Ohio History Journal

REPORT OF FIELD WORK

CARRIED ON IN THE MUSKINGUM, SCIOTO AND OHIO VAL-

LEYS DURING THE SEASON OF 1896, BY WARREN KING

MOOREHEAD, IN CHARGE OF EXPLORATIONS.

 

PREFACE.

It is interesting to note that as general archaeology pro-

gresses in the United States, men are more inclined to confine

their observations to special or limited areas. A generation ago,

before the Government, the Museums of our various cities and

the Scientific and Historical Societies undertook large explora-

tions, it was possible for one observer to cover the whole of the

American field from the mouth of the St. Lawrence to Mexico.

Later, as anthropologic science advanced, one essayed to write of

the Mound Builders, another on the Cliff Dwellers and yet an-

other upon the antiquities of Central America. To-day, scientists

have so specialized that volumes may indeed be written upon the

prehistoric remains of one river valley. This is the natural out-

come of much study and investigation. What is true of every

other science is also true of that most important branch of An-

thropology-prehistoric archaeology. In the past it was suffi-

cient to briefly describe our mounds and earthworks, give their

measurements, enlarge upon their supposed character and pur-

pose, etc. Most of our archaeologists in this modern age follow

the natural history method, which, by the way, is by far the

safest and most satisfactory, and study every little pottery frag-

ment, flint implement, bit of shell or worked tool as carefully

and persistently as does the palaeontologist his fossil. With

them, it is not so much the prettiest and most perfect specimen,

but all the specimens which tell the story. A mound is explored

by them, not for what it contains, but because something may

be learned from its examination. The rude hammer stone*-an

* In this connection, Archaeologist J. D. McGuire well remarks:

"The hammer is homely at best, and is less sought for by collectors, but

from an archaeological standpoint the hammer tells us more of ancient

times than does the celt."

(165)

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166      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

object of contempt among ill-trained collectors of only fantastic

objects,-the arrow head, the pottery sherd and the bones from

the mound are religiously placed by themselves in one of the

museum trays. Finds, poor though they may be, from other

mounds are similarly treated, and in the museum do they study

the mounds of the whole valley and compare the testimony with

that of another.

Our Society must carry on this detailed, local work, if it

would cover the State thoroughly and obtain the most satis-

factory results.

Indeed, our work done otherwise, fails to extend archaeo-

logic knowledge and will surely bring upon our heads the con-

demnation of future generations. During the season described

in this report our party constantly bore in mind the importance

of local work and endeavored to make thorough the explora-

tion of each section visited.

To Mr. Walter O'Kane I am indebted for assistance during

the trip down the Muskingum from its source to McConnelsville.

Mr. O'Kane acted as photographer and also rendered valuable

services in directing the laborers at Coshocton and Duncan's

Falls.

Mr. Clarence Loveberry accompanied me through Brush

Creek Valley, along the Ohio River to Portsmouth and up the

Scioto to Richmondale. Having had three summers' experi-

ence in the field, Mr. Loveberry took charge of the men in my

absence. I am especially indebted to him for the exploration of

the Harness Mound (which was carried on largely under his

supervision) and for assistance in Perry County and at the Great

Stone Mound of the Reservoir.

I desire to thank Mr. Clinton Cowen, C. E., of Cincinnati,

for ground plans and surveys of the works on the Scioto and

along the Ohio. Mr. Cowen was with our party two weeks.

To the following ladies and gentlemen, the Ohio Archaeo-

logical and Historical Society, the Ohio State University and our

survey are indebted for permission to excavate upon their lands,

for personal courtesies and for information as to mounds, etc., to

be located upon the State map:

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Report of Field Work.               167

 

Mr. Alderman, McConnelsville.

Mr. C. Ackerwood, Dresden.

Mr. F. E. Bingman, Jackson.

Mr. T. M. Bright, Chagrin Falls.

Mr. William Beaumont, Alexandria.

Mr. W. S. Bradshaw, Hanging Rock.

Gen. R. Brinkerhoff, Mansfield.

S. H. Binkley, Alexandersville.

Mr. G. F.Bareis, Canal Winchester.

Mr. Briggs, Portsmouth.

Mr. J. W. Barger, Waverly.

Mr. William Briggs, Fields.

Mr. Owen Brown, Thornville.

Mr. R. L. Condon, Omega.

Mr. J. C. Corwin, Waverly.

Mr. Austin Cooprighter, Glenford.

Messrs. Davis Bros., Diamond.

Mr. Flory, Newport.

Mr. J. V. Farver, Millersport.

Mr. Finley, North Liberty.

Mr. Feurt, Portsmouth.

Major Foster, Higsby.

Mr. A. C. Francisco, Akron.

Mr. Gamble, Walhonding.

Miss Hunter, Brink Haven.

Mr. E. Hyde, Lancaster.

Mr. Higby, Higby's.

Messrs. Harness, Richmondale.

Mr. H. Hope, Paint.

Mr. W. C. Hampton, Mt. Victory.

Mr. R. E. Hills, Delaware.

Mr. J. H. Johnson, South Portsmouth, Ky.

Mr. Johnson, Coshocton.

Mr. E. H. Moore, Athens.

Mr. G. F. Manning, Coshocton.

Mr. Wm. McCormack, Youngsville.

Dr. A. J. Marks, Toledo.

Mr. Monteath, Concord, Ky.

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168      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

Mr. J. Maxwell, Coshocton.

Mrs. Jane McCullough, Youngsville.

Mr. John Montgomery, Youngsville.

Miss McCullough, Newport.

Mr. C. C. Naylor, Manchester.

Mr. J. R. Nissley, Ada.

Mr. Owens, Concord, Ky.

Mr. Plummer, Newport.

Mr. Patton, Youngsville.

Mr. E. S. Perkins, Weymouth.

Mr. Joseph Porteus, Coshocton.

Mr. Porteus, Sr., Coshocton.

The Quick Heirs, Loudonville.

Mr. J. M. Richardson, Wilmington.

Mr. L. Simonton, Lebanon.

Mr. J. Stout, Rome.

Mr. E. Schlupp, Lovell.

Mr. C. C. Stamin, Mifflin.

Mr. Sherwood, Malta.

Mr. Swarington, Newport.

Mr. L. D. Sprague, McConnelsville.

Mr. Tomlinson, Newport.

Mr. Tom Tipton, Williamsport.

Mr. J. W. Tweed, Ripley.

Mr. F. E. Williams, Wauseon.

Mr. Barton Walters, Circleville.

Mr. J. Williams, Youngsville.

Mr. George Workman, Walhonding.

Mr. Wilhelm, Duncan's Falls.

Mr. Frank Yost, Thornville.

Mr. Irvin Yost, Thornville.

Several gentlemen were especially courteous in obtaining

permissions for exploration, in introducing us, in procuring col-

lections and in showing us remains which might have escaped

our notice. I acknowledge my obligations to them:-Mr. H. B.

Case, Loudonville; Messrs. Pomerine, Coshocton; Mr. R. Mc-

Cullough, Youngsville; Mr. Arrick, McConnelsville; Dr. W. H.

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Report of Field Work.              169

 

Robe, Youngsville; Mr. Charles Wertz, Portsmouth; Mr. Higby,

Higby's Station; Messrs. Harness, Richmondale; Mr. W. H.

Davis, Lowell.

WARREN KING MOOREHEAD.

Columbus, O., Dec. 1st, 1896.

 

 

 

FIELD WORK DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER

OF 1896.

 

SECTION 1. PERRY COUNTY.

 

Perry County is pretty well divided as to drainage between

the Muskingum and the Hocking. The northern portion of the

County is drained by Jonathan Creek, a tributary of the former.

As our observations were to be confined to the Muskingum and

its branches we did no work in the southern part of the County.

We found that Hopewell and Thorne Townships alone con-

tained more than forty ancient remains and that at least Jon-

athan Creek Valley, if not all of Perry County, is but a contin-

uation of the great works known as the Newark Group.* But

none of the mounds and enclosures can compare in size with

them, and of the entire county but three structures can be placed

in what may be termed "the first class," and they are the Reser-

voir stone mound, the stone fort and the earth enclosure near

Glenford.

 

THE STONE MOUND OF THE LICKING COUNTY RESERVOIR

is located upon a high hill ten miles from Flint Ridge, two miles

from the town of Thornville, Perry County, and seven miles

from the stone fortification at Glenford. It is just over the Lick-

ing County line, north from Thornville, and overlooks the valley

now filled by the Licking County Reservoir and formerly occu-

pied by an ancient lake.

* See Squier & Davis' "Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi

Valley", plate XXV; also "Notes on Ohio Archaeology", by Gerard

Fowke, plate V.

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170       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.   It is one of the greatest mounds in the State, but has never been generally known because at the time of the construction of the Reservoir, most of the sandstone blocks and fragments of which it is composed, were hauled away by the contractors and utilized in the formation of the Reservoir walls.  At the present day it is upon the farm of Mr. Owen Brown. Early in April, 1896, the structure was of the following dimensions: 189 feet northeast and southwest; 207 feet north- west and southeast; average height 81/2 feet; maximum height 12 feet; minimum height 5 feet. From traditions and publica- tions of early archaeologists and from the curve preserved by a large tree on the north side, it must have been about 55 feet in height when completed. This tree, some five or five and a half feet in diameter, has an extensive spread of roots and holds in place a bulk of material 15 by 25 feet. (Figure 1).

Large stones, 20 to 40 pounds, originally composed the bulk of the mound, but these have been nearly all removed, and only the smaller ones, sand, earth and decayed vegetable matter re- main. Work was begun early the morning of the 24th of March and continued for five days with an average force of nine men. Excavations proved that the mound rested upon original sur- face yellow clay (see museum specimens in tray 6285), that the

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Report of Field Work.               171   ground had been cleared and burned over; the sod line or base was one inch thick and interspersed with flint chips, burnt clay and a little charcoal and gravel. Figure II will show the struct-

ure from natural clay down to shale and from the base line of the mound to the top. At this point the mound was nine feet high. Generally above the base line was three feet of clay in which a few stones occurred. The clay showed the "dumps" plainly. In some places instead of clay, sand was found, and our section exhibits such a part of the mound. As near as could be determined, an undisturbed section of the mound 40 x 20 feet was selected and an excavation sunk to the original base line. In other parts of the mound eight or ten large holes were put down, but it seems that nearly the whole of the original area covered had been disturbed by those vandals who hauled away stone, not by the hundreds but by the thous- ands of wagon loads for the Reservoir walls. Thus, in the in- terest of modern progress, was destroyed one of the most im- portant and imposing, if not unique, tumuli in the entire Ohio valley. This may seem at first sight to be an exaggeration, but let us call your attention to the facts. We have, it is true, stone fortifications, enclosures and mounds. But these are never more than 12 or 15 feet high,-while the average is less than 6 feet. Hence a stone monument 30 feet high would be both unusual

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172      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

and unique-a freak, as it were. Imagine the importance in pre-

Columbian times, of a stone mound 50 or 55 feet in altitude.

What important personages must have been interred in it! One

old man, who visited the mound, said that as a boy he had seen

several skeletons, covered with copper rings and plates, sur-

rounded by chestnut logs. He thought these were found near

the north side. Our excavations in sites which we took to be

undisturbed, yielded no returns. Too thoroughly had the ignor-

ant teamsters done their work of demolition.

One can conceive the magnitude of the task undertaken by

the builders when it is remembered that the most conservative

estimate places the number of wagon loads of stone hauled from

this mound at 5,000.

The large mound was originally surrounded by a low em-

bankment of earth which has disappeared. South of the mound

is a small one 250 feet distant. It was 40 feet east and west, 28

feet north and south, and three feet high. It is composed of

yellow clay and on the top were some large stones weighing from

40 to 60 pounds, about one hundred of them. We cannot as-

sign a reason for its construction. We dug 20 x 25 feet, taking

out all of the original mound. In the mound were found some

burnt stone and one arrow-head.

We can find but one satisfactory reference to the explora-

tion of this structure, and that is in Rev. J. P. McLean's "The

Mound Builders:"* "Perhaps the largest and finest stone mound

in Ohio was that which stood about eight miles south of Newark,

and one mile east of the Reservoir on the Licking summit of

the Ohio Canal. It was composed of stones found on the ad-

jacent grounds, laid up without cement, to the height of about

50 feet, with a circular base of 182 feet diameter. It was sur-

rounded by a low embankment of oval form, accompanied by a

ditch, and having a gateway to the east end. When the Reser-

voir, which is seven miles long, was made, in order to protect

the east bank so that it might be used for navigation the stones

from this mound were removed for that purpose. During the

years 1831-32 not less than fifty teams were employed in haul-

ing them, carrying away from 10,000 to 15,000 wagon loads.

* Cincinnati, 1885, page 42.

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Report of Field Work.              173

 

Near the circumference of the base of the mound were discov-

ered fifteen or sixteen small earth mounds and a similar one in

the center. These small mounds were not examined until 1850

when two of them were opened by some of the neighboring farm-

ers. In one were found human bones with some fluviatile shells,

and in the other, two feet below a layer of hard white fire clay, they

came upon a trough covered by small logs, and in it was found

a human skeleton, around which appeared the impression of

coarse cloth. With the skeleton were found fifteen copper rings

and a breastplate or badge. The wood of the trough was in a

good state of preservation, the clay over it being impervious

to both air and water. The central mound was afterwards

opened and found to contain a great many human bones but

no other relics of any note."

