a house. This was seen as a dark rectangular outline in recently rain-moistened earth that appeared to be 14'-16' long by 10'-12' wide. In subsequent testing in this area, no postmolds could be found, nor could the darkened outline be observed while walking over the ground. Two features were discovered from surface occurrences of fire-cracked rocks and reddened earth. Feature 1 (in sections W50N70 and W60N70) was circular, basin-shaped hearth, 44" in diameter and 12" in depth below the plow zone. Of the approximately 30 fist-sized rocks in the feature, those in the upper half below the plow zone were relatively clean of charcoal, whereas those in the lower half were encrusted with blackened earth and a small quantity of charcoal, which was saved. A single Normanskill type point, a narrowblade fragment, and flint chips were associated. Feature 2 (isolated in sections W90N120 and W90N130) was a circular roasting platform 70" in diameter, extending 32" below surface (20" below plow line).