In May, 1935, Monroe Dodd, Jr., found a small intact vessel (Fig. 4, O)
in hog rootings on the crest of Hill 2, which had been left uncultivated
and put into pasturage that year. Excavations exposed within a radius of
two to three feet a cluster of nine pottery vessels (Fig. 3, Nos.
V-94-102), three of which were intact and four largely so. Included are
vessels shown in Figure 4, B, C, F, K, N, O, and R. Vessels which are
not illustrated are two broken bottles (probably hit by the plow), one
_Hickory Fine Engraved_ and an untyped engraved ware with interlocking
spirals. All of the vessels were within two feet of the surface, as were
burials 1 and 2 (Fig. 3), male and female adults lying fully extended
and supine, with heads turned to left and right, respectively. The
pottery deposit could have related to either or both of these. Two
_Alba_ points were found to the side of Burial 1.
On weekend trips between May and November, 1935, with permission of the
owner, we worked out the remainder of the burials; see Figure 3. As a
result either of our inexperience or of the way the burials had been
placed, we were not sure of pit outlines and of which skeletons were
associated. All occurred at a depth of two to three feet from the
surface, although disturbed soil continued to a depth of three to three
and a half feet and in a few places to four feet. It was my impression,
as recorded in notes, that burials 1 and 2 were together and that
burials 5, 3-4, 6-8 and 11-13, and 9-10 represented interment groups.
Burials 3 and 4 were side by side and undoubtedly placed together. Both
were supine and fully extended, except that the left arm of Burial 3 was
abducted and flexed at right angles. Heads were directed almost south,
that of 3 with face upward; the skull of Burial 4 was turned to the
right. Both were adults, Burial 3 a female, 4 a male. A large, intact
bottle (Fig. 4, A) was two feet above the heads and a small bowl (Fig.
4, I) was in fragments to the left of the skull of Burial 3.
Between this group and Burial 2 we found a skull and several long bones
in an irregular bundle (Fig. 3, Burial 5). There were no associated
artifacts.
[Illustration: Fig. 3. Burials on Hill 2 of Smithport Landing Site.
Vessel numbers are catalog numbers. Left arm of B-3 shown
incorrectly; it should be abducted and flexed.]
Burials 6 to 8 were about a foot apart, on the same level, and were
thought to be a single interment. Heads were directed north, all turned
towards the left side, and the bodies were supine and extended, except
that the left arm of Burial 6 was flexed, with the hand lying over a
pottery vessel above the head of Burial 7 (Fig. 3). This vessel, an
intact cylindrical jar of the type _Kiam Incised_ (Fig. 4, D) was the
only offering. Burial 6 was that of a female, age estimated 40-50 years,
rather gracile in build. Burial 7 was a child of 13-15 years and Burial
8 was either an adolescent or young adult female.
Burials 11 to 13, found on a subsequent visit, may have been a part of
the burial 6-8 interment, as they were at the same depth (three feet),
were immediately adjacent, and lay in the same orientation. Burial 11
was a male, supine and extended, with head directed north and turned to
the left. Age was estimated at 18-20 years. Burial 12 was a female
adult, also supine, fully extended and head directed north but rotated
to the right to face Burial 11. Burial 13 was a female adult, lying
across and directly on the previous two, with head directed just north
of west and face turned upward. No artifacts were with these three.
Burials 9 and 10 were probably associated but separate from the others.
They were north of the previous row of burials, with head orientation
toward the north, supine, extended, and the feet just above the skulls
of burials 6 and 7. Burial 9 had the face upright, and was a child of
undetermined age. Burial 10 was of a female adult with head turned to
the left, toward 9. Above the skull of Burial 10 there were pottery
fragments which were later assembled to form vessels 130, 133, and 134
(Fig. 4, H, E, and G, respectively) and a toy bottle (Fig. 4, P). To the
left of the skull of Burial 9 there were three small vessels, two plain
bowls, and a fingernail-pinched cup (Fig. 4, L, M, Q).
In November, 1935, a final burial (not shown in Fig. 3) was found, six
feet east of burials 12 and 13. This was of a male adult, turned on the
right side with legs partially flexed and the head directed to
southeast. No artifacts were associated.
Measurements were made on three intact skulls. That of Burial 6, adult
female, had a circumference of 47 cm., glabella to occipital
protuberance 27 cm., and zygoma to zygoma 30 cm. The skull of Burial 10,
adult female, had circumference of 46.8 cm., glabella to occipital
protuberance 28.5 cm., and zygoma to zygoma 31 cm. That of Burial 14,
adult male, had circumference of 49.5 cm., glabella to occipital
protuberance 29.2 cm., and zygoma to zygoma 30.5 cm.