In the town of _Salisbury_, Massachusetts, a series of heaps thirteen
in all, quite near together, consisted exclusively of the shell of the
clam. They are about a mile from the left bank of the Merrimack River,
near its mouth, and surrounded by a series of sand-downs, some wooded,
others naked; these last constantly changing from the action of the
wind. They vary in size from about twenty to more than one hundred feet
in diameter, but the shells form a layer of only a few inches, and are
largely mixed with sand. After a careful search, in company with Mr.
Alfred Osgood, of Newburyport, we failed to find in most of them any of
the works of man, except only a few flakes or “chips” of flint; but on
two, both near together, large quantities of chips were scattered over
the surface, and more than five pounds were picked up. Besides these,
several arrow-heads and fragments of pots, made of burned clay mixed
with coarse sand, were found. No bones of animals, which might have
served for food, were noticed, though carefully looked for. In previous
years, large numbers of stone implements of various kinds have been
carried away; but as the place is in the neighborhood of a large town,
and is frequently visited by those in search of such relics, they are
now nearly exhausted.