and a large and valuable library is in this manner being accumulated— a library which can be obtained in no other way, and which will be of inestimable interest and value to all who wish to consult this class of literature. The State of Ohio has been most negligent in collecting and preserving historical material pertaining to Ohio. Our Society is doing what it can to assist in accumulating an Ohio historical library.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPARTMENT.

This department of the Society has been under the direction of Prof. Warren K. Moorehead. Mr. Moorehead is a most accomplished scholar on this subject, the author of "Primitive man in Ohio," and a complete work on "Fort Ancient." Mr. Moorehead has done much in behalf of the Society in this line, the past year, and would have done much more had the Society been able to supply him with the deserved means.

MR. MOOREHEAD'S REPORT. [department Of archaeology] Mr. E. O. Randall, Secretary of the Society.

Dear Sir: — Since my last report, made to you January 15th, 1895, we have received several valuable additions to the collections of the Society in Orton Hall. The first field work directly in the interests of the Society, has been accomplished in the examination of Southern Ohio Caves in search of evidences of the occupation of Ohio by Paleolithic Man.

Through the medium of exchange, and by purchase, the Curator secured 754 specimens from New England, Maryland, South Dakota, Missouri and Arkansas which he presented to the Society.

Mr. E. G. Swartzel presented a small but choice collection from Preble County.

Mr. Warren Cowan, who donated specimens last year gave another valuable collection. It is of particular interest, being found on and about the famous Serpent Mound by previous owners of that singular ceremonial structure during the years 18781885. There are some 200 objects in the exhibit.

EXPLORATIONS.

Eastern Museums, especially the University of Pennsylvania Museum, the Peabody Museum and the Bureau of Ethnology of Washington, have been much interested in the question: "Did paleolithic (glacial) man occupy Ohio?" Professor Andrews for the Peabody Museum did the only work along these lines in Ohio. He explored Ash Cave, in the Hocking Valley, four miles from Bloomingville in Hocking County. His report was published by the Peabody Museum.

The Society, largely through the kindness of Hon. Asa S. Bushnell, and two other gentlemen, undertook to make a preliminary survey of the caves and rock shelters, canons and gorges of Southern Ohio, with the object in view, that if the preliminary survey was favorable, extended explorations would be projected. Dr. Thomas Wilson, Curator of Prehistoric Anthropology in the Smithsonian Institution, kindly volunteered his services in directing the work among the Ohio caverns. Dr. Wilson, several university students, myself, and a number of laborers set out from Bainbridge, Ohio, about the 1st of July to explore the caves along Rocky Fork, a tributary of Paint Creek, in Ross and Highland counties. After completing the work on Paint Creek, the party examined caverns in Hocking county at several points.

We made a careful examination of several of the Bainbridge caves, and dug holes in about fifteen of those found in the Hocking valley. The cave, dirt, etc., is about ten feet deep. The excavation which we sank was four feet wide and fifteen feet long. In the large or "wet cave" the accumulation of dirt, etc., at the opening is 13 to 20 feet in depth and 120 feet in width. The expense of excavating this would be somewhat over $500.00. In the larger caves of the Bainbridge region small holes were sunk, but nothing of importance was discovered.

In the Hocking region the sand and dirt was scooped out of many of the caves, and although pieces of pottery and arrow heads and other flint implements were found in several caverns, there was no indication that more than one of the Hocking caves have been inhabited in glacial times. At Ash Cave we found a cavern some 80 feet in height, 100 feet in depth and 400 feet long. Two hundred and fifty feet of this distance is covered by a deposit of ashes, ranging from 2 to 6 feet in depth. Picnic parties, relic collectors and others have pretty well dug over the entire deposit. However, we would recommend a thorough exploration. We understand from people living near the cave that three human skeletons have been found at 4 or 5 feet depth, and that several whole pottery vessels, a sack of seeds, and two or three pairs of sandals were exhumed by some gentleman from New York, but we could not ascertain his name.

We have excavated extensively in Ash Cave and found the relics of man very numerous throughout the ashes and the cave dirt on the floor. These relics consisted of small fragments of pottery, flakes and scales of flint, bones hardened or burned by fire, broken stones, arrow-heads, blocks of partly worked flint, bone awls, charcoal, burnt stone, etc. About 400 specimens were found in two days' digging.

We think from our examination that the cave was used as a habitation site for a considerable length of time, and that three or four burials were made in the sand at the back of the cave against the rear wall. The ashes covering the sand at the place of burial are about three feet in depth. We found a number of human bones at the rear of the cave, and from their state of preservation the skeletons uncovered by previous explorers must have been perfect. We understood that the sack of seeds buried with one of the individuals was of very coarse texture, and in size about 24 x 18 inches. The pottery is thin, made of local clays, and superior in texture to those usually found in Ohio. The decorations are simply incised lines cut with a sharp flint or pointed stick.

Dr. Wilson suggests that further explorations be carried on in the Hocking and Paint valleys before we either affirm or deny the existence of paleolithic man. He is of the opinion that the discoveries in Ash Cave prove its occupation by the red Indian or his immediate ancestor.

I believe that the thorough exploration of the large wet cave above Bainbridge, and also a number of caverns in a canon known as "The Gulf," some two miles from Ash Cave are of such importance, that they should be undertaken by the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society.

ARCH^EOLGIC MAP OF OHIO.

For more than one year we have been working upon a most important undertaking. Nearly all the European countries have maps (township) showing the location of every pre-historic ruin, mound, fortification and village site. Ohio has no such record and at the present rate of demolition, all our pre-historic monuments will soon be obliterated and no trace remain. So we undertook to have archaeologists over the State co-operate with us in the recording of these various structures, and for that purpose we prepared township maps of every county. These were sent out together with a list of symbols representing the kinds, position, etc., of ancient remains. As these county maps come in we transcribe the marks to our large map. Thus we have nearly 3,000 recorded. We estimate there are at least 12,000 more in the State. In some localities we find as high as 20 mounds in one group.

An extensive correspondence has been established with local and foreign archaeologists and collectors. We should have larger collections on hand to facilitate exchanges; also, funds to purchase valuable exhibits. It is imperative that we put a good survey into the field next spring and summer to compete with the Eastern Museums, as they are likely to carry East all of our most valuable antiquities. On the whole the Museum of the Society has done exceedingly well and shows a growth of fully 120 per cent. in the last 18 months over the preceding 7 years.

Respectfully submitted,

Warren K. Moorehead, Curator of Pre-historic Archaeology and Ethnology.

December 30, 1895.

FORT ANCIENT.

The Committee, with Rev. Wm. E. Moore as Chairman and Superintendent, having Fort Ancient in charge, have diligently and efficiently performed its work. The funds appropriated by the State for this special purpose have been judiciously expended.

Map of Fort Ancient showing State property purchased by act of April 28, 1890, and the portions the State should obtain to have complete possession. The tracts required are those of Geo. Ridge (12 acres) and A. Couden (60 acres).