In the possession of a farmer we saw an X-shaped copper

ornament which he claimed came from the mound. It will be

remembered that the so-called "Holy Stone of Newark" was

found in this structure encased in a stone box. While any arch-

aeologist would admit the genuineness of the copper cross and

bracelets, they have proven that the "Holy Stone of Newark"

is a "fake" pure and simple. Mr. Warrick is the only surviving

workman who assisted in the excavating at the time of the

discovery. He knows nothing personally of the "Holy Stone,"

but did see the other relics. In this connection it might be well

to quote the expose as published in "Primitive Man in Ohio.:"*

"Some writers have misrepresented and distorted field tes-

timony to uphold theories previously formed. As an illustra-

tion of this, and of the great damage that it has done, we need

but call the attention of our readers to the famous 'Holy Stone of

Newark.'

"An enthusiastic archaeologist resided many years ago at

Newark, O. He was thoroughly in love with his work, and his

life's ambition was to discover the origin of man upon the Amer-

ican continent. He believed the lost ten tribes of Israel to be

the ancestors of the mound-building tribes. After opening

mound after mound and finding no evidence whatever in sup-

port of his hypothesis, he became desperate. He purchased a

* G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1892, page IV, preface.

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174      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

Hebrew Bible and primer and shortly afterwards there was dis-

covered in a stone box, in a mound that he had investigated,

a slab, on one side of which was a likeness of Moses, and on the

reverse an abridged form of the ten commandments. The stone

attracted world-wide attention, and many publications were is-

sued describing it. No one doubted the genuineness of the

affair until after the man's death. In cleaning up his office the

administrator found in a small rear room bits of slate with at-

tempts at carving Hebrew characters upon them. They also

found a fair copy of the wood-cut of Moses used as a frontis-

piece in the testament.

"The influence of this over-zealous deceiver has gone

throughout the length and breadth of our land, and one may

still hear at lectures upon American archaeology statements con-

cerning the Indian's descent from the Jew, basing such asser-

tions upon the testimony of the supposed 'Holy Stone of New-

ark,' which, as is above shown, was simply a counterfeit."

We could not detect a trace of the small earth mounds men-

tioned by Rev. MacLean. Man has destroyed them all. Con-

sidering the size and character of the mound, one would nat-

urally suppose that it would have contained much of value and

importance. Viewed in this light our work was a disappoint-

ment.

FRANK YOST'S MOUNDS.

 

A large irregular fortification and three mounds occur upon

the farm of Mr. Frank Yost, three and a half miles south of

Thornville, on a hill some 100 feet in height. Clay is used in

their composition. The group is distant about two miles from

the great stone fort on the hill south of Glenford. South of the

fortification and almost adjoining it, is a circle enclosing a bird

with wings outspread. The circle, as near as we could judge

without the use of surveying instruments and employing a hun-

dred-foot tape, was 652 feet around, 31 feet wide and 4 feet high.

Its gateway faces to the north and was 23 feet wide. The bird

effigy (body, head to tail), is 48 feet north and south. The east

wing is 122 feet from edge of body to tip; west wing 111 feet

from edge of body to tip. The body is 20 feet wide. The total

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Report of Field Work.               175

 

length from tip to tip is 253 feet. Measurements of the wings

20 feet from the ends are, east wing 31 feet, west wing

30 feet.  A  ditch existed between the bird and the cir-

cle. It has filled considerably and is now 18 inches deep. Its

original depth was about four feet. The original distance from

the bottom of the ditch to the top of the circle was 9 feet. The

head of the bird was 28 feet from the center of the circle bank.

A small mound 100 feet northwest of the circle was opened

and in it was found much burnt earth, charcoal and calcined

stones, but no specimens. The mound is 40 feet in diameter

and 4 feet high. There was a large deposit of burnt clay in the

bottom. We excavated in the bird effigy, finding ashes.

Mr. Austin Cooprighter owns an adjoining farm to Mr. Yost,

and upon his land runs the same embankment for some four or

five hundred feet. On the first terrace on Jonathan Creek, dis-

tant 300 yards from the fortification above, are two elongated

mounds, one headed north and south and the other east and

west. Large holes were sunk in Mr. Cooprighter's mounds and

in the largest one were ashes, mica and burnt clay in quan-

tities. Neither relics nor bones were found. Some time was

spent in surface hunting over neighboring village sites with pro-

fitable results.*

IRVIN YOST'S MOUND.

 

On a high hill three and a half miles south of Thornville,

is a mound 51x56x41/2 feet. With the exception of a few large

stones near the center, the mound was composed entirely of

clay. We began on the south side with a trench 36 feet wide

and carried it entirely through, finding charcoal, burnt earth,

pottery fragments, flint implements, a circular disc and a hema-

tite celt. Some decayed bones, all that remained of a skel-

ton, were found. A village site extended to the northwest of

the mound.

Mr. Atwater in his volume, "Archaeologia Americana," de-

scribes the great stone work in Perry County, five miles north-

 

* Dr .Cyrus Thomas in a Smithsonian Institution Bulletin (Washing-

ton, 1891), entitled "A Catalogue of Prehistoric Works", reports some

eight remains in Perry county.

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176      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

west of Somerset, or one mile from Glenford.* His descrip-

tion is valuable in that it gives us some conception of the height

of the walls and of the mound they surrounded. He says it

resembled a sugar loaf and was 12 to 15 feet high at the time

of his visit. We can judge of the enormous amount of stone

taken away by neighboring farmers and contractors, for the

mound is to-day but a pitiful heap of stones and the wall in places

has about disappeared.

Not only because of their geographic position but also on

account of similarity in construction and contents, do the

mounds of Perry County belong to the Muskingum tribe. Art,

as found in them, does not evince a high degree of culture, but

it is very ancient and therefore of paramount importance. Per-

haps one makes no mistake in venturing the suggestion that the

people in this region had no commerce with other tribes. Cer-

tainly there is not sufficient mica, copper and other foreign sub-

stances to prove that trade relations existed.

Never have we witnessed so many chips and discs of Flint

Ridge material (except at the Ridge itself) as occur upon the

Perry County sites. Nearly every knoll was a workshop. Boys

and farmers find thousands of arrows, spears, knives and scrapers

of this material and yet the supply does not seem to be exhausted.

Little other material occurs.

Flint Ridge stone being found in every county of Ohio set-

tles as a fact the proposition that while we may consider one

section of the State older than another, yet the quarries at the

Ridge were worked through a long period of time. It is cer-

tain that the earliest men in Ohio resided within the State but

a short time before they discovered and utilized Flint Ridge ma-

terial. In this connection it would be interesting to ascertain

if the quarries upon the Walhonding River are older. It is just

possible that both localities may have been developed at the

same period.

SECTION 2. THE MUSKINGUM VALLEY PROPER.

On May 6th Mr. Walter O'Kane and myself left for Mans-

field with the intention of following the Muskingum from its

* American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass., 1820, page 132.

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Report of Field Work.              177

 

source to the Ohio River. Our mission was two-fold-to locate

upon our State archaeological map all the ancient remains in the

region and to explore burial places and collect specimens. The

Muskingum as a whole has never been investigated by any insti-

tution and there was, consequently, almost nothing known re-

garding its pre-Columbian occupation except at three localities-

Newark, Loudonville and Marietta.

Proceeding east from Mansfield we struck the head waters

of Black Fork at a point where the stream was some twenty feet

in width. We followed this down through Mifflin and Perryville,

Ashland County, also through the edges of Holmes and Knox.

As we drew near to Coshocton the valleys deepened and other

tributary streams swelled the stream until it became the Mohican

River and presently the Walhonding. We found many gravel

burials, especially between Loudonville and Warsaw, but they

were most numerous around Warsaw, Mohawk, Mifflin and

Zanesville. We do not consider that the gravel knoll burials

were made by the same tribe which erected the tumuli, but by an

earlier and more primitive one.

 

MIFFLIN, ASHLAND COUNTY, BLACK CREEK VALLEY.

On Mr. C. C. Stamin's farm are several gravel knolls or

glacial kames. In two of these decayed skeletons have been

found three to five feet from the surface. About fifteen were

found when grading for a bank barn was in progress. A few

flint implements were with the bones. In searching the fields

we found a hematite celt and a flint knife. Figure III shows Mr.

Stamin's kame and barn on the site of the skeleton finds.

We dug several holes about the lame (shown in photograph,

16,201 museum number), but found no skeletons, all having been

removed. In a large gravel hill at the edge of Mifflin we also

dug without results. There are few mounds this far up the

stream.

Reaching Perrysville we met Professor Sample, who has a

large collection. He located mounds and village sites on our

map. En route to Perrysville we stopped at the Copus monu-

ment, where whites were killed by Indians in 1812, and photo-

graphed it. It is an historic spot. We met and conversed with

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178       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.   the grandson of the pioneer. At this point, as throughout the valley, we purchased specimens of farmers.

From Perrysville Mr. O'Kane inspected the Delaware village site three miles up the stream, known as "Black Fork of the Mohican." He looked for graves and lodge sites, but was unable to find them, though he dug several deep holes. He also saw two mounds. Both had been examined.   LOUDONVILLE, ASHLAND COUNTY. We began work the morning of the 8th on the Quick farm. There are two mounds, one about obliterated and the other stand- ing 9x72x68 feet. The former is in low ground and the latter on a hill of 200 feet elevation. They are in the edge of Holmes County, just a little over the line in Washington Township. The nearly obliterated one was about ten inches high and was speedily excavated. Nothing in it. The large one is composed of dark red clay and is shown in Figure IV. It had been partly dug some sixty years ago. In it were found two skeletons, a boulder layer and a slate

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Report of Field Work.             179   ornament. There were slight evidences of camp sites in the ad- joining fields, but more in the valley below, along the stream. We sunk a trench eight and one-half feet wide and nine feet deep and continued the same around the mound, widening it at the bottom. We found the mound had been built over a slight depression and therefore while but seven feet high on the north side, was nine feet on the east and south sides. It was erected upon a burnt floor or base. Above this was a dark streak one-half inch wide; then a layer of ashes and pottery fragments and burnt bones one-half inch thick. A hard burnt

"pan" or floor, one inch thick and cement-like in character was above this. It seems to have extended over a space 12x15 feet. From the summit down to within one foot of the base line the structure exhibited no stratification. There was a heavy deposit of white earth eight inches thick above the hard floor. We extended our trench forty feet in total length around the old or central excavation, examining all the earth as far as there were indications of burials, ashes, pottery, etc. We found, some sixteen feet southeast of the center, a skele- ton on the base line. It was much broken and decayed. How- ever, a large piece of skull and some of the leg bones were secured. Thirty-five or forty beads lay about the neck. All the earth around

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180       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

the skeleton was carefully examined with trowels, also sifted

through our hands in search of more beads, but the string had

been a small one.

The legs of the individual were crossed at the knees. Under

them were some small pebbles of irregular shape.

Animal bones, chiefly deer, were in the ashes below the hard

floor. Some fifty of these were found and about 400 pottery frag-

ments.

Upon completion of the work we filled the trench to within

a few inches of the top. Figure V shows a section of our trench

and its curvature.

We inquired of local collectors as to other mounds, but ascer-

tained that all of them had been excavated.

Mr. H. B. Case, of Loudonville, was with our party during

the work in Ashland County. In the Smithsonian Institution

report for 1881, pages 592 to 601, he describes the antiquities of

his county. All the remains he mentions, together with some

thirty others which we discovered, have been transferred to our

State archaeologic map. As Mr. Case is an authority we will

present his report in full.

"A square inclosure with a gateway to the southwest is situ-

ated in section 36, Clear Creek Township, on the line between

the northwest and southwest quarters of the section, upon land

owned by John and Thomas Bryte. It is about 400 feet long

by 200 feet wide, and has a gateway at the southwest corner near

a very strong spring. In 1824 Mr. Bryte commenced to clear

his farm. The embankment at that time was from three to four

feet high and ten feet wide at the base. Both the embankment

and the area were covered with large oak trees. The place now

goes by the name of Bryte's Fort.

"Two mounds stand upon a high natural elevation (90 feet),

covering about five acres at the base, and being about 60 by

90 feet on the top, which is nearly flat. Each is twenty-five feet

in diameter and four or five feet high. They are situated on the

northeast quarter section 35, Clear Creek Township. At least

one of them was explored as early as 1844, by Thomas Sprott and

brother, who found a number of human skeletons in a kind of

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Report of Field Work.                181   stone cist, upon which was almost a peck of red Indian paint. The bones were replaced. "A circular inclosure containing two acres, more or less, is situated just north of the Atlantic and Great Western Railway

and within the city limits of Ashland. The farm was formerly owned by Henry Gamble. In 1812-'15 the first settlers found embankments from three to four feet high and from eight to ten feet wide at the base. A forest of oak, hickory, sugar and ash grew upon and near this work. It overlooked the valley to the south and east, and had a gateway at the southwest opening near a fine spring. The site has been plowed for more than fifty years; and scarcely a trace of it remained in 1878.

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182      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

"There is a circular inclosure located near the north line of

the northeast quarter section 9, Mohican Township, one mile east

of Jeromeville.

"On the farm of Nicholas Glenn is a mound and an earth-

work. Information might be obtained from John Glenn, Jr., or

from William Gondy, an old settler, both of whom live at Jerome-

ville, Ohio. The works are about two miles southwest of Jerome-

ville.

"The Mohican town called Johnstown was located here. In

the years 1808-'10 it contained Delawares, Mohegans, Mohawks,

Mingos, and a few Senecas and Wyandots. Captain Pipe, a

Wolf Indian, ruled the village until he left it in 1812.

"A large circular inclosure and burial mound are situated

in Wayne County, just south of the road leading from Lake

Fork to Blatchleysville and just east of the road leading from

McZena to Blatchleysville. These remains are upon a high,

gradual elevation overlooking a vast range of prairie, northeast

and southeast, as well as the valleys westward. The circle is

a little less than one-third of a mile in circumference. At present

the embankments are from one to two feet in height. The area

and embankment are covered by the forest growth, which is not

older than sixty or seventy years, the Indians having burned this

region annually until about 1812, for the purpose of hunting.

