Ohio History Journal

A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF MOUND OPENING.

 

Done During the Months of July and August, 1888, by Warren K.

Moorehead and Clinton Cowen.

 

IT occurred to me a number of times last year to spend

the summer in opening mounds. I had done considerable

of this work in several counties of our State, but had

never spent more than one continuous week in the field.

When the Cincinnati Centennial Exposition opened in

July, and I was free from my duties (having been actively

engaged in mounting a collection for exhibition), I

engaged the services of Mr. C. Cowen, of Dennison Univer-

sity, as Superintendent, and set out for the interior of

Clermont county. I engaged three Irishmen and on July

9th, five of us began the demolition of a mound on

Richard Shumard's farm, Stone    Lick  township.  The

mound is situated on a high point of land overlooking the

deep and narrow gorge of Rock Run.

The mound was twenty-five feet in diameter and about

three feet high. It had never been disturbed by plow or

spade. We commenced at the east side and dug the

whole of it out. The work occupied four hours.

About one foot from the surface a layer of charcoal was

found which extended over the entire mound. This layer

was quite uniform and about three inches thick. Imme-

diately below this in the center was a large flat stone, and

slightly below  the large stone, other stones-limestones

brought from the creek below. Under the stones was a

medium   sized skeleton, much decayed.  On the breast

bone of this skeleton was a small rough celt of green-

stone. A short bone awl was near the body on the right

side. Just below the skeleton was a small quantity of red

ochre. There was nothing else in the mound.

MOUND NUMBER TWO.

Before Number Two was opened some stone graves

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A Detailed Account of Mound Opening.     535

 

along Stone Lick creek were dug open. Although the

work was thoroughly carried out nothing save single skel-

etons were found.

This mound was situated on Harvey Anderson's farm,

Jackson  township, Clermont county.   It is on high

ground, but not near any stream. The mound had been

plowed over many times and stands only eight feet high.

Old residents say it once was nearly twenty feet in alti-

tude.

We began work on this mound Thursday A. M., July

12th. We were two days in completing the excavations.

The dimensions of the structure are 75 x 95 x 8 ft.

We began a wide trench at the eastern side and con-

tinued this to the center. We widened the trench at the

center until all the mound was "rimmed out" save the

outer edges. Nothing was overlooked. Up to Thursday

noon we found nothing. There were no layers in the

edge of the mound, everything seemed placed within ten

feet of the center. About two o'clock we came upon

large quantities of burnt clay. This was not placed in a

layer, nor had it the shape of an altar. It was a rough,

ill-shaped mass. Through it was charcoal freely inter-

mingled. Beyond this mass of clay was a decayed skull.

All parts of the skull were present, but none of the other

bones of the body. The skull showed action of fire-the

teeth were burnt black. That night we quit work five feet

from the center on the east side. Our trench was about

twenty-five feet wide and seven feet deep.

The next morning we found three feet from the surface,

in the center, a skeleton well preserved. No objects were

interred with the body. A rough layer of bark had been

placed above this individual, and an experienced woods-

man present claimed the bark was elm and hickory. The

weight of the earth above had pressed this bark into a

thin layer scarcely a quarter of an inch thick.  The

width of it was two feet, the length seven. Just below

this skeleton were three layers of earth. The first white,

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536   Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

 

the second sand, the third red burnt clay. The thickness

of each was six inches. Below this last layer was a de-

cayed skeleton and a mass of black and yellow soil slightly

burnt. This skeleton laid with head to the west as did

the other. The extremities of this one were badly charred.

At a distance of five feet from the upper surface were

found three (called for want of a better name) "post

holes." These holes were 8 x 14 inches and contained

dust that resembled decayed wood. The sides of them

were burnt to prevent caving in. In one of these holes

three small mussel shells and fifteen snail shells were

found. When six feet from the surface a few fragments

of pottery, deer bones and snail shells occurred. The

deer antlers were broken in small pieces. There were

half a dozen of them. A large slab of limestone, very

interesting, found at seven feet depth, contained the per-

fect imprint of seven human ribs. In some parts of the

disintegrated stone the fragments of ribs still adhered.

This was preserved, but in three days had crumbled

into a mass of lime and sand. Varnish was put in the

crevices, but it would not keep. This stone had been sub-

jugated to great heat.

Nothing further was found except a rough small celt.

When the work was completed we stepped back to look

at the sides.   The various colored layers and streaks

showed up beautifully.   Indeed the red and white were

as pure as could be painted. There were seven shades

represented, red, yellow, black, brown, pink, white, grey.

Mound number three contained nothing.

Mound number four contained nothing of importance.

 

MOUND NUMBER FIVE.

This mound was situated on the farm of John Boyle,

Perry Township, Brown County, Ohio. The owner is a

wealthy and cultivated gentleman and gave us permission

to open another mound of his four miles further north.

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A Detailed Account of Mound Opening.        537

 

We began work on the west side. We were nearly three

days completing excavations. The mound was circular

and about one hundred feet in diameter. It was five feet

high, had never been opened, was situated in a woods.

It was surrounded by a low circle 200 feet in diameter.

The altitude of the circle was less than three feet, its breadth

seven feet.

No skeleton was found in this mound. Near the exact

center on the bottom we discovered a small arrow-head of

pink flint, a hammer stone of sandstone, a rubbing stone of

slate.

