. Bulletin. Ethnology. 384 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BULL. 174 top layer particularly was often thin, sometimes being virtually ab- sent when the plowed soil was removed. Likewise, the sterile inter- vening layer thinned considerably from the south edge of the terrace northward, while the buried dark stratum yielded better at the north than at the south. Such variations, of course, are to be expected where the vagaries of fluctuating climatic conditions operate between successive human occupations. Far from detracting from the valid- ity of the observed sequence, they merely emphasize the
. Bulletin. Ethnology. 384 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BULL. 174 top layer particularly was often thin, sometimes being virtually ab- sent when the plowed soil was removed. Likewise, the sterile inter- vening layer thinned considerably from the south edge of the terrace northward, while the buried dark stratum yielded better at the north than at the south. Such variations, of course, are to be expected where the vagaries of fluctuating climatic conditions operate between successive human occupations. Far from detracting from the valid- ity of the observed sequence, they merely emphasize the truism that at any given point it is the relative position and context of an artifact or feature, rather than its absolute depth from an arbitrary plane, that is significant. AKEA A (HOUSES 1 AND 2) On the basis of soil showings in our preliminary tests, we selected for more careful investigation a spot at the upper edge of the bone- bearing outcrop and on the nearby flat just above. Here, instead of the customary 5 or 6 inches of mixed topsoil underlain by several inches to a foot of sterile fill, there occurred a heavy deposit of ash lenses, animal bones, stones, sherds, and flints, in such profusion that a refuse deposit of some size was suspected. Careful dissection of the deposit disclosed the fact that it had accumulated in two small pit- houses lying close together and, in one case, partly intruding the lower buried soil stratum. The "area" lies in squares K26 and S26, and includes about 828 square feet (fig. 76). House 1, the uppermost and later of the two (pi. 58, a), was sub- circular in plan, with an average diameter of about 12 feet 6 inches. At the center, 17 inches underground, was a circular firepit 19 inches. [..-â > ^.-v <i;a^AjilSu. Figure 76.âLeft, Plan of house 1; right, plan of house 2; Pottorff site 14LA1. F, fire- places; numbered circles, prchouse pits; shaded strip, exploratory trench; stippled outline, basin in house 1. Both entrances
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectethnolo, bookyear1901
