The Kid Factor is not only related to artifacts but to isolated features.  I recall surveying and testing archaeological sites in a canyon in Arizona that contained  a number of prehistoric and protohistoric rock features--mulch piles for agave and roasting pits--but also contained several enigmatic rock alignments that we eventually realized had been created by the students of a nearby private boy's school that had operated nearby in the early twentieth century.

Morgan Rieder, RPA
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Carol Serr<mailto:[log in to unmask]> 
  To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> 
  Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2007 4:07 PM
  Subject: Re: the Kid Factor influence on artifacts (etc)


  I figured the casings were put in to the cabin walls as
  decoration...not out of boredom....but was just guessing.

  I knew the casings from our dump are a 2ndary deposit...which puzzles me
  a lot...since I thot (most) target shooters (or hunters) left the
  casings where they lie - unless they were reloader folks.  But, finding
  100s of these expended items...seems like 'kids play'...or, someone was
  very tidy. ??

  Some of the shotshell brasses are missing the primer, but otherwise
  don't look mangled...so...these were 'popped' out on purpose?  For the
  fun of it. ?

  Oh, I was wondering where the primer on a cat was located.  HA HA

  >-----Original Message-----
  >From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On 
  >Behalf Of Smoke
  >Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2007 3:05 PM
  >To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
  >Subject: Re: the Kid Factor influence on artifacts (etc)
  >
  >I worked for several years out of Libby, Montana, and Ron is right.
  >It goes even farther back than 1918.  However, decorating the 
  >log ends with .22 rimfire cases is widespread throught the 
  >northern Rocky Mountains.  I have have seen at least 50 cabins 
  >like this and probably nearer 75.  People still do that there. 
  > If you have ever tried to hammer bottle necked cartridges 
  >into the ends of logs (blush) you will see why they use nice 
  >straight .22 rimfires.
  >
  >If the cases are in the rocks along with other trash, that is 
  >not where they were originally deposited.  If they were 
  >shooting at the stuff in trash, that is where the bullets 
  >would have been recovered, not the cases.
  >
  >As to primers falling out - yes they can (but not often) when 
  >the cartridge is flattened or run over by a car/truck, tractor 
  >or shod horse.  Just like a dead cat on the road.  The more 
  >you run over it, the flatter it gets.
  >
  >:-)
  >
  >Smoke