Years ago the mound was opened by unknown persons. In 1876

the author visited it, and found that an animal had burrowed into

it and brought out a fragment of skull, which is now in his

possession. Some time after, Mr. Thomas Bushnell, of Hayes-

ville, made excavations in the mound and found only bones,

among which was a well-preserved skull. The mound is twenty-

five or thirty feet in diameter and four feet in height.

"A small mound, three or four feet high and fifteen feet in

diameter, stands upon a very high hill, perhaps the highest land in

the county, and is composed of stone and clay. It was excavated

some years ago by Dr. Emerick and a Mr. Long, who are said

to have found a skeleton in a kneeling or sitting posture, and a

pipe, both near the center. The author was unable to learn what

had become of the pipe. Messrs. H. B. Case and J. Freshwater

made another examination in 1876, but found nothing. There is a

• 18
 

Report of Field Work.             183

 

large spring at the foot of the hill, on the east side, but it is nearly

half a mile from the spring to the mound on the hill.

"In 1876 the author, in company with Mr. J. Freshwater,

made a slight examination of this mound. It is twenty or thirty

feet high, oval in shape, and over 100 feet long. The citizens

regard it as an artificial mound, but we considered it a natural

elevation of gravel drift. Excavations might change this view.

The mound is located on the west side of the Lake Fork, and just

north of the road and bridge leading from Mohican to McZena

in Lake Township.

"A mound is situated on the lands of J. L. and Cyrus Quick

in Washington Township, Holmes County, Ohio. It stands

upon an eminence which slopes gradually for half a mile south-

ward toward the bottom lands of the Lake Fork; northward and

westward it declines a short distance to a small valley extending

to the southwest. It is about five or six feet high, and thirty feet

in diameter. Some trees were growing upon the mound when

the author first visited it, some twenty-seven years ago. The

trees were perhaps not of more than one hundred years growth,

but were as old as the trees in the immediate vicinity; not far

from it, however, were oak trees two and three feet in diameter,

The mound was excavated about 1820-'25 by Isaac and Thomas

Quick, Daniel Priest, and others. It is said that, upon making

a central excavation, they found a wooden puncheon cist, to-

gether with some human remains, and ornaments of muscle shell,

which appeared to be strung around the neck. All the remains

are reported to have crumbled away on being exposed to the air.

It is difficult to ascertain the facts concerning this excavation. It

has been said that some pottery was found also. Additional re-

mains might be disclosed by further investigation. The persons

who made the excavation are dead.

"A lake is situated a short distance from the mound, on the

farm of D. Keck, Washington Township, Holmes County, Ohio,

In draining this pond a cache of flint implements was discovered.

Specimens of these implements may be seen in the Smithsonian

collection. The remainder are in the author's possession. (See

Smithsonian report of 1877, article by H. B. Case.)

"There are mounds southeast of Odel's Lake, upon the sum-

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184      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

mit overlooking the lake, on the farm of J. Cannon. They were

excavated by Dr. Boden, of Big Prairie, Ohio, who has in his

possession some teeth, jaw bones, and long bones taken from

them. He says that they should be further examined. The

author has not visited the mounds.

"A mound stands on the summit of Dow's Lake, one mile

northeast of Loudonville, just east of the Holmes County line.

It was excavated about 1855 by Dr. Myers, of Fort Wayne, and

D. Rust, who found a skeleton near the center, whose structure

is of stone and earth. The top has since been leveled by the

plow. In 1876, Mr. Lucien Rust made some excavations upon

the site of the mound, and great numbers of stone were re-

moved. At length a kind of pot or cist was unearthed, which

was about 18 inches in diameter and 8 or 9 inches deep. It was

formed of stone, and the edge was covered by other stones which

made a roof over the pot. The removal of this roof or top

showed that the cist was filled with charcoal, apparently closed

while glowing coals. About 4 feet below this charcoal deposit

human remains were found, reposing horizontally.  Near the

left hand was a perforated stone having the figure of a bird, re-

sembling slightly the pheasant, scratched upon it. A part of a

bone implement was also found. The bone, which is of firmer

texture than the human bones, and is perhaps a part of the leg-

bone of a deer, had been perforated, evidently with a stone drill.

Lying across this lower skeleton and some distance above it were

the remains of another. But little of the mound has been excava-

ted and further examination should be made. From the mound

the view of the surrounding country is very fine. The mound

proper has been obliterated for some years, but the site can be

observed by a slight elevation and the great number of stones

scattered about and upon it. There must have been a kind of

hollow made in the Waverly shale which lies near the surface

upon the underlying Waverly sandstone, of which the hill is

composed, because when one digs the same depth elsewhere on

the hill the shaly sandstone is penetrated. The stone implement

is in the possession of L. Rust, Loudonville; the bones, bone

implement, and charcoal are in the author's cabinet.

"A mound is situated just north of Loudonville, on the sum-

• 20
 

Report of Field Work.               185

 

mit of Bald Knob. For a long time it was supposed by the

citizens of Loudonville to have been formed by counterfeiters

in former times. The author excavated it in 1877, and found

it a veritable mound containing fragments of human bones and

of charcoal. Being encased with large sandstones, and com-

posed of stone and earth, it is very difficult to excavate. As

there has been a central depression for a great many years, what

remains the mound contained of a perishable character have

probably been destroyed by the collecting of water. This site

also commands a fine view of the Black Fork valley.

"The settlers of 1808-'09-'10 found here a village of Dela-

wares, the remnant of a "Turtle" tribe. Their chief was a white

man, taken in infancy-Capt. Silas Armstrong. They removed

to Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, in 1812, the site of the old bury-

ing-ground, now almost entirely obliterated by cultivation. It

is located a few rods north of the Black Fork, upon a gentle emi-

nence, in the southwest part of northeast quarter section 18,

Green Township. The southern portion of the site is still in

woods, and the depressions that mark the graves are quite dis-

tinct. Henry Harkell and the author exhumed several of the

skeletons in the summer of 1876. In some cases the remains

were inclosed in a stone cist; in others, small rounded drift-bowl-

ders were placed in order around the skeletons. The long bones

were mostly well preserved. No perfect skull was obtained, nor

were there any stone implements found in the graves. At the

foot of one a clam shell was found. The graves are from 21/2 to 3

feet deep, and the remains repose horizontally. A few relics,

such as stone axes, arrow-heads and a few bits of copper, have

been picked up in the immediate vicinity. They are in the hands

of the author. On the opposite side of the stream and some

distance below, near the south line of southeast quarter-section

18, Green Township, there are ancient fireplaces. They are about

15 inches below the present surface, and are formed of bowlders,

regularly laid.  The earth is burned red.  Great numbers of

stones have fallen into the stream during its incursions upon the

west bank. Some three or four of these fireplaces are yet plainly

visible, but in a few years they will be swept away by the cur-

rent. About half a mile east of the graves is a small circular

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186      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

earthwork almost razed. It contained about 1½ acres, and

had a gateway looking to the river, which is westward. It

is situated upon the nearly level bottom land of the beautiful

valley.

"Upon the high ridge separating the valleys of Black Fork

and Honey Creek is a depression filled with large and small

bowlders. J. Freshwater and the author removed them to some

depth, but as the stones were heavy we desisted from further in-

vestigation. This point would command a view of the valley

of the Black Fork, overlooking, as it does, the old village of

Greentown; and by walking a few rods eastward on the same

eminence a view of the valley of Honey Creek might be had.

Most of the trees on this height are less than 100 years old. It

may have been timberless during the occupation of this work.

The excavation appears to have been about 15 feet in diameter.

"There is a stone mound, situated on a lofty eminence

overlooking the Black Fork valley northwestward, and east-

ward the valley near Loudonville. The author has never

seen the work, but it has been described to him as a small stone

and earth mound such as are usually found on high points.

"A short distance northwest, on the farm of L. Oswald,

southwest quarter-section 18, in the woods, is a mound about

30 feet in diameter and from 4 to 6 feet high. It was slightly

opened at the center by the owner of the lands, who found part

of a skull.

"A mound and earthwork are located upon the old Parr

farm, now owned by C. Byers, in the northwest part of south-

west quarter-section 19, Green Township. The mound stands

on the west side of the Black Fork, within 2 or 3 rods of the

stream. It was quite large originally, perhaps 8 or 10 feet high

and 35 to 50 feet in diameter. At present it is from 4 to 6 feet

above the level of the bottom land and is spread over a consid-

erable space. When the first settlers came, there was an earth-

work running a little southwest from the mound for some 20

rods, then back eastward to the river. The place has been un-

der cultivation for forty or fifty years and the work is now ob-

literated. The mound was encased with a wall of sandstone

bowlders as large as a man can lift.

• 22
 

Report of Field Work.              187

 

"These stones must have been carried from the hill half

a mile west where they are found in place. The wall was care-

fully laid, as can be seen by excavations below the depth of the

plow where the pile is still intact. The mound was examined

in 1816 by some persons named Slater, who found in it bones,

flint implements, a pipe, and a copper wedge which they thought

gold. Accordingly they took it to a silversmith at Wooster,

Ohio, who told them that it was copper, and bought it from them

for a trifle. In 1878 the mound was explored by J. Freshwater

and the author. The center of the mound, where not disturbed

by former excavations, resembles an altar or fire-place where

the fire had burned the earth to a brick-red. In the ashes and

burnt earth were fragments of arrow-heads broken by the heat.

The fire had been kindled on the mound when it was from 2½

to 3 feet high. No human remains were discovered in this last

excavation. A few scrapers were found, which are in the cab-

inets of the above named gentlemen.

"On the summit of a hill west of Perrysville, and to the right

of the road leading to Newville, was a mound, now entirely

obliterated. In 1816-'20 it was opened by the Slaters, who found

a pipe, human remains, and some other relics.

"A large oval earthwork is on the summit of the ridge be-

tween the valleys of Black Fork and Clear Fork. It is 210 feet

wide by 350 feet long. About the center of the inclosure was

a large pile of stone bowlders, most of which have been removed

to the level of the ground. There is, however, a visible outline

of the stonework, which consisted of a paved circular space.

No excavation has been made in either the stone or clay work

beyond 1 or 2 feet in depth; consequently the character of the

mound is unknown. A forest, containing oak trees over 30

inches in diameter and other large trees, covers most of the work,

but a portion extends into a field and has been almost razed

by the plow.

"On a high hill directly north of the junction of the Black

Fork and the Clear Fork, and overlooking the same, is a stone

and earth mound composed principally of large sandstones from

the immediate vicinity. Some twenty or twenty-five years ago

it was explored by unknown persons. The author examined it

• 23
 

188       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

again in 1877, but discovered nothing. A similar mound is said

to have been located upon the hill south of the Clear Fork, just

below the junction of Pine Run. The stone were hauled away

and the site plowed over.

"The old Delaware village of Hell Town is on the Clear

Creek in Richland County, near Newville. It is on the south

side of the stream about 4 miles from the Ashland County line.

It was deserted about 1782, the time of the massacre of Gnaden-

hutten. Graves were visible until two years ago; the field is

now cleared and plowed. In the author's cabinet are two iron

scalping-knives and an iron tomahawk which were thrown up

by the plow; also the brass mountings of a gun, a gun-flint, a

stone ax, and some arrow-heads. Dr. James Henderson of New-

ville, Ohio, has in his possession several articles obtained from

this site. The Indians formerly called their settlement Clear

Town, and the stream Clear Fork, but learning the German

word hell, for clear or bright, they changed the name to Hell

Town.

"A rock shelter is located on the west side of Clear Fork,

in the conglomerate sandstone of the Lower Carboniferous. It

was explored in 1877 by L. Rust and the author, who found

about 2 feet of ashes intermingled with a few animal bones and

coprolites. No human remains were disclosed excepting a split

bone, and even that is doubtful. The ashes continue deeper, and

further examination might prove interesting."

At Brink Haven the stream (Mohican River) is large and

can be navigated in a canoe. There are many stone mounds

on both sides, upon the high hills.

On the Hunter farm one mile below the village, is a small

mound 3 feet high and 35 feet base, made of yellow clay. It

is shown in Figure VI. Although thoroughly examined, there

was nothing found in it.

Mr. Gann lives opposite the Hunters, across the Mohican.

On his farm are two mounds 300 yards apart. One is 4 feel

high and 35 feet base. Both are injured by cultivation. In

the larger one we found some charcoal. Four large white flint

arrow-heads lay about a foot from the surface near the center.

Nothing else was found.

• 24
 

Report of Field Work.             189   The small mound contained charcoal and burnt earth. There were no bones or relics. Both mounds were examined thoroughly.

We reached Walhonding late in the evening of the 12th. We saw a cache of rough flint implements in the possession of Mr. George Workman. He found them in a pit 3 feet deep when clearing a woods. They occupied a space 2x11/2 feet, and num- bered more than 400. People have carried off about half of the cache. The others yet lie in his yard. We went six miles up Green valley to Mr. Staats', where a large mound 7x65 feet was reported. It had been excavated, some one having run two large cross trenches through it. We did not attempt to dig in it. On the Gamble farm, 31/2 miles up Owl Creek, were two mounds in the front yard. Each was 40x4 feet and the edges within 20 feet of each other. Both were thoroughly trenched, but nothing was found, except two small arrow-heads. It is singular that the Muskingum mounds contain so little. We cannot account for it save in this wise: that the culture was

• 25
 

190      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.   very low and the mortuary customs different from those in vogue in the Scioto valley. On the way back in passing a gravel pit we secured the skeleton of a young person. It had been buried near the pit by the workmen who exhumed it. Walhonding appears to have been built over several mounds and a village site. On the north edge of the village are two mounds yet standing. One owned by Mr. Johnson is 9 feet high and 69 feet in diameter at the base. Mr. P. Neff had sunk a trench through it several years ago. We found his trench to be 5 feet wide at the top and 4 at the bottom. He does not report having made any discovery. There seems to have been no considerable number of bur- ials in this structure, for we found only one decayed skeleton, near the center and 3 feet above the base line. Nothing re- mained but the teeth. Not far from the bones was a cone-shaped stone (see Figure XXV). There were a few broken and one

whole arrow-head scattered through the soil. Little burnt earth and charcoal on the base.

