Ohio History Journal

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Editorialana

Editorialana.                       233

 

collection. A very large and unique celt, of Williamstite, is one of the

finest of its kind found in Ohio. A new type of stone relic, made of

granite, cylindrical, about 4 inches long and 2 1/2  inches in diameter,

with a groove near each end, is one of the novelties of this collection,

four specimens being shown.

An important addition to the Museum collections is the material

taken from the so-called Hilltop mound, which stood in the city of

Portsmouth. The material includes a unique implement made from a

curved deer horn, with a large beaver incisor set into and thru it, at

right angles to the horn. Another unusual specimen from this mound

is a fine celt of translucent jade, highly polished and symmetrical. The

specimen is of good size, and is one of a very few objects of this material

found in Ohio. Another celt of jade was recently obtained, having been

found near Dayton. Besides the above mentioned objects, the Hilltop

mound find includes a very fine platform pipe of limestone; a cache of

flint blades, several bone implements, and other objects. The specimens

were secured for the Museum from Mr. Paul Esselborn, of Portsmouth,

who obtained them at the time of the opening of the mound.

One of the most valuable of recent additions to the Museum is the

collection of Mr. Clinton Cockerell of Ross county. This collection

which was made in the Paint Creek valley, is large and fine, containing

many specimens unique in character. Among the numerous fine flint

specimens, is a notched spear point of pink flint, 10 inches in length, one

of the finest found in Ross county. From the same locality comes a

tiny notched arrow-point of quartz crystal, barely a half inch long. Other

interesting specimens are: A rare birdstone of bird effigy, of the short

squat type, made of granite and with unusually protruding eyes; several

finely made boat-shape ceremonials, deeply concaved; a fine example of

the rare spool-shaped objects, incised decoration; a ceremonial tube of

banded slate, having a supplementary perforation near each end, at right

angles to the main perforation; a very large lizard-shaped ceremonial, etc.

 

 

ORIGIN OF THE NAME, YANKEE.

Asbury, an author who did not respect the Americans, being an

officer in General Burgoyne's army, and among the captives surrendered

at Saratoga, has the following paragraph upon this word:

"The lower class of these Yankees-apropos, it may not be amiss

here just to observe to you the etymology of this term: it is derived

from a Cherokee word, eankke, which signifies coward and slave. This

epithet of yankee was bestowed upon the inhabitants of New England

by the Virginians, for not assisting them in the war with the Cherokees,

and they have always been held in derision by it. But the name has

been more prevalent since (1775) the commencement of hostilities; the

soldiery at Boston used it as a term of reproach; but after the affair