NYSAA Bulletin No. 52 — Archaic Sites: Croton Point & Dogan Point — Passage 21 (part 2)

[Various (1971)] It is with these two sites, Onoville Bridge and Kinzua, that Witchs Walk shares the greatest similarity. The settlement location of each site is duplicated at the others, except for minor variation. All three sites are located on the flood plain of the Allegheny River, directly adjacent to the river and across from an island or shallow area. The structure of these settlements includes an encircling stockade, which is only suggested at Witchs Walk, composed of either single or paired posts, with diameters ranging from 0.15 ft. to 0.3 ft., generally 0.6 ft. to 1.0 ft. apart. The structure at Kinzua and Onoville Bridge had multiple entrances which were protected by pits, hearths, or screens. Within the village large open spaces were lacking, and each site indicates a compact, dense settlement composed of several differing types of structures.

These include rectangular houses from 40.0 ft. to 104.0 ft. in length and 16.5 ft. to 26.0 ft, in width; large circular structures 30.0 ft. to 32.0 ft. in diameter and smaller circular structures 14.0 ft. to 17.5 ft. in diameter. It is obvious that certain of these were used as living quarters since they contain hearths and storage pits, but the function of the others is less obvious; possibilities include sweat houses or storage facilities. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank the Seneca Indian Nation and the relatives of the deceased Carrie John who gave permission to excavate the site, Witchs Walk #1.