• 26
 

Report of Field Work.              191   The mound was very promising and we could not account for its lack of contents. See Figure VII.   THE WORKMAN MOUND. On the farm adjoining Mr. Johnson's there is a small mound 2 feet high and 60 feet in diameter. It originally stood some 5 feet high but had been reduced by cultivation. The excavating re- quired but a trifle over an hour, yet the results were very sat- isfactory. (See Figure VIII).

Near a decayed antler and other deer bones, was found an unfinished stone tube of hard material. The perforation is but begun, yet the stone is dressed and ready for polishing. A little south of the center of the mound were traces of bone, but so decayed that nothing could be preserved. Above these traces and lying in a layer with edges overlapping were 67 leaf-shaped implements.* They are all of clear chalcedony. North of them were some 500 small scales and fragments of flint (of the same kind) in a heap or pocket. We take it, from their size and * See also Figure XXIV, page 238.

• 27
 

192      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

form, that they are the very fragments struck off in the man-

ufacture of the leaf implements. Never having heard of a cache

accompanied by the chips and spalls, we look upon this dis-

covery as one of interest to the archaeological world.

Dr. Cyrus Thomas, in his Catalogue of Prehistoric Works,

notices in Coshocton County 16 various remains. Our survey

noted all of these, examining most of them, and recorded some

thirty additional ones. Dr. Thomas says: "At Flint Ridge, on

the north bank of the Mohican River, between Walhonding and

Warsaw, numerous pits show that is was much worked. There

is a thick layer of dark flint overlooking a stratum of chalcedony;

the latter seems to have been the kind sought." While most

of the implements in the valley for twenty miles either up or

down from the quarries seem to be of the Coshocton flint and

chalcedony, yet the Muskingum valley as a whole was supplied

from Flint Ridge in Licking County. The Coshocton quarries

are small and of limited extent compared with those of Flint

Ridge. The same methods of quarrying seem to have been in

vogue and a description is therefore unnecessary.

A deposit of chalcedony (the implements found in the Work-

man mound above Walhonding seem to be of material from this

quarry) occurs upon the farm of Col. P. Methan in the south

central part of Jefferson Township.

In Muskingum Dr. Thomas reports three mounds and one

group of enclosures. The latter are near Zanesville and were

described in "'Ashe's Travels," page 108. The works are now

about obliterated.

 

THE LARGE PORTEUS MOUND.

In the neighborhood of Coshocton there were a large num-

ber of mounds and village sites. The town itself has covered

two mounds and obliterated a large village site. Few town sites

in the Ohio Valley can lay claim to being both prehistoric and

historic, but Coshocton can justly assume this honor. After the

mound period it was inhabited by the Delawares, Mingoes, Shaw-

nees and other tribes from 1720 to 1790. The student of Indian

and pioneer history is familiar with the various expeditions sent

against the tribes of the Tuscarawas and Walhonding. Memo-

• 28
 

Report of Field Work.              193   ries of such names as Logan, Cornstalk, the Half King, Pontiac, Brandt, etc., cluster about the place. The early missionaries- those self-denying Christians, Heckewelder and Zeisberger, also played a part in the history of the upper Muskingum. About two miles below Coshocton stand two mounds. Both are on the Porteus estate, the one twenty-three feet high and 120 feet base; the other, four and one-half feet high and fifty feet base. For many years persons have endeavored to secure per- mission to excavate them but without success. Mr. Joseph Porteus and his brother kindly gave consent for the examination of the interesting tumuli. Of the large mound little need be said. Sixteen men were employed day and night for four days in sink- ing a trench thirty-five feet wide and seventy feet long. The sides were loose and dangerous, and heavy bracing was necessary. It was composed entirely of earth and unstrati-

fled. There were few pieces of charcoal noticed and no burnt earth. No difference in color was observed even on the bottom, and there were no soft places, the entire mass being hard packed.

• 29
 

194      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.   While work progressed a boy found a most beautifully chipped six-inch spear head by the base of the mound. (Specimen* 7896.) This mound is shown in Figures IX and X. It was im- possible to get the whole mound in the negative without re- moving the camera some 200 feet distant. On this account the structure appears to be smaller than it really is. Some idea of its height can be obtained by comparing the men who stand on the top with the structure from the plowed ground to its summit. After exceedingly laborious and dangerous excavation, the bottom of the structure was reached. To our chagrin one or two small bones, a ceremonial of galena, a few pottery fragments and flint chips were found. No burials were discovered, although tunnels were run in for several yards on the base line in various directions. This was disappointing, especially after the ex- penditure of a large sum of money. However, we learn again

that it is not always the largest and most imposing monument which contains the greatest treasure. Failure to find anything cannot be charged to imperfect or hasty exploration-the whole * Museum number.

• 30
 

Report of Field Work.               195

 

center of the mound was exposed by the trench and tunnels for

a distance of thirty by twenty-five feet. As it was desirable to

restore the monument to its former shape, we engaged Mr. Por-

teus to fill our trench.*

Upon the same property is a small mound situated about 400

yards north of the large one. It is four and one-half feet high,

with a base of fifty feet. Mr. Porteus says that it was originally

eight feet high, with a base of thirty-five feet. As our force of

workmen was considerable, we were less than half a day exam-

ining its contents.

Most tumuli are entirely of earth, but this one was largely of

pure sand and rested upon a knoll of sand. The burials were

three to four feet below the surface and all considerably decom-

posed. Of seven skeletons exhumed, but few fragments were

preserved. Numerous flint chips, a few arrow-heads and three

bear tusks constituted the finds. No order was observed in the

burials with reference to cardinal points, nor were any two skele-

tons headed in a common direction.

The following day we visited a fortification three miles up

the Walhonding upon Mr. Miller's farm. It is on a hill some

200 feet high and overlooks the valley. Many of the citizens of

Coshocton claim it to be a French fort, but we would call it deci-

dedly Indian in form. It is some two acres in extent, the em-

bankment low and broad. Where preserved by woods it appears

to have originally been five feet high. A long passage way from

the valley below leads up to it, and in this respect the place is

peculiar. The passage is some fifteen feet wide on the average

and walled on either side by natural ledges eight to twelve feet

high. We think the enclosure merits future investigation.

Up the Walhonding, three miles from Coshocton, is a mound

five feet high and sixty feet in diameter on the land of Mr. M. C.

Maxwell. Situated upon the second terrace it is 200 yards from

the river. Some one had sunk a small hole in the center. Mark-

ing a space 28x35 feet we removed about all the area origi-

nally covered by the mound, and found ten skeletons, some of

* At no time were less than sixteen men employed and for two days

we had nineteen at work. No larger force was ever put on a mound in

the Ohio Valley.

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196       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

which were well preserved. The humeri and other bones show-

ing peculiarities, we removed entire or nearly so. Previous dig-

ging had disturbed two skeletons in the center, cutting one body

in halves at the hips and destroying all of another save the skull.

It was interesting to note that in the eight years since the central

excavation had been made, the bodies near it were more decayed

than those farther away, all of which tends to confirm the facts

that the skeletons in a mound decay very slowly if so placed that

water cannot reach them, and that a few years of exposure to

moisture will cause more decay than three hundred years of dry

interment.

As was remarked in the case of the small Porteus mound,

no order was observed in the interment of these remains. All

were extended and lay upon the base line. A polished bone

knife or cutting tool, some arrow-heads, pottery, etc., were found.

"Skeleton B" is the most remarkable one in the mound.

When the cranium was reached, though fragmentary, it was found

to bear evidences of having a section about the size of a nickle

removed from the frontal bone on the crown of the head.

Whether this is evidence of trepanning or the result of a blow

from some round instrument, is to be determined by one of our

medical experts. We have sent the fragment to the Smithsonian

Institution and await the opinion of experts in craniometry.

This having finished the work about Coshocton, we set out

in a large skiff down the Muskingum for Zanesville. Many,

many Indians, traders and pioneers have made this trip, and as

we moved along we could but think of the history of the stream

and its importance to our native Ohioans.

At Duncan's Falls there are some tumuli, and we opened

a mound upon the Wilhelm farm one mile southwest of town,

upon a hill. It was of earth containing numerous ashes. A

former excavation (small) had been put down from the center,

and one skeleton found. The other had not been disturbed by

this excavation. The first skeleton was found on the north side

of the mound. The bones below the knee were all decayed,

other parts well preserved and nearly all saved. Near the center

was found the second skeleton. It was buried in ashes with its

head to the north. Across the cervical vertabrae was a clay pipe,

• 32
 

Report of Field Work.              197   broken, but yet in such fragments as will permit restoration. Near the skeleton was a large number of charred deer bones in ashes. No chips of flint occurred in the mound. In the left temple of the skull was a hole evidently made by some sharp pointed instrument. The cranium was preserved nearly entire. Dimensions of the mound, seventy feet broad and eight feet high. Down the river at Malta (opposite McConnelsville) we found many mounds and secured permission to excavate in several. At Mr. Sherwood's farm, three miles above Malta, we found two mounds upon a hill overlooking the Muskingum. The small one was of stone, the larger of earth. Their dimensions were eighteen feet broad, two feet high, and seventy feet broad and eight feet high. In the small one were fragments of decayed bone and two leaf-shaped spear heads of great beauty. The stones were large and ran from ten to thirty pounds in weight. But thirty feet intervened between the two mounds. In the large one we ran two broad trenches, finding a layer of ashes at the bottom. No skeleton could be located, but we found a nice discoidal stone and some flint chips. There is a village

• 33
 

198       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

site of some acres in extent upon the terrace below the mounds. The surface material upon it is not very thick. Figure XII repre- sents the large one. Five miles north of Malta on the McHenry farm is a clay mound which has been much cultivated. It is four feet high and seventy feet base. Absolutely nothing was found in it. (See Figure XI). Upon a high hill in the edge of McConnelsville is a large mound owned by Mr. Alderman. He consented to let us explore it, although his residence is but sixty feet distant and the mound really a lawn ornament. We did the work with care and re- stored the structure to its original form. Being well preserved, this fine earth monument stands eight feet high and sixty feet base. It overlooks the river and the Sprague mound in the center of town below. Perhaps the ele- vation of Mr. Alderman's lawn above low water in the river is 175 feet. In the center, and just above the base line, we uncovered some two bushels of ashes, and in them a child's remains. But for the remarkable preservative power of ashes, these bones would have decayed long ago, for the infant was but one or two months old. A most beautiful bone awl, one of the best ever found,

• 34
 

Report of Field Work.              199

 

accompanied the remains. There were no other objects. In a

south side excavation we found a large spear head of Coshocton

County material.

Mr. Sprague, who owns a large mound directly in the heart

of McConnelsville, gave us permission to explore in the month

of October.

Accordingly, we went to McConnelsville the 20th of October

and thoroughly explored Mr. Sprague's mound, also giving a

lecture in the Opera House to citizens on the work of the

society. It was found that the mound could be best explored

by means of tunnels and therefore we began at the south side

and ran two main tunnels nearly through the structure. Branches

were run from these and the whole interior of the mound

thoroughly explored. The tunnels were about three feet wide

at the bottom and about four feet high and, with the branches,

extended a total of 100 feet.

The base of each tunnel was about a foot below the bottom

of the mound. Three skeletons were encountered, one on the

east side, fairly well preserved, and two upon the west, both de-

cayed. The former was near the top of the mound and had been

covered by large, flat limestone slabs. The latter were upon

the base line and we considered them original interments. The

first may have been an intrusive burial. With one of the decayed

skeletons we found a fine coffin-shaped, perforated ceremonial,

such as is shown (to the right) in Figure XXI of this report. A

few curious water-worn stones, noted for their odd shapes, and

a broken ceremonial lay upon the base line near the second de-

cayed skeleton. There was nothing else in the mound.

It was built upon a slight knoll or elevation of gravel. Very

few stones and but little gravel occurred in the mound. The clay

of which it was built is such as occurs in the immediate neighbor-

hood. As this mound was in Mr. Sprague's front yard and its

exploration necessarily caused him much inconvenience, we are

under special obligations to him for his kindness.

Although the Sprague mound was opened five months after

Mr. O'Kane and myself returned from our examination of the

Muskingum, it may be fairly stated that with the Alderman mound

ended the work in this region.

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200      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

From McConnelsville we drove ten miles down the river,

inspecting mounds, etc. From that point to Marietta we ac-

cepted the testimony of Mr. Willard H. Davis, of Lowell, Wash-

ington County, who is better posted than any one else.

Rock carvings have been found at several points along the

Muskingum.

Pictographs cut into the surface of a large boulder lying

along the bank of the Muskingum were noticed by several gen-

tlemen and communicated to Washington in 1842.* The marks

represented tracks of birds, figures, etc. We inquired diligently

but no one had ever heard of it anywhere along the river from

Coshocton to McConnelsville. We did obtain description of a

carved face cut in relief on the walls of the gorge near Brink

Haven on the Mohican in the edge of Knox County. In con-

nection with this carving occurred one of the greatest pieces of

vandalism ever brought to our notice. A man living in Brink

Haven (now a barber in Springfield) deliberately chipped off

the nose of the sculpture, after which he mutilated the eyes and

mouth. We should have a law to punish such offenders. Such

a thing would not be tolerated in Europe, and the culprit would be

taught to respect antiquities.

Caleb Atwater, during his observations on archaeologic mat-

ters, knew of mounds along the Muskingum but does not at-

tempt to describe them, for he proceeds down the river to Mar-

ietta. He observes, however, that the mounds have not been

surveyed and that they are in Morgan County near the river.

