At “rock bottom” of the relevant geological column lies the first clue to human habitation on Brushy Creek: a smelting furnace and mold carved directly into the Ked bedrock:

Figure 14. Iron stained fill removed from furnace cavity. Note the Ica stratum (dark gray) in the background, to the right hand side in this photo. The exposed portions of Ica and overlying strata Ice and Igl erode rapidly during periods of heavy drainage, exposing the underlying Ked stratum.

Figure 15. The furnace was uncovered to what was initially thought to be the floor of the cavity. Note the heavily iron-stained fill, which contrasts to locally occurring soil. Local soils are comprised chiefly of black clay loam mixed with silt. Also note the iron-stained chert nodules and fossilized shells (removed from the furnace, at the top of the photo).

Figure 16. As research continued, it was observed that the floor of the furnace still remained partially covered by fill. An in situ metallic nodule was observed as the remaining fill was removed.

Figure 17. A close-up shot of the in situ metallic nodule, positioned at the mouth of the soon to be revealed blowhole. Note the heavy iron staining around the nodule.

Figure 18. As research continued, it became apparent that a rounded, triangular blowhole was carved into the bedrock, at the bottom of the furnace.

Figure 19. A photo of the furnace cavity and 3” of the vent hole thoroughly cleaned. Note the iron deposits still intact, at the bottom, left hand side of the furnace in this photo. Several other heavy iron stains are apparent.

Figure 20. Close up of the blowhole at the bottom of the furnace. Note the charring at the opening of the vent (top, slightly left hand side in photo). Also note the secondary carbonate deposits on the right hand side of the blowhole. Grains of sand are adhered to the furnace floor, to the left of the blowhole.

Figure 21. The surface blowhole in relation to the furnace cavity. The surface blowhole is drilled downward at an approximately 25-degree angle relative to the surface, directly towards the bedrock underlying the furnace. It is assumed by this author that the blowhole at the bottom of the furnace was drilled straight down (90 degree angle relative to the surface), tapping into the underlying drilled surface blowhole channel.

Figure 22. Close-up of the surface blowhole inlet. Note the same rounded triangular outline, identical to the blowhole at the bottom of the furnace. It is assumed by this author that a chert “bit” was hafted to a “spear shaft” and rotated, gradually, drilling a hole in the softer limestone.

Figure 23. Partially cleared out mold, carved directly into the Ked bedrock. The mold is located approximately 18’ Southwest of the furnace.

Figure 24. Completely cleared out mold cavity. Note the lack of errosional smoothing on the floor of the mold, implying a rapid, and then continuous filling from shortly after its creation and utilization until present.

Figure 25. Close-up of the carving on the mold cavity floor. Mold has been tentatively interpreted to be the profile of a man, looking right. Again, note the lack of erosional smoothing.

Figure 26. Relative spatial relationship between the furnace, the surface blowhole and mold. The mold is carved into the Ked stratum at the Southern valley margin, while the furnace and blow hole are carved into the Ked stratum located in the valley bed, ca 18’ Northeast of the mold.

Figure 27. The furnace shown in relation to the exposed portion of the Igl stratum, in the far background. Again, note the intact Ica stratum to the right (dark gray colored), uncomformably deposited on the underlying Ked stratum.

Figure 28. A general representation of the geologic column previously positioned above the furnace and mold. Rapid erosion of this overlying strata was mainly brought on by the massive development along the creek corridor in recent years.

Figure 29. Another view (looking North) of the dissected geologic column previously positioned above the furnace and mold. The creek is working itself North, downhill, into the original, ancient bedrock creek bed, eroding the topsoil off of the Southern portions the Igl stratum in the process. The erosional processes have completely cleared, to the Ked bedrock, the ca 300 meters upstream (West Southwest) of Lima.

Figure 30. The recent increased erosional processes have completely cleared, to bedrock, ca 300 meters upstream of Lima. View is to the Northeast. Note the remaining Western- most edge of Lima, with the tangled roots of previously and currently existing trees, exposed (middle foreground of photo). In the right hand background, the white gravels of exposed stratum, Igl, are apparent. The furnace is positioned ca 6 meters to the right of the exposed roots.

Figure 31. The erosional processes have completely cleared, to bedrock, the Igl stratum previously overlying the furnace and mold. View is to the Southwest. A test trench was dug in Lima to confirm the exposed Igl stratum had a firm floor. After the surface limestone and chert cobbles were removed, a firm floor was revealed.