When some ten feet beyond the center on the east side

we suddenly came upon forty-two mica sheets. These

were from four by eight to seven by nine inches in

size. Some of them had been neatly rounded, others

were in the rough state. They were laid in layers with

edges overlapping, covering three square feet or more.

Nothing was under or above them.

There was nothing else in the mound. I consider this

the most positive proof of "Ceremonial structures." The

enclosed mound, the mica and other objects, the absence

of skeletons, lead me to believe that this mound was erected

for some religious purpose, that it was not a burial mound,

nor a house site. The mound may have been a "temple

site," for the summit was slightly flattened. This is to me

the most mysterious structure I ever excavated. We ex-

amined the earth very carefully to find traces of charcoal or

pottery or bones but found none. There were no "post

holes" in this structure.

 

MOUND NUMBER SIX.

This mound is on the farm of John Boyle, St. Martin's,

Brown county. It is on very high ground and overlooks

the East Fork of the Little Miami river. It is, by far,

the largest one yet opened.  We began July 24th,

with four hands. The size of this mound is: in altitude,

eight feet, in length seventy feet, in width sixty-five feet.

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538    Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

 

We are told that it once stood nearly twenty-five feet

high. There was a circle around it once, but this has been

plowed down until nothing remains. It is barely discern-

able in places. We began operations on the south side by

starting a trench nearly as wide as the mound. This was

continued to within ten feet of the northern limit, when,

finding no evidences of burial beyond that point, we filled up

the holes.

The skulls taken from this mound were much de-

cayed, but, being treated with a solution of varnish and

glue and being carefully packed in cotton, were strong

enough to be transported to Cincinnati. Both these indi-

viduals fell in battle. The back of the skulls are crushed

in. None of the other bones of the skeletons showed

fractures. Over the forehead of one of the skulls was

a copper plate, five by seven inches, and perforated in two

places. This plate was placed directly over the eyes and

forehead, the holes corresponding with the eyes, and, I

think, a "death mask" would be a proper name for the

plate. The material is Lake Superior copper, thin, and

shows that it was beaten out in a cold state. This skel-

eton was the first one found (with the plate). Just beyond

it lay a layer of fine burned earth three inches thick.

The earth was seven by three feet and as hard as brick.

On the layer, extended east and west, lay a well preserved

skeleton. Save that this skull was crushed in the rear, all the

bones were whole and in place.

But to return. When we had been at work nearly a

day, and were ten feet from the outer edge, we came upon

five "post holes" similar to those found in the Anderson

mound, only larger. These were filled with small stones

and were three feet deep. Were they used to drain the

mound? They were placed on the bottom      (the original

surface of the ground,) and ran down to undisturbed clay.

Just beyond these a large mass of burnt stones, cremated

skeletons, etc., occurred.  A  lump of partially worked

Galena was taken from this mass. At the top of the

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A Detailed Account of Mound Opening.       539

 

mound, only two feet from the surface, had been placed a

layer of bark, but this was too badly decayed to tell the

wood. In some places it had so rotted as to leave a black

streak only.

We were four and one-half days in opening this mound.

Mound No. 7, nothing of value.

 

MOUND NUMBER EIGHT.

This mound is one of a group of seven. They lie on

the edge of a high hill overlooking the East Fork of the

Little Miami river, Clermont county, Ohio. Mr. J. G.

Hutchison owns the land. The mounds are small, aver-

aging thirty feet in diameter and three feet in height.

The average distance apart is one hundred feet. Satur-

day, August 4th, we began work on these. We were three

days in digging the seven to pieces. Three of the smallest

ones were opened the first day.

Each mound was composed of both earth and stone,

but the first one opened contained more stone than any of the

others.

On the east side of the first mound (we commenced on

the center mound and worked to the left, then to the

right) we uncovered a layer of five flat stones. Under

these were two skeletons, much decayed. With one of the

skeletons a very choice polished celt was found. With the

other five, rough chert implements.

There was no colored earth in this mound; no charcoal.

The next one opened was very small and yielded nothing

but flat stones. The next on the left contained a decayed

skeleton and traces of charcoal, that was all. The skele-

ton had stones thrown upon it, but none were laid in

order as in the first mound. The last mound on the left

contained two skeletons pretty well preserved, and, com-

pared with the others, decently buried. Not far below

the surface was a layer of limestones. Below this, and

resting on several large stones, were the two bodies.

Nothing was found with them, but it was interesting to

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540   Ohio Archaeological and Historical Quarterly.

 

note what care had been displayed in the manner of burial.

The heads lay to the East, the arms lay close to the sides,

the legs were straight. It was very evident the rest of these

individuals had never been disturbed until our spades un-

covered their bones.

The next mound on the right held nothing but stones.

The second on the right contained a badly mashed skeleton.

There were few bones entire. The last mound on the right

held a couple of bodies well buried, and a large dish. The

pottery had been interred whole, but, lying so near the

surface, it had absorbed the rains and the frosts had cracked

it into many small fragments. We took it out in fifty pieces

and attempted to restore it.

From this county we went to Ross county, where our

finds were greater than any previously made.   I will

give an account of the work done there in some future

number.

W. K. MOOREHEAD.

WASHINGTON, D. C., January 14, 1889.

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