Possibly he refers to those near McConnelsville.

Dr. Thomas, in his "Catalogue of Prehistoric Works," lists

about one-tenth of the number.

Of the whole Muskingum region, as to number of monu-

ments, of course Licking and Washington Counties stand first.

We have purposely omitted descriptions of the groups at New-

ark and Marietta, as these have been described and redescribed

in every work upon Ohio archaeology until the outlines are famil-

iar to all intelligent persons. But it may not be amiss to call

 

* Bureau of Ethnology. Report for 1882-'83, page 22.

• 36
 

Report of Field Work.                201

 

attention to some facts connected with them that are not gen-

erally known.

As to Licking County, Dr. Thomas, one of the authorities

upon mounds, says:

"With the exception of Ross, this is the most interesting

county archaeologically in the State. From the great works at

Newark divergent mound systems reach to the Ohio at Ports-

mouth and Marietta. Numerous earth mounds and enclosures

occur, besides several stone enclosures and probably more stone

mounds (some of great size) than any other equal area in the

Mississippi valley."*

+"The high ground near Newark appears to have been the

place, and the only one which I saw, where the ancient occupants

of these works buried their dead, and even these tumuli appear

to me to be small. Unless others are found in the vicinity, I

should conclude that the original owners, though very numerous,

did not reside here during any great length of time.

"If I might be allowed to conjecture the use to which these

works were originally put, I would say that the larger works

were really military ones of defense; that their authors lived

within the walls; that the parallel walls were intended for the

double purpose of protecting persons in time of danger from

being assaulted while passing from one work to another; and

they might also serve as fences, with a very few gates, to fence

in and enclose their fields, etc.

"The hearths, burnt charcoal, cinders, wood, ashes, etc.,

which were uniformly found in all similar places, that are now

cultivated, have not been discovered here; this plain probably

being an uncultivated forest. I found here several arrow-heads,

such as evidently belonged to the people who raised other sim-

ilar works."

Dr. S. P. Hildreth, of Marietta, on June 8th, 1819, wrote

to Atwater regarding the fortifications about Marietta and the

latter saw fit to insert the communication in his work. That

 

* Bureau of Ethnology. Report for 1890-'91, pages 458-472.

+ Archaeologia Americana, published by the American Antiquarian

Society, Worcester, Mass., 1820, by Caleb Atwater, page 129.

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202       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

part which is of most importance, and we think, little known

among persons of archaeologic tendencies, we will quote.

(Pages 137-8):

"The principal excavation or well, is as much as 60 feet in

diameter at the surface, and when the settlement was first made

it was at least 20 feet deep. It is at present 12 or 14 feet, but has

been filled up a great deal from the washing of the sides by fre-

quent rains. It was originally of the kind formed in the most

early days, when the water was brought up by hand in pitchers

or other vessels, by steps formed in the sides of the well.

"The pond or reservoir, near the northwest corner of the

large fort, was about 25 feet in diameter, and the sides raised

above the level of the adjoining surface by an embankment of

earth 3 or 4 feet high. This was nearly full of water at the first

settlement of the town, and remained so until last winter, at all

seasons of the year. When the ground was cleared near the

well, a great many logs that laid nigh were rolled into it to save

the trouble of piling and burning them. These, with the annual

deposit of leaves, etc., for ages had filled the well nearly full;

but still the water rose to the surface and had the appearance

of a stagnant pool. In early times poles and rails have been

pushed down into the water and deposits of rotten vegetable

matter to the depth of 30 feet. Last winter the person who

owns the well undertook to drain it by cutting a ditch from

the well into the small covered way and he has dug to the depth

of about 12 feet and let the water off to that distance. He finds

the sides of the reservoir are not perpendicular, but projecting

gradually towards the center of the well in the form of an in-

verted cone. The bottom and sides, so far as he has examined,

are lined with a stratum of very fine ash coloured clay, about

8 or 10 inches in thickness, below which is the common soil

of the place, and above it this vast body of decayed vegetation.*

"On the outside of the parapet, near the oblong square, I

picked up a considerable number of fragments of ancient potters'

ware. This ware is ornamented with lines, some of them quite

 

* See volume XXVI, page 73, of Squier & Davis' Ancient Monu-

ments of the Mississippi Valley.

• 38
 

Report of Field Work.              203

 

curious and ingenious, on the outside. * * * The ware

which I have seen found near the rivers, is composed of shells

and clay and not near so hard as this found on the plain. It

is a little curious, that of the 20 or 30 pieces which I picked up

nearly all of them were found on the outside of the parapet as

if they had been thrown over the wall purposely. This is, in my

mind, strong presumptive evidence that the parapet was crowned

with a palisade. The chance of finding them on the inside of the

parapet was equally as good, as the earth had been recently

plowed and planted with corn. Several pieces of copper have

been found in and near to the ancient works at various times.

One piece, from the description I had of it, was in the form of

a cup with low sides.

"The bottom was very thick and strong. The small

mounds in the neighborhood have been but slightly, if at all,

examined.

"There was lately found at Waterford, not far from the bank

of the Muskingum, a magazine of spear and arrow-heads suffi-

cient to fill a peck measure. They lay in one body, occupying

a space of about 8 inches in width and 18 in length and at one

end about a foot from the surface of the earth, and at the other

18 inches, as though they had been buried in a box and one end

had sunk deeper in the earth than the other. * * * * They

appear never to have been used and are of various lengths from

2 to 6 inches; they have no shanks, but are in the shape of a

triangle with two long sides."

Men of Atwater's ability, living at a time when agricultural

pursuits had not spoiled the form of any of the earthworks,

made a great mistake in giving up the bulk of their publications

to discussions upon the "purpose, use, etc." of the enclosures.

Dr. Hildreth's letter, which we have quoted, is valuable because

it gives us just such information as we seek. Atwater's testi-

mony, when he confines himself to pure description, is also of

great importance. If these men had made careful measurements

of such of the works as they could conveniently visit, they would

have done archaeologic science an immeasurable service.

That little reference to the finding of ashes and charcoal on

the surface within enclosures during plowing time, is of more

• 39
 

204      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

real value than twenty pages of his speculations, although At-

water was undoubtedly not aware of it at the time.

*"No better idea can be obtained of the Muskingum valley

than from the substance of a letter written by Mr. Williard H.

Davis on December 14, 1891.

"He has observed during an acquaintance of twenty years

with the Muskingum River, among hills, terraces, and alluvial

lands from Marietta to Meigs Creek, in Morgan County, mounds

irregularly distributed. But one mound was ever found upon

the alluvial bottom.

"One mile and a half from Marietta, upon the farm of Mr.

Strecker, are two mounds 3 or 4 feet in height. In the same

neighborhood are several mounds upon the farm of Josiah Devol,

one-fourth of a mile from the river. Mounds are also numerous

in the following localities: just back of Devol's dam near Mari-

etta, on John Drake's farm in the same neighborhood, upon the

farm of Joseph Stow five miles up the river, on Bear Creek upon

the farms of Messrs. Wilkings, Snyder, etc.

"It is very interesting to note that Mr. Davis has occasionally

found whole pottery in the mounds. Pottery is very rare in the

tumuli of any section of Ohio, although it has been frequently

found at Madisonville and occasionally in the Miami valley. In

exploring the mound upon Mr. John Drake's farm, a whole pot,

decorated, filled with charcoal and ashes, was taken from a point

three feet below the surface. There seems to have been noth-

ing else in the structure, except a badly decayed skeleton.

"Just below the mouth of Bear Creek is a small village site,

while on the high bluffs above there is a fair-sized mound which

commands a good view of the surrounding country. As in the

case of the major portion of the mounds throughout the Mus-

kingum valley, it seems to have been designed more as a place

of observation than for the interment of the dead.

"Above Bear Creek there is a fine alluvial bottom, and near

the hills a splendid gravel terrace, one-third of a mile in width,

extends for some distance. An elliptical stone mound, 35x²5

feet, and 4 feet in altitude, a village site and other evidences

 

* Primitive Man in Ohio, page 21.

• 40
 

Report of Field Work.               205

 

of occupation are upon this terrace. In May 1881 the mound

was thoroughly explored; two copper bracelets, slightly oxidized,

and human bones, were found scattered among the stones.

"The hills, several miles above Bear Creek, recede from the

river to the northwest and leave a broad bottom, part of which

is occupied by a terrace similar to the one described above. A

large village site and several mounds are located upon the ter-

race on the Davis estate, Wilkings, Snyder and other farms.

One of the mounds, 40 feet in diameter by 4 feet in height, was

explored with the following results:

"Near the surface was a decayed skeleton and a polished

hematite spherical object. In the center, above the base line,

was an ash-pit containing an arrow-head, while at the bottom

lay a decayed body. A cannel coal gorget, 4x6 inches with two

perforations, was found upon the breast. There were no stones

in the mound. One hundred yards west of the structure is a

ravine, on the west side of which once existed a small mound.

A few rods further west a roadway is traceable. It has been

cut into the bank of the terrace, and leads from the top of the

hill above to the river bottoms below. As in the case of some

of the Miami valley terraces it is under discussion regarding its

origin, whether natural or artificial. Upon the river bank at this

point, many mussel shells, flint chips and pieces of pottery seem

to indicate the presence of a village.

"There are three mounds surrounded by a semi-circular em-

bankment near the same spot. The circle has an inside ditch.

A fourth mound is distant fifty yards west, on the edge of the

bluff at the bottom of which runs Wilson's Creek, a small trib-

utary of the Muskingum. Mr. Davis thoroughly explored these

mounds and also made excavations in the semi-circle, finding

flint implements, an unfinished sandstone tablet and decayed skel-

etons. The best entire earthern pot, which it was his privilege

to take from the tumuli in his neighborhood, was found at the

head of one of the skeletons in the largest mound. The vessel

had a contour like a cocoa-nut, and exhibited on its exterior the

impression of a twisted bark basket.

"A most singular slate effigy was found upon the surface

near the semi-circle. It is of banded slate 31/2 inches long, the

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206       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

upper portion being semi-circular, the lower portion having

been drawn and narrowed until it gracefully ends in a fair rep-

resentation of a child's feet and toes. So far as we are aware

no effigy of this kind has ever been found in the State of Ohio.

"Several mounds lie on the Davis estate on the bluffs over-

looking the Muskingum. From their summits views can be had

for a distance of eight or ten miles up the beautiful river. In

reference to these mounds much cannot be said, except that a

few relics, cremated skeletons, and mussel shells were in the

tumuli, and the usual village site debris upon the hearths. One

or two stone graves are also to be found upon this property.

"In December 1888, a mound upon the farm of Mrs. Henry

Hall, 7x40 feet, was examined. * * * * The ash-pits were

small and one or two layers of sandstone slabs were observed.

Upon the same farm a skeleton was found in a small mound

surrounded by limestone slabs. * * * * The stone cov-

erings were fitted so closely as to exclude earth, and when lifted

off gave a perfect view of the body. About the wrists were

beads of copper, bird bones, elk and bear teeth, with short pieces

of buckskin strings preserved by the copper; a small grooved

axe (in all our explorations we never found a grooved ax. The

find is certainly very remarkable. Ungrooved axes, however,

are common in the tumuli), and a bone awl accompanied the

remains.

"Another small mound, just east of the one described, was

excavated by Mr. Davis. In it he found three skeletons with

heads to the east. With them were elk teeth, beads and a worked

hematite object similar to a cylinder. A mound west of the

group enclosed by the semi-circle, as described above, was found

to contain four skeletons. The largest of the skeletons was

placed in one of the stone graves. The head of this skeleton

was separated from the rest of the body by a distance of a foot.

A large stone was placed in an upright position back of the head,

and another large one stood near the lower jaw. Thus the head

was enclosed in a small stone box-shaped cavity entirely sep-

arate from the one that enclosed the body. Seven dark gray

sandstone objects, similar to an ax in outline, and a cup, con-

structed from the shell of a land tortoise, were with the head.

• 42
 

Report of Field Work.              207

 

In the right parietal was an aperture where an arrow had pen-

etrated the brain. The point was found within the skull. One

of the fragments of another cranium had a small arrow-head

imbedded in it.

"Just above Cat's Creek, which empties into the Muskingum

a mile above Lowell, is a gravelly terrace on which are 11 mounds

and a small enclosure. This is the only enclosure in the Mus-

kingum valley,* save the large one at Marietta. The highest

mound between Marietta and Zanesville lies upon the farm of

John Newton. It is 12 feet in altitude and has a base of 90 or

100 feet. North of the enclosure is a small mound which Mr.

Davis explored, finding upon the base line an altar 4 feet square,

dipping toward the center, and 6 inches high. In the altar were

the following objects, together with charcoal and ashes: A sand-

stone tablet, 3x4 inches, and half an inch thick; a diamond-

shaped tablet of slate, 21/2x3 inches; a flint spear-head 5 inches

long; a striped slate ornament 4 inches in length, with two per-

fect perforations; another beautifully polished ornament, oval-

shaped, with two perforations; a thick tablet of sandstone 4

inches in length; a somewhat smaller tablet; fragments of cop-

per, and a tube of clay and sand.

"Below the altar just described were found logs 10 to 12

inches in diameter resting upon a second and larger altar, but

in it there were no remains.

"It is very singular that hematite should have been used so

largely by the aborigines of the Muskingum valley for fash-

ioning implements, when tribes of the Miami or Scioto regions

used it only to a limited extent. Mr. Davis reports finding a

highly-polished hematite celt and cone and fragments of hema-

tite in a tumulus upon the same terrace as the altar mound.

Upon a terrace near Big Run a rich stone mound was exam-

ined, in which were found fragmentary bones and four large

beautiful slate ornaments all perforated for suspension. These

were 6 or 7 inches in length and beautifully worked.