Figure 32. Another Southwest view from the exposed portion of the Igl stratum at Lima. Note the exposed Ica stratum, underlying the Igl stratum, and deposited on the Ked stratum in the middle background of this photo.

Figure 33. Figures 32 and 33 are unhighlighted and highlighted photos showing the relevant geology in the immediate area of the furnace and mold. The red line highlights one the new drains installed in early 2005 or late 2004. Two additional drains were constructed, one approximately 150 meters upstream from this drain, and the other drain, 300 meters upstream. The light green X marks the location of the mold. The dark blue X marks the location of the furnace. The yellow highlight traces the Northern boundary of the remaining Ica stratum. The light blue highlight traces the contours of the test trench, the trench establishing the firm stratum of the remaining Igl deposit. The purple x marks the Western-most intact portion of the Southern side of the dissected Igl stratum. Approximately 2 meters to the right of the dark green x marks the Western-most intact portion of the Northern side of the dissected Igl stratum at Lima. The overall view is to the Southwest, upstream.

Figure 34. Remnants of the Ice stratum cemented to the underlying Ked stratum, approximately 6 meters downhill (North) from the furnace.

Figure 35. More remnants of Ice cemented to the underlying Ked stratum, approximately 6 meters downhill (North) from the furnace.

Figure 36. More remnants of Ice cemented to the underlying Ked stratum, approximately 6 meters downhill (North) from the furnace.

Figure 37. More remnants of Ice cemented to the underlying Ked stratum, approximately 6 meters downhill (North) from the furnace.

Figure 38. Close up of the Ice stratum.

Figure 39. Another close up of the Ice stratum.

Figure 40. Another close up of the Ice stratum.

Figure 41. Another close up of the Ice stratum.

Figure 42. Another close up of the Ice stratum.

Figure 43. Another close up of the Ice stratum.

Next is a progression of aerial views of Subsection Lima, spanning from 1985-2003:

Figure 44. An aerial photo from 1985. Subsection Lima is on the right hand side of the photo, just to the left of the circular white dirt road. Note there are large trees still completely covering the alluvium, suggesting that in 1985, there was no dissection, further evidenced by the lack of exposure of the underlying, bright white alluvial gravel.

Figure 45. An aerial photo from 1985. Subsection Lima (circled) is on the right hand side of the photo, just to the left of the circular white dirt road. Note there are large trees still completely covering the alluvium, suggesting that in 1985, there was no dissection, further evidenced by the lack of exposure of the underlying, bright white alluvial gravel. The creek has not yet started to work it’s way downhill through the alluvium, as evidenced by the lack of diversion of the creek path (highlighted). Small amounts of land development are apparent just West and upstream (to the left in the photo) of Lima. Personal conversations with the landowners (in the same family since the mid 1800’s) on the Northern boundary of Brushy Creek verifies, that indeed, up until recently, the Lima- Igl stratum was not exposed, and the creek ran ca 2-2.5 meters higher in elevation, and ca 11 meters further to the South, it’s Southern bank defined by the Southern Ked limestone valley margin.

Figure 46. An aerial view from 1995. Lima is at the top, slightly left hand side of the photo, at a ca 45-degree angle, up and left of the circular white dirt road. Note the trees still growing on the now exposed Igl stratum. The creek course has diverted downhill, settling into its ancient bed. Note, at the left, bottom corner (South of the creek course), the field has been put into cultivation. Directly downhill, ca 25’ in elevation, from the top right hand corner of the cultivated field, is where the furnace and mold are positioned. Apparent are several large trees still rooted into the Lima-Igl stratum overlying the position of the furnace and mold.

Figure 47. Highlighted aerial view from 1995. Lima is at the top, slightly left hand side of the photo, at a ca 45-degree angle, up and left of the circular white dirt road. Note the trees still growing on the now exposed Lima-Igl stratum... The creek course has diverted downhill, settling into its ancient bed. The blue highlighting represents the creeks current bed (and ancient bed). The yellow highlighting represents the prior creek bed, as portrayed in the 1985 aerial shot.

Figure 48. Aerial photo from 2003. There is no indication of large trees remaining on Lima-Igl. Creek course change is readily apparent. The furnace and mold positions on the Ked bedrock appear exposed. Dissection of Lima-Igl is now obviously apparent, with the Southern, uphill portion of the Igl stratum exposed, and the Northern, downhill portion of Igl still covered by the silt and clay topsoil (Isi and Icl). The current creek course is now traveling in the ancient Ked creek bed, at the bottom of the valley of downward sloping Ked bedrock, running between the underlying Southern Ked and Northern Ked valley margins that parallel the creek bed.