| OCR Text |
Show 316 Continuing this excavation, the next discovery was a steatite olla containing a skull, differing in many respects from those found in the graves; if from one of . the same tribe, it shows marked differentiation. Near tbe olla was a large sandstone mortar, over 2 feet in diameter, aud behind it another olla containing more bones, and another pipe, 10} inches in length, and near this latter article a smaller olla filled with red paint- It should have been mentioned that from this trench was procured a femur showing evidences of a fracture through the neck of tbe bone, which had become absorbed, the head uniting to tbe upper portion of the shaft between the greater and lesser trochanters. Further search revealed at the same depth a mortar, covered by the shoulder- blade of a whale, which also contained the skull of an infant covered with. an abalone shell, while near by was paint, piece of iron, a nail, and various shell ornaments and beads. Near at hand, to the rear, were a broken mortar and pot underneath, which was a small olla, the whole covering the skull of a child; and a little deeper a skull resting upon a fine, large, pear- shaped steatite olla, the outside of reddish color. These remains appeared to have been inclosed in a sort of fence, as a plank and stakes of decayed redwood were near by. At the bottom of this trench, just above tbe firm clay, and under all the specimens just described, was a fine sandstone pestle l? i inches in length. June Ik- Continned in same trench, advancing in a northerly direction toward trench No. 1. At a depth of 4 feet were two skeletons, and near them was a square cake of red paint; alongside were two more skeletons, over one of which was a large mortar, mouth downward, and close by another similar utensil. Under this skeleton was an instrument of iron 14 inches in length, a long iron nail, and two pieces of redwood, ranch decayed. A little farther in was a small canoe carved from steatite. All the skeletons were face downward, heads to the north. In trench No. 1 the digging was continued in a southerly direction. The first object encountered was an enormous mortar, 27 inches in diameter, with its pestle near by. This article was on its side, the mouth toward the south ; around it were no fewer than thirty crania, some in a fair state of preservation, and others very friable, broken, and worthless. Lying on top of this mortar, on further removal of the earth, was an almost entire skeleton, with fragments of long bones and of steatite pottery. As surmised by some of the party, the perfect skeleton was that of a chief, and the remains those of his slaves slain with him ; which is at least a possible, if not a plausible, view of the case. Experience by this time had iaught us that nearly all the burial- places or spots had been carefully marked, since near the head of each skeleton were either bones of the whale or stakes of redwood. Being obliged to leave for Los Angeles June 12, the work was continued by Mr. Bowers, who, up to June 25, secured the following articles from the two trenches in question, viz: 32 skulls, 24 large steatite ollas, 6 large mortars, 7 large pestles, 2 small serpentine cups, 7 tortilla- stones, 7 abalone shells, 3 iron knives, 4 stone arrow- heads, 1 iron ax of undoubted early Spanish manufacture, quantities of glass, shell beads, paint, shell ornaments, black seed of the character previously mentioned, 2 pipes, 2 soap- root brushes with asphaltum handles, and a copper pan 6 inches in diameter, which were found covering the top of a skull- tbe copper evidently having preserved a portion of tbe hair, which was quite black and silky, aud not coarse, as is usually the case with Indians. June 25.- The same excavation No. 2 was continued, and 3 crania were uncovered, also an olla containing the bones of a child, not far from which were 3 mortars and 2 ollas. Just above the stratum of clay th « most interesting discovery was made of an entire skeleton, which had been buried in a redwood canoe, but which was so decayed that only a small portion could be preserved. Near the head of the canoe were a large olla and mortar, the. mouths northward. On removing the skeleton, which was lying on its back, the bones fell to pieces. In the canoe, alongside of the skeleton, were 3 pestles, 2 pipes, an iron knife or dagger blade that had been wrapped in seal- skin or fur, and a stone implement of triangular form and about 6 inches in length, probably used as a file, or perhaps for boring out pipes. June 26.- Trench No. 2 was abandoned and work resumed in No. 1, which yielded several crania in bad condition. Near a whalebone, standing on end, was an empty broken olla, and not far off a skeleton on its right side, legs drawn up, head facing west. On its right- hand side, near by, was a small highly- polished serpentine cup and a small mortar and pestle. After excavating awhile and finding nothing but broken bones, digging here was discontinued and an excavation commenced ten feet to the northward and near the edge of the cliff, but after going down 5 feet through kitohen refuse, ashes, bones, shells, it was filled up and work resumed at the same trench. Several hours' digging resulted in finding nothing, but finally the " lead " was once more struck. The first discovery was a skeleton, which, from the appearance of the pelvic bones, was that of a female, and near which were great quantities of beads, shell ornaments, and seeds. It was here we first encountered what at first sight appeared to be dried cloves, but which, on closer examination, proved to be ornaments of asphaltum, hollow in the center, and in some instances having at one end a small piece of dried grass or fiber. |