"Copper in the Muskingum valley is exceedingly rare. In a

mound near Rainbow Station, upon Mr. Joseph Dayr's farm,

 

*He means in the Lower Muskingum.

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208      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

was a decayed skeleton. At the hips lay a copper spear-head

6 inches in length. At the head lay a copper disk three inches

in diameter with a central perforation. In a mound upon Mr.

S. S. Stow's land Mr. Davis found the bones of a young woman

in a kneeling position with a child's skeleton in her arms.

"There are no surface indications of a large village site near

the same place. (This is not far from Lowell).

"In Mr. Davis' letter some twenty more mounds are men-

tioned than are here recorded. Nearly all of them he had ex-

plored, and found objects similar to those described in the pre-

ceding pages. The village sites he found to be small when com-

pared with those in the Scioto and Miami valleys."

Considerable white and light yellow flint outcrops in the

northern part of Clear Creek Township, Fairfield County, Ohio.

We are not aware that any attention has been paid to the re-

gion other than brief statements to the effect that limited quar-

rying was carried on at that point. We went over the ground

very carefully, and found a number of pits, that the ledge out-

cropped on a place of thirty or forty acres, and that a number

of workshops and sites are in the neighborhood. There is little

evidence that the flint was transported to any distance, and the

place was probably resorted to by local tribes.

 

 

SECTION 3. EXPLORATIONS IN THE VALLEY OF BRUSH CREEK,

ADAMS COUNTY. DONE FOR THE OHIO STATE UNIVER-

SITY, DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY.

 

This region is well known because in its northern part is

located the famous Serpent mound. The Serpent itself has been

the subject of much literature and considerable has been published

regarding Fort Hill, in the edge of Highland County, but a few

miles up Brush Creek from the Serpent; but no one seems to

have examined the remains lying between the Serpent and the

Ohio River. There are several "branches" of Brush Creek,

which also have remains along their shores, so that altogether

there is about sixty miles of occupied territory along Brush Creek

Valley. No survey seems to have explored the region and there-

fore we located at Youngsville, Adams County, the 19th of June,

• 44
 

Report of Field Work.              209   and began work upon the monuments. Dr. Robe, a very intelli- gent gentleman and collector residing in the village, accompanied us to several places where mounds and village sites occurred and secured permission for us to excavate. Work was begun the morning of the 22d (Monday), four miles north from Youngsville upon the farm of Jane McCullough. The stone grave (really a small mound) was twelve by six feet and one and one-half feet high. A skeleton was found near the center with head to the east. It was badly decayed. Several flint war points, some bones, needles and a few drills and bear tusks were found by the shoulders. One-half mile farther east a stone mound thirteen by six feet was opened and nothing found but burnt bones. (See Figure XIII.)

The same day a small stone mound was opened upon the farm of John Montgomery one-half mile farther east. A cre- mated skeleton and one much decayed were found in it. It was fourteen by eight feet and two feet high. On the 23d an earth mound three-fourths of a mile northeast of Montgomery's was opened and a hammerstone and decayed bones found. We worked upon Miss McCullough's farm five miles south of Youngsville on the 24th. On her farm are three stone heaps, nine by eleven, seventeen by twenty-one, seven by ten feet. Each was about one foot high. They were upon a high point of land

• 45
 

210      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.   overlooking the west fork of Brush Creek. The bodies, as in the case of all stone graves or mounds, lay upon the surface, had been covered with bark and stones heaped on top. No relics accompanied the remains. Figure XIII is typical of all the Brush Creek Valley stone mounds. On a spur of the same hill, lower down, say 100 feet above the valley, was an earth mound. A few flat stones were scattered over the top. This mound was two feet high and thirty-two feet in diameter. In its center we found a skeleton buried about five feet deep, or three feet below the center of the mound. We could easily trace the excavation for the grave in the hard earth below the mound base. The skeleton was surrounded by large flat stones set on edge and forming a rude sarcophagus, as indicated in figure XIIIa. No relics were with it. We took out the bones

for they were splendidly preserved and nearly entire. Length of grave six feet eight inches, width two feet seven inches. All the stones were evenly placed and were about the same size, and the bones were in natural positions. On Thursday, the 25th, we explored a small stone mound on the north side of Brush Creek, opposite the one just described. Nothing but a badly decayed skeleton was found. Some relics were purchased and field searching done over village sites. June 26th we went to Newport, eight miles down the West Fork, where the two Brush Creeks unite and form Big Brush Creek. Mr. Swarington's mound is down stream two and one- half miles from Newport on the lowest terrace 200 yards from the creek. It is of earth containing no stone. Nothing was in it save one arrow-head. As in the case of other mounds, it was thoroughly explored. Upon our return we examined a large village site along the

• 46
 

Report of Field Work.             211

 

west border of Brush Creek just below Newport. It covers

twenty-five acres and must have contained at least 200 lodges.

There are numerous pottery fragments, flint chips, bones and

other remains found scattered over the surface. The pottery is

very peculiar. Men report that some skeletons in graves have

been found. It is owned by Mr. Plummer. We dug several

holes without results. Our men in two hours' field hunting

secured some 300 specimens. We purchased numerous relics

from boys.

In the afternoon we opened two stone graves upon Mr.

Plummer's land. They are 400 yards west of Newport, upon high

ground just opposite each other on the West Fork of Brush

Creek. Three skeletons occupied each grave, being placed about

one foot below the surface. A number of the humeri were pre-

served and part of one cranium.

We sunk a shaft in the Flory mound, but as it had been

previously excavated in the center, nothing was found. Situated

upon one of the highest hills in that region (500 feet) it com-

mands a view of the surrounding country for ten miles.

June 27th.-On Mr. Patton's farm, two and one-half miles

southeast of Youngsville, is a small mound upon the second

terrace. It is four feet high and forty feet base. In it we found

a decayed skeleton and two rare spear heads. A layer of char-

coal two inches in thickness was observed.

June 29th, Monday.-On the Wm. McCormick farm, four

miles north of Youngsville, are traces of several graves, but they

have been disturbed. In one of them we found decayed bones

but nothing else. The stones have largely been removed by

farmers for foundations, etc.

Near West Fork of Brush, on the same farm, is a single grave

which we opened and found a badly preserved skeleton and one

flint war point.

The same day we opened the mound on Mr. J. William's

farm across Brush Creek from McCormick's, and distant about

one mile, on a hill of some 175 feet elevation. There was much

burnt earth and charcoal, a cremated skeleton and one spear-

head. The mound was four feet high and forty feet in diameter.

June 30th.-We proceeded to North Liberty and opened a

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212       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

mound on the farm of Mr. Finley. It is fifty feet broad and four

feet high, on the second terrace and composed of earth. After

the examination our hopes were somewhat raised, for it was the

most interesting structure which we had examined. Near the

bottom the soil was very dark and soft. Above this it was lighter

in color, but at no point was it compact and hard as in the cases

of many of the mounds. On the base near the west side was a

cremated skeleton, a badly decayed one lay in the center, a heavy

layer of burnt earth ran along the base under both the remains.

Above the skeletons were much charcoal and ashes and also

two fine spear heads of the "shouldered" pattern. They lay

above the decayed skeleton, while the boat-shaped ceremonial

lay among the fragments of the cremation. It was of the form

known as "coffin" or "canoe" type. Ceremonials of this character

are occasionally found in mounds and but seldom upon the sur-

face. This may have some bearing upon their use and should

be carefully noted by all archaeologists. Above the decayed

skeletons a little over a foot were the spears, yet we conclude

they were originally intended to accompany the remains.

Rev. MacLean in his report describes interesting earthworks

found in Winchester Township of Adams County.* The works

are a half mile north of the village of Winchester. We looked at

the mound (which stands over eight feet high), but did not

attempt exploration, as it had been previously examined. The

works consist of three small circles and the mound. MacLean

says of them:

"When first discovered these works were covered with forest

trees. The walls averaged five feet in height. The material is

composed of clay of the same kind as that in the immediate

vicinity. * * * The spot is level and appears to have been

well chosen." He gives the measurements as follows:

"First circle 510 feet in circumference, second circle (oblit-

erated), third circle 150 feet in diameter."

On the West Fork of Brush Creek, in Concord Township,

in Highland County, are several mounds, circles and a peculiar

stone enclosure. The walls are parallel, distant thirty-two feet,

 

*J. P. MacLean in Smithsonian Report for 1885, pages 893-899.

• 48
 

Report of Field Work.              213

 

and 165 feet in length. One end is rounded and the other seems

to have been filled with earth straight across from one side to the

other. The walls are not more than a foot high to-day and at

the time of MacLean's visit were two feet high. Many of the

stones show the action of fire. Fort Hill and Serpent mound are

within six or eight miles. We agree with Mr. MacLean in his

statement:

"It is fair to assume that the works near Winchester, those

of Eagle Township and the ones just described belong to the

same people. There is no evidence that they were constructed

in different ages by different people."

July 1st.-Mr. Loveberry secured 18 spears from   Mr.

lames McNutt, who in clearing a new piece of ground found

them in a cache or pocket. This happened but a few days prior

to our arrival, and but for Mr. Loveberry's efforts the specimens

would have become scattered and lost and thus an important

cache distributed among those who were unable to comprehend

its real significance. Mr. McNutt found them one mile north

of Winchester on a branch of Brush Creek. With the exception

of two, they are all over six inches in length, of fine workmanship

and constitute one of the finest deposits ever discovered.

We went to Tomlinson's ridge, two miles below Newport on

the East Fork of Brush Creek, and examined a site on which

graves were said to exist. Careful cultivation had removed every

trace and we could only find evidences of a thinly settled and

small village site. We drove along the East Fork of Brush

Creek for several miles, mapping graves and sites.

July 2d.-With a view to ascertaining if there were mounds

in the Sun Fish Hills along the Scioto Brush Creek, we drove

eighteen miles southeast with six men, and explored a territory

so rough and rugged that we were forcibly reminded of our ex-

pedition in Utah. We climbed a number of hills and ridges 400

to 600 feet high and thoroughly explored a region four by seven

miles. Having started at four o'clock in the morning, we worked

until dark and reached home about ten o'clock. There were but

very few stone graves in the region and therefore it is to be con-

cluded that the hills offered no inducements for villages and were

used solely as hunting grounds.

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July 3.-Graves at Duncansville were explored. Nothing

was found except decayed bones. These graves seem to have

been erected by roving bands of hunters, as they evince no culture

beyond middle savagery.

Dr. Gaston, of Tranquillity, presented his collection to the

university. We were able to purchase some interesting speci-

mens. Mr. Morrison, of Newport, also donated his collection.

July 4th.-Having thoroughly worked upper Brush Creek

and its tributaries, we decided to proceed to the Ohio River. Our

route lay through West Union, and all the way we inquired about

mounds, village sites and collections. Half way down the stream

we engaged a skiff and set out for the Ohio.

 

SECTION 4. MOUNDS ALONG THE OHIO RIVER.

On July 6th, finding that we could make better time and

examine the banks on each side to advantage, we engaged a

river man and his launch for our party. We worked up and

down from the mouth of Brush Creek on both sides, digging two

stone graves upon Mr. Monteath's farm. These graves crowned

the tops of high hills. There was nothing in them but chips of

flint and decayed bones.

July 7th.-We opened two stone graves and one mound

on high hills back from the Ohio river below Brush Creek. All

were of stone, the mound four feet high and the graves two feet

high. These were on the farm of Mr. Owens near Concord,

Kentucky. No relics, save two arrow-heads, could be obtained,

although decayed bones in large quantities occured in all three.

Undoubtedly these hill top tumili are of the same character from

Louisville to Pittsburg. They range back from the river on

either side following tributary streams, and might roughly be

estimated to cover a belt 100 miles north and south and 500

miles east and west. It is certain that scientists can learn noth-

ing more from them and further explorations of these small

stone structures are unnecessary.

July 8th.-- We located at Rome. It is about 6 miles above

the mouth of Brush Creek in Adams County. Above and below

it village sites refuse is scattered over the fields in great pro-

• 50
 

Report of Field Work.               215   fusion. Just below Rome, on the high bank of the river, 200 yards from the water, is a mound 2 feet high and 50 feet in diam- eter. In this small structure were found no less than 22 skele- tons, some of which appeared to have been buried in part only. These are omitted from our illustration. Figure XIV, made

from a drawing by Mr. C. E. Cowen, will show them in correct positions. It is in the center of a village site, and while the men dug Mr. Cowen hunted the surrounding lands with profitable results. His collection will be mounted separately in the mu- seum just to show what one man can do in field hunting on a favorable spot in two hours. There were many fragments of pottery in the mounds, but we think the presence of these is due to this fact, that the earth immediately around the village was scooped up to form the mound, consequently much of the village site debris was gath- ered into the baskets and dumped upon the structure.

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216      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

Perforated mussel shells were with many of the bodies, a

bone awl and a slate celt polished at both ends. There were

three arrow heads, three war points and three worked pieces of

shell. Some 20 perforated humeri were secured, but no whole

skulls, as every one was broken, as were most of the long bones.

The vertebral columns of some of the skeletons were only half

present, which led us to believe that some of the bodies had been

gathered when the flesh was denuded from the bones. Possibly

from a battle field, possibly from a charnel house - who can tell?

The most important find was the bones of an exceedingly

large individual. These bones were very badly decayed, but the

tibia was removed in fair shape. The width of this bone was

nearly two inches in diameter, being very massive and somewhat

bent. The femura were very large and more curved than is

usual.

Many pipes and ornaments have been found around the

mound. It is also historic, for several pioneers were captured

by Indians at this point and one Captain Donaldson had a very

hard fight, being in the end captured.

Thursday, July 9th.-- Work having been completed upon

the Stouts (Rome) mound, we packed and shipped the speci-

mens and then journeyed to Vanceburg, Kentucky, the nearest

stopping place. We worked the fields on the Ohio side. No

mounds of note or promise, and the two or three in the neigh-

borhood could not be explored.

