It is proposed to discuss the physical aspects of the stratigraphy before entering into a discussion of the cultural remains of the Cattle Point site. The reasons for this are manifold. First, the differentiation of the strata on a purely physical basis will give us some idea of the different occupations of the site. Second, the widely differing nature of the layers offers some opportunity of dating the cultural remains in terms of strata which show time and content differences. Third, the shell and animal remains of the strata provide still another basis for differentiating the archaeological remains of the site. These reasons, and many more which will come out in the following discussion, serve as adequate cause for considering the physical aspects of the strata before the cultural.

In the three main areas of the site which were excavated we find distinct stratification. There exists a correlation between all three areas of the site as well.

Perhaps the most successful manner of presenting a description of artifacts without undue misinterpretation of original purposes of the objects is first to give a purely physical and processual description. This will be the plan followed here. The artifacts will first be classified as to technique of manufacture and secondly as to form. A comparative archaeological and ethnological section will follow the discussion of each artifact category in an endeavour to place it in time and space and to discover, as well, the uses to which it was put through a comparison with ethnological materials.

Canine tooth: 1 (L 3.75). Large canine tooth with grooving at tip of the root for attachment to a string or thong. From the Late phase (Fig. 17,1).

Constricted neck pendant: 1 (L 3.1; breadth of base 1.5; breadth of neck 0.9; breadth of head 1.3). A finely ground and polished pendant of generalized rectanguloid shape. The grinding has produced a constriction near one end, isolating that end as a head for attachment. Encircling the head end are two grooves. The bottom end has one encircling groove. A perforation runs laterally through the pendant at the constriction. Elliptical cross section. From the Developmental phase (Fig. 17,2).

The excavation of the Cattle Point site brought to light several features and structures of man-made origin, or natural features utilized by man. Some of these structures are of such a nature that they present completely unique aspects of culture in the Gulf of Georgia-Puget Sound region. Their use and purpose in some instances is obvious; in other cases it is unknown.

In the East Bluff area a series of stone slab structures of unknown use arouse the greatest curiosity since, as will be described below, they are of such a nature that only descriptions can be given; no conjecture as to use finds parallel in the ethnographical or archaeological literature of the Northwest Coast. Also in the East Bluff area was a series of clay and stone slab bowls associated with a thin, floor-like stratum which suggests cooking structures associated with a house floor. However, as will be seen below, this is not at all certain.

During the excavation of the West Bluff area in 1946, two cairns with burials were discovered in the upper levels of the heavy shell stratum of the Maritime phase. One of these had been disturbed by plowing, and, consequently, whatever pattern of stone arrangement had been made around and over the burial had been completely disarranged (Fig. 25, 4). The second cairn however, had been constructed before the shell mound in the West Bluff area had stopped accumulating. Consequently, it was buried beneath shell deposits and beyond the reach of the plow. At the time of discovery, the cairn lay one foot below the surface. The burial was encompassed by a rectangular wall of stones measuring 4.2 x S.4 feet (Fig. 25, 5). The wall was not completely closed, but enough of the stones remained to give the shape of the burial structure. Some stones lying near and directly over the burial give some indication of cap-stones, but the presence of a disassociated human mandible atop the largest of these possible cap-stones makes the identification of the stones as such questionable.

All the evidence gained from the excavations . at Cattle Point points to the conclusion that this was not a permanently occupied site. Apparently, it was always a place of temporary habitation, attracting its population because of its natural resources in food supplies. The economic activities were concentrated on the rich supply of fish which the nearby salmon banks offered. Throughout the culture sequence at Cattle Point the remains of fish in the form of vertebrae and cheek bones are an important part of the animal inventory. In addition, the area abounded in Columbian black-tailed deer, which were greatly utilized by occupants of the sites during all phases. The use of shellfish probably did not enter into the culture pattern at the beginning. Whether this was due to the lack of behavior patterns involving the use of shellfish as food, or to the lack of a beach structure which would support a shellfish population, cannot be determined at present with certainty.