Three features encountered were termed cists. All were located in the
rear of the shelter in the center section. All were flat-bottomed
basins dug into the sand underlying the Piney Creek alluvium (see C.
B. Hunt’s report below). Around the sides of these were set small
rocks with more or less flat surfaces. Within Cists A and C were found
remains of seeds.
_Cist A._ Location: square J11, top 102 inches below baseline. Almost
circular, inside diameter at top 14 inches, bottom eight inches. Five
inches deep. Contents: Dirt covering cache of acorns decomposed except
for a thin shell. No ash or charcoal.
_Cist B._ Location: square L11, top 100 inches below baseline.
Circular. Inside diameter at top, 17 inches, at bottom 11 inches. Depth
7 inches. No contents but dirt. This differs from the other two, also,
in that it is more basin-shaped with less steep walls.
_Cist C._ Location: square L11 overlapping into K11, top 90 inches
below baseline. Circular. Inside diameter at top 13 inches, at bottom,
8 inches. Depth 6 inches. Contents: _Graminae_ (spp.), _Grayia
brandegei_, _Lithospermum boraginaceae_ ruderale, all in small
quantities (see botanical report below).
[Illustration]
[Illustration: FIGURE 14—Features. Above, Cist C. Below, Cist A.]