Friday, July 10th.--The field notes briefly state: "Bought

relics, hunted fields. Rain prevented digging, so we journeyed

to Portsmouth."

July 11th and 13th.--Three mounds upon the farm of Mr.

J. H. Johnson, two miles below Portsmouth on the Kentucky

side were opened. They were of sand 5 by 40, 3 by 40 and 4 by

35 feet in extent. Small holes had been sunk in each by pre-

vious diggers. Nothing of note was discovered. These mounds

are a part of the famous Greenup County works. The extensive

fortification is but 350 yards up the Ohio River from them. The

mounds must have been house sites instead of burial places.

The afternoon of the 13th we went up the Scioto 5 miles to

Mr. Feurt's farm, where there are three mounds and an extensive

• 52
 

Report of Field Work.               217   village site. We opened the smaller mound and dug the large ones the following day. They are located upon the second ter- race. The small one is 2 by 25 feet, the next 4 by 50 feet, the largest 6 by 60 feet in size.* See Figure XV. The village site must cover at least 5 acres. Many interesting specimens were

collected from it while the men dug, by Cowen, Loveberry and myself. The mounds are all sand and gravel. This is rather unusual. The burials numbered 5 in the smallest, 9 in the next, and 19 in the large one. No relics save mussel shells accompanied the * Mr. Cowen prepared an elaborate drawing from which Figure XV was made. Only the complete skeletons are shown on the diagram.

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218       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

remains. The pottery of the village site is very like that found

along the Ohio. We find a difference in the character of the

pottery after reaching Higbys in Ross County as one ascends the

river. It may be that all the people from Higbys or Waverly on

down used different clay, different forms, or were another tribe.

Future study will determine that.

Mr. Feurt's farm is 5 miles up the Scioto on the east bank

and seems to have been a remarkable village site. Field search-

ing resulted in the finding of many pottery fragments and other

material common to village sites. The pottery is peculiar to the

lower Scioto and Ohio River valleys. There is no mica or cop-

per found.

In the mounds there were more burials above the base line

than upon it, yet the place does not seem modern, for no Euro-

pean relics were found. Nearly every skeleton was doubled up,

lay in every direction and several were on top of each other.

Some were found within 10 inches of the surface, but this is due

in part to long cultivation lowering the height of the mounds.

Some war points were found between the ribs of a skeleton

and several awls and needles lay near the heads of three skele-

tons. One skeleton was that of an old man whose teeth were

worn away.

Nine feet below the surface was found charcoal in the large

mound. This was followed to near the edges and yielded noth-

ing as usually is the case with charcoal layers. The excavation

in the large mound was 35 by 20 feet. There was a layer of ashes

above the charcoal. Sand above this to top of mound. None

of the others were stratified.

July 15th. -We went to William Biggs's and inspected an

interesting fortification 4 1-3 miles above Portsmouth. The fort

is thrown up 4 or 5 feet high. Trench is 4 feet deep. In the

center of the enclosure is a small mound 4 by 45 feet, which we

excavated, finding only burnt earth and charcoal. The fort is

212 feet in diameter.

July 16th.--We inspected the country about Wakefield

some 15 miles up the Scioto.

• 54
 

Report of Field Work.             219

 

 

SECTION 5. ROSS COUNTY TUMULI.

July 17th.-We moved to Higbys, Ross County, and opened

the small mound upon the farm of Major Foster. It was 4 by

40 feet, composed of clay, and on the second terrace were found

one decayed skeleton and a flint disc.

July 18th.-Opened a mound on Messrs. Higby's estate on

the first terrace. Just opposite this mound along the river banks

is a large village site from which much material has been gath-

ered of late years. Skeletons and whole pottery have been

washed out. Many bullets have been found down the river from

the site. Chillicothe collectors have pipes and other fine relics

from the Higby farm.

The mound was 6 feet high and 60 feet in diameter. Noth-

ing was found in it though we dug thoroughly.

The same day we journeyed to Mr. R. L. Condon's, one mile

south of Omega Station, Pike County, and opened a mound 5

by 49 by 50 feet. It was a beautiful structure. We found a cre-

mated skeleton, a decayed skeleton, a greenstone celt (by the

decayed skeleton) and charcoal.

The next day we visited Mr. J. W. Barger, who owns a large

mound situated upon the second terrace. It was 7 by 50 feet. We

excavated it quite completely and discovered two skeletons. The

bones of one had been painted. By the remains of the painted

individual were two copper beads and a copper bracelet. A rude

ceremonial was found with the other one. All these lay upon the

base line. As in the case of mounds farther up the Scioto, the

base line was formed by burning the surface of the ground until

it assumed a brick color and hardness. Neither Messrs. Condon

nor Barger's mounds were stratified.

During the next day we opened a mound upon the farm of

Mr. J. C. Corwin, one-half mile on toward Waverly. There was

in it a cremated skeleton and an arrow-head, but nothing else.

 

 

THE LIBERTY GROUP.

The Liberty group of earthworks, situated on the banks of

the Scioto, on the second terrace eight miles south of Chillicothe,

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220       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

constitutes one of the largest and most important remains of the

Mound Builders.*

It will be seen that the large mound (C) on Squier and

Davis' plan occupies the most central position with regard to

the location of the various squares and circles constituting the

group. It was also the central point of the village site, and, as

was customary among the mound-building tribes, the house of

the principal shaman and chief must have been upon it. Just

a little over a mile above it is the famous High Banks group and

below it are the mounds about Richmondale and the large village

sites at Higby's. This region is known among archaeologists

as the "copper belt." It extends from central Pickaway County

to the southern edge of Ross along the Scioto River and up the

two Paint Creeks.

"This work is a very fair type of a singular series occuring in

the Scioto Valley, - all of which have the same figures in combi-

nation, although occupying different positions with respect to

each other, viz. a square and two circles."+ These figures are

not only accurate squares and perfect circles, but are in most

cases of corresponding dimensions,- that is to say, the sides

of each of the squares are ten hundred and eighty feet in length;

and the diameter of each of the large and small circles, a fraction

over seventeen hundred and eight hundred feet, respectively.

Such were the results of surveys made at different times, the meas-

urements of which correspond within a few feet. Although in the

progress of investigation singular coincidences were observed be-

tween these works, yet there was at the time no suspicion of the

identity which subsequent comparison has shown to exist.

"The first of the series here represented is situated on the

east bank of the Scioto River, and occupies the third bottom or

terrace. The ground upon which it occurs is level. The walls of

the entire work are unaccompanied by a ditch, and are slight,

nowhere more than four feet in height. The embankment of the

square is perceptibly heavier than that of the small circle, which

 

* Squier & Davis in Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley,

plate XX.

+ Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley, page 56.

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Report of Field Work.              221

 

is also heavier than that of the larger one. The square work

measured ten hundred and eighty feet upon each side; and its

walls are interrupted at the corners and at the middle of each side

by gateways thirty feet in width. The central gateways are each

covered by a small mound, of about the same height with the

embankment, and placed forty feet interior to it. The manner

in which the circular works are connected with the square en-

closure, and the relative position of each, are accurately shown

in the plan, precluding the necessity of a long and intricate de-

scription. It will be observed, that while the wall of the larger

circle is interrupted by numerous narrow gateways, that the

smaller one is entire throughout, - a feature for which it is, of

course, impossible to assign a reason. Besides the small mounds

at the gateways, there are three others within the work, two of

which are inconsiderable, while the other is of the largest size,

being one hundred and sixty feet long, by not far from twenty

feet high. There are also a few other mounds outside of the

walls, reference to which is had elsewhere. Numerous dug holes

occur in the vicinity of the great mound. Most of these are in-

terior to the work, -- a very unusual circumstance. In fact, the

whole work appears to have been but partially finished, or con-

structed in great haste. The mounds at the gateways, and those

outside of the walls, were formed by carelessly scooping up the

earth at their base, leaving irregular pits near them. In most

of the regular works, the material seems to have been taken up

evenly and with care, or brought from a distance.

"No one would be apt to ascribe a defensive origin to this

work, yet it is difficult to conceive for what other purpose a

structure of such dimensions, embracing nearly one hundred

acres, could have been designed. The great mound is anomalous

in its character, and throws no light on the question. That there

is some hidden significance, in the first place in the regularity,

and secondly in the arrangement of the various parts, can hardly

be doubted. Nor can the coincidences observable between this

and other works of the same series be wholly accidental."

Having seen the distribution of burial mounds with refer-

ence to the enclosure, we shall proceed at once to describe the

oblong Harness mound. This structure was partly explored

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222      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

by Professor F. W. Putnam. He abandoned the exploration

after having dug not quite half way through it, some ten years

ago. We present his report in full at the end of this section.

Our work upon the mound was begun July 22d and ended

the evening of August 9th. We first cleaned out the end of the

trench abandoned by Professor Putnam, and measuring the

mound thence to its end, ascertained the distance to be about

eighty feet, at least sixty feet of which should be excavated. We

started in with a trench some thirty feet in width, being a little

wider than the excavation he had conducted. We had proceeded

twelve or fifteen feet when we ascertained that burials followed

each other pretty much the same distance apart on either side

of the mound, and that there were few burials in the main or

central portion. Most of the burials in these rows occupied little

domes or pits, varying from three to five feet in diameter and

three to five feet in height. The first five followed each other

with regularity.

We decided to explore the mound by means of two tunnels,

which should follow the lines of burial, and, at short distances,

to run side branches from the main tunnels toward the center,

and, if necessary, toward the edges of the mound. As the work

proceeded the scheme was found to be practical and the whole

base of the mound was thoroughly covered at much less expense

than would have resulted had we attempted to remove the entire

structure. Some idea of the extent of the tunnels can be gained

from figure XVI. The total length of tunnels and branches was

253 feet, the main tunnels 98 feet, the branches 155 feet. It

occupied the time of from four to five men continuously for six-

teen days. They were five feet wide at the base and about four

and one-half feet high.

Nearly all the mounds of the Scioto Valley are constructed

upon one plan. The ground is first cleared and then beaten down

and burned until it presents a hard and even floor. Holes are

dug in this floor at various intervals and posts inserted and some

sort of structure is erected. Many of these holes were found in

the Harness mound. In one or two of them, soft brown and

gray matter, such as results from the decay of wood, was found.

Just what this structure was cannot be determined. It seems to

• 58
 

Report of Field Work.             223   have been the same in the Oblong mound and Effigy mounds of the Hopewell group, the Porter mound at Frankfort and in the Harness mound of the Liberty group. The post holes do not show any regularity as to position, some being six or seven feet apart, and others as much as twenty feet. In the Harness mound

several of these holes were found alongside of cremated skele- tons. Every one of them was carefully cleaned out but nothing found. In one or two at the Hopewell group we found ashes and mussel shells. In one (opened 1889) on Mr. Porter's farm at Frankfort, we found ashes and burnt bones, and in 1888, upon the same farm in another mound, we found some pearl beads in one of these post holes. Taken in connection with the burnt

• 59
 

224      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.   floor and the position of skeletons, the posts must have supported a roof some distance above the burnt floor, under which ceremo- nies conducted at the time of the cremation or interment must have taken place. Especially is this true of the large Hopewell mound.* It will be remembered that two altars were found in this mound, one of which contained a large quantity of burned obsidian implements, melted copper, calcined bone, ornaments, tusks, effigy pipes, needles, sacrificial implements, pearl beads and other valuables. These had all been subjected to intense heat. It is just probable that the construction of these, the plac- ing of the copper deposits, may have occupied several days' time and were accomplished with much ceremony. However, we offer this simply as a suggestion based upon field testimony. It is possible that there may be better reasons assigned for the presence of the post holes and the evidence of decayed wood in them. In the end of the mound opened by Professor Putnam a number of entire skeletons were found, accompanied by various objects. In the end which we explored were a total of twenty- seven interments, but two of which were uncremated skeletons, a child and an adult. All the others were more or less burnt.

In figure XVII all skeletons with which relics were found are numbered, and the brief description accompanying the illustra-   * Called "The Effigy" because of its resemblance to the human trunk and on account of boulder mosaics in the form of panthers (or other animals) found just below the surface in the east end.

• 60
 

Report of Field Work.              225

 

tion will acquaint readers with the find. Skeletons Nos. 4 and 5

had some of the copper objects with them. No. 10 had the best

copper plate. Eight of the bodies had objects buried with them.

Every one of these skeletons had been cremated, and even some

of the beads and copper showed marks of fire. The total inter-

mentsin the mound numbered 27.

Nearly all the skeletons were on little raised platforms of

burnt earth, varying in height from four to ten inches. The

platforms were usually about two by three feet. Such relics

as accompanied the remains were placed in no special order and

many of them were partly burnt up. The looseness of the earth

above the skeletons, or the little domes to which we have referred,

is probably due to small structures of poles having been built

about the remains. The supports remained in position suffi-

ciently long for the earth to become somewhat packed, and after

their decay just enough earth fell upon the remains to cover them

loosely. Frequently there was a space of about a foot between

the top of the dome and the loose earth below. The good copper

plate found with No. 10 is nine inches long and five inches

wide. It has two small perforations. With No. 5 was a burnt

copper plate, three-fourths of which we took out entire, beads

and bear tusks, etc.

The skeleton uncremated (and placed by itself) was found

as indicated by No. 12 in Figure XVII. These individual inter-

ments, at a distance or isolated from the other burials, are often

observed in the large mounds of the Scioto.

In the heavy layer of charcoal and carbonized wood accom-

panying skeletons Nos. 7 and 3, were fragments of cloth, which

we preserved in order that the texture and manner of weaving

might be carefully studied.

In this connection it would be advisable to quote from Squier

and Davis' "Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley," page

178, as to what discoveries they made during their partial exam-

ination of the same structure:

"Besides the mounds already described, the purposes of

which seem pretty clearly indicated, there are many which will

admit of no classification. Some of them possess features in

common with all classes, and seem to have been appropriated to

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226       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

a double purpose; while others, in our present state of knowledge

concerning them, are entirely inexplicable. As these mounds

differ individually from each other, it is of course impossible to

present anything like a general view of their character. We can,

therefore, only describe a few of the more remarkable, dismissing

the remainder with the single observation that their features do

not indicate any specific design, and are not sufficiently distinct

or uniform to justify or sustain a classification.

"One of the most singular of these mounds, and one which

best illustrates the remark that certain mounds were probably

made to subserve a double purpose, is situated within a large

enclosure on the east bank of the Scioto River. It is an irregular

oval in form, and is 160 feet long, ninety broad at its larger end,

and twenty feet in height. Excavations were made at the points

indicated in the section. The one towards the right, or smaller

end of the mound, disclosed an enclosure of timber, eight feet

square, and similar, in all respects, to those found in the sepul-

chral mounds, except that, in this instance, posts eight inches in

diameter had been planted at the outer corners, as if to sustain the

structure. These posts had been inserted eighteen inches in the

original level or floor of the mound. The holes left by their

decay were found filled with decomposed material; when this

was removed, they exhibited perfect casts of the timbers. The

casts also of the horizontal timbers were well retained in the com-

pact earth, and one of the workmen, without much difficulty, was

enabled to creep more than half the way around the enclosure

which they had formed. Within this chamber the earth was as

firm as in any portion of the mound. Upon removing a portion,

a skeleton partly burned was found, and with it a thin copper

plate seven inches long and four broad, perforated with two

small holes; also a large pipe of bold outline, carved from a dark

compact porphyry. The bones seem to have been enveloped in

a species of matting, which was too much decayed to be distinctly

made out. The floor of the mound, it should be mentioned, so

far as explored, was composed of clay, was perfectly level, and

had been burned to considerable hardness.

"The second excavation was made in the larger end of the

mound, somewhat to one side of the center, at a spot marked by

• 62
 

Report of Field Work.              227

 

a depression in the surface. At the depth of twenty feet was found

an altar of clay of exceeding symmetry. This was sunk, as shown

in the section, in the general level floor of the mound, and had

been surrounded by an enclosure in all respects similar to the one

above described, except that the timbers had been less in size.

A fine carbonaceous deposit, resembling burned leaves, was found

within the altar. Amongst the decayed materials of the sur-

rounding enclosure were found several skewers, if we may so

term them, in lack of a better name, made of the bones (ulna) of

the deer. They were finely tapered to a point, and had evidently

been originally highly polished. Some were not less than nine

or ten inches long. Though apparently sound, they were found

to be exceedingly brittle, retaining little if any of their animal

matter. Drifts were carried in the course shown in the section,

and the evidences of another enclosure discovered. The exca-

vation was suspended at this point, in consequence of heavy and

continued rains. The holes soon became partly filled by the

caving in of the loose earth near the surface; which discouraging

circumstance, joined to the extreme difficulty of digging, pre-

vented a resumption of the investigation.  It is very certain that

another, perhaps several other chambers are concealed by this

mound.

"The surface of this mound was covered with the layer of

pebbles and coarse gravel already mentioned as characterizing

the mounds of the first class; but the sand strata were absent.

Around the base had been laid, with some degree of regularity,

a large quantity of flat stones, constituting a sort of wall for the

better support of the earth. These stones must have been brought

from the hills, which are here nearly half a mile distant. Why

the altar, as well as the skeleton, had been enclosed, and why the

floor of the mound had been so carefully leveled, cast over with

clay and then hardened by fire, are questions which will probably

remain unanswered and unexplained unless future investigations

serve further to elucidate the mystery of the mounds. At any

rate this singular mound can prove no greater puzzle to the read-

ers than it has to the authors of these inquiries."

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228       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

EXTRACTS FROM 18TH AND 19TH ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE

PEABODY MUSEUM, VOL. III, NOS. 5 AND 6.

"Squier and Davis represent five small mounds inside the

great square of twenty-seven acres. These have been leveled by

cultivation, but we could trace the outlines of three at least, one

of which we thoroughly examined, and found that it had been

a simple mound of earth thrown up inside of one of the 'gate-

ways' of the square. Three mounds, one twice the size of the

others, are represented on the plan as just outside one of the

'gateways' on the eastern side of the great circle of forty acres'

area. All three have been much reduced in height by ploughing

over them, but probably only the superficial portions have been

disturbed. These three mounds we examined with care, and

found that the small one to the westward contained only a small

bed of ashes. The other two proved to be burial mounds of con-

siderable interest. The human bones were much decayed. We

found in these mounds various objects made of copper, stone,

shell and mica, of the same character as those found in the large

one of the group, consisting of copper plates, spool-shaped ear

ornaments, a few small ornaments of copper, one small copper

celt, a crescent-shaped ornament cut out of slate, another small

stone ornament, a few large beads covered with copper, and a

smaller one, covered with silver over the copper, shell beads and

numerous other small articles.

"Another mound in the cornfield, north of the three above

mentioned, was also dug over completely. In this we found a

large bed of ashes and charcoal about at the level of the natural

surface upon which the mound was made. This ash bed covered

nearly the whole area occupied by the mound, and in it we found

many fragments of pottery and cut pieces of mica, some of which

were circular. A large piece of grass matting and a mass of

burnt seeds, nuts and acorns, were found in the bed of ashes.

In one place the charcoal matting was in several layers, making

a thickness of an inch or more. Near the centre of the mound,

extending to the south, was a long narrow pit, about 9 x 2 feet,

which was a foot in depth. At the bottom of this pit were burnt

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Report of Field Work.             229

 

stones, and over them ashes and charcoal, fragments of pottery

and a few burnt bones.

"Thus it will be seen that the several mounds connected with

the extensive earthwork were erected for different purposes and

vary considerably in their structure.

"Near the eastern corner of the part of the earthwork which

we have called the 'great square,' and within the line of the cir-

cular embankment forming the 'great Circle,' stands the largest

mound of the group, which is known as the 'Edwin Harness

mound.' This mound proved to be of great interest and unlike

any other mound which we have explored. It is 160 feet long,

from 80 to 90 feet wide and from 13 to 18 feet high along the cen-

tral portion, which rises gradually from the southern to the north-

ern part. Up to this time we have made a thorough exploration

of about one-quarter of the mound, and have ascertained that

it is a burial mound of a remarkable character. In the northern

portion, forty feet from the center, we discovered the first of the

burial chambers, of which we found a dozen in all. These cham-

bers were made by placing logs, from 5 to 6 inches in diameter,

on the clay which forms the lowest layer of the mound, in such

a way as to make enclosures 6 to 7 feet in length and from 2 to 3

in width and about a foot in height. In these the bodies were

placed, evidently wrapped in garments, as indicated by the char-

red cloth and mats found in several of the chambers. With the

bodies were buried various objects, such as copper plates, ear-

rings, shell beads, and, in one instance, long knives chipped from

flint. In two instances, the skeletons were found extended at

full length within the chambers, the outlines of which could be

traced by the imprint of the logs in the clay, the logs themselves

having decayed, leaving only a dark dust. On the breast of one

of the skeletons was a thin copper plate or ornament. The chem-

ical action of the copper had preserved the texture of a piece of

finely woven cloth lying between the plate and the bones of the

chest. In other chambers, the bodies had been burned on the

spot, as conclusively shown by the relative positions of the bones

and the fact that, in two instances, portions of the body had fallen

outside of the fire and escaped burning. It became evident, as

our exploration progressed, that these chambers were covered

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230      Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

 

by little mounds of gravel and clay, and that, in those where the

burning had taken place, the coverings of earth were placed in

position before the bodies were consumed, shown by the small

amount of ashes and the reduction of the logs to charcoal in their

position on the clay floor of the chamber, which was burned to

a thickness varying with the amount of heat. It is probable that

the burials and cremations did not all occur at one time, and that,

after all these mounds had been made, earth was brought from

various surrounding places and heaped over all. Then the

mound was finished with a covering of gravel and a low border

of loose stones was placed around its base.

"It is of interest to note that Squier and Davis, in 1840, dug

two pits in this mound. At the bottom of their pit A, which was

just south of the center of the mound, they opened one of the

burial chambers, and they state that the skeleton in it was partly

burned, that it was enclosed in a framework of logs, and that with

it were a copper plate and a pipe carved out of stone. They re-

mark that the body seemed to have been enveloped in matting.

Their pit B was about twenty feet northwest of the centre and

there they came to another burnt skeleton, as shown by our ex-

ploration, although, deceived by the imperfect examination which

the caving of the pit compelled them to make, they thought they

had found an 'altar' and mention the burnt burial chamber as

such. They state that they found at this point several implements

made of bone. At the side of their excavation we took out about

half a dozen pointed implements made from the leg bones of deer.

Several months before our work was begun, as already referred

to, the school boys, under the lead of Mr. Wilson, dug two pits

in the mound, one of which was between those made by Squier

and Davis over forty years ago, and the other at the side of Squier

and Davis' pit B. In each of these many remarkable objects were

found. So far as 'relics' are concerned, the boys made a lucky

hit and took out more objects from one of their pits than were

found in all our exploration. The larger part of these we have

been able to secure from the boys, and from Mr. Daniel R. Har-

ness, who very kindly gave to the Peabody Museum all that he

had purchased from the boys at the time, realizing that they would

be of more importance and value to science if placed in the Mu-

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Report of Field Work.              231

 

seum with other objects from the mound, than if held in private

hands as mere curiosities. Among the specimens thus obtained

were two copper celts and three or four copper plates, also several

copper ear ornaments, some of which were covered with meteoric

iron in the same way as those from the Turner mounds in the

Little Miami Valley, and a celt made of meteoric iron. Thus we

have an important link, connecting the people who built this great

mound and the earthworks about it in the Scioto Valley, with

the builders of the singular group on the Turner farm, in the

Little Miami Valley." (Pages 404-406.)

"34856-35134. Burnt human, animal and bird bones; shells

of different kinds, some of them perforated; cores and chipped

points of flint; ornaments made of stone; hammerstone and a

discoidal stone; beads of pearl, bone and shell; canine teeth of

large bears, some of them perforated; teeth of deer and a shark's

tooth; ornaments made of copper; ear ornaments of copper, a

few covered with a thin layer of silver and others with meteoric

iron; small hemispheres of stone and of pottery, covered with

silver, copper and meteoric iron; fragments of silver ornaments;

a celt of meteoric iron and one of copper; ornaments and frag-

ments of mica; portions of a pipe carved out of stone; a large

mass of galena; cloth, seeds, nuts, corn and grass, all charred;

fragments of matting partly burnt; balls of clay; fragments of

pottery; bone handles, awl points and other implements of bone;

braided grass; charcoal, ashes and burnt clay, some of the latter

still bearing the impress of logs of wood; portions of burnt and

unburnt human skeletons; all from mounds belonging to the

Liberty group on the land of Edwin Harkness, Esq., in Liberty

Township, Ross County, Ohio." (Page 426.)

 

SECTION 6. RELICS OF ANCIENT OHIO TRIBES.

In the descriptions of explorations and of our journeys down

the various streams, we have purposely omitted the characteristic

ornaments, weapons, etc., found. These are to be treated under

this section.

Our collections contain material of every grade-fine and

poor, high and low. We gathered everything that related to the

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232       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications.

pre-Columbian occupation of the region whether by purchase from farmers, by our own field searching and digging, by gift or loan. We are all doubtless familiar with the imposing embank- ments which once occupied the ground now covered by Circle- ville, through the writings of our early antiquarian and historical observers.  Not one trace of the high walls of the combined square and circle remains visible to-day. Truly has the oblitera- tion been complete. About two years ago a remaining half of one of the smaller mounds was removed by contractors engaged in grading a new street. In the mound were found the skull and clay vessel illus- trated in Figure XVIII. The skull is remarkably well preserved, brachycephalic in type, was found upon the base line and is there- fore that of an original Mound Builder. It appears to be of the same type as those found throughout Scioto County from Piketon to Columbus. The vessel is not decorated, measures 6 inches high, 51/4 inches across the top, and 19 inches around its greatest circumference. It was moulded in a basket, as the impressions of the strips are plain upon its surface. Mr. Barton Walters, of

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Report of Field Work.                   233   Circleville, procured the two specimens as soon as they were discovered. On nearly every field in northern Perry County are flint, chert or chalcedony implements and flasks, etc., struck off in their manufacture. Figure XIX      presents 19 specimens, each varying in details from the others, yet these may be divided into six classes.   Knives  ..................  ....... .............. .                                                                   6 Rotary or beveled spears .............  .....                                                          ....           2 Scrapers ..............................                                                                               .... 2 Triangular spears ................. ........ ...                                                              2 Hairpin or drill .............. ...... ... ..                                                                    1 indented at base  ...........                             1 shouldered  ............ ......                               1 Barbed implements - stemmed  .. .... ... ........                                    1 barbed at the side.......  .  .                           .              3 No. 3815 is most complete and represents the best type of beveled spear head. No. 3791 is a fine curved knife about 41/4 inches long and well worked on either side. Mr. M. E. Thrailkill, of Columbus, last year loaned the So- ciety his large collection of Scioto Valley specimens. Figure

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234       Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications. XX shows four hematite pendant or "plum bob" shaped objects and a similar one of slate. The latter is larger and in addition to the girdling groove has one across the top. No one has satis- factorily explained these plummets. Certainly the term "plummet" while it described the form, is unappropriate, and should not find place in archaeological nomenclature. That prehistoric people of this country (at least north of Mexico) knew nothing of the use of the plummet, goes without saying. That these were used as sinkers for fish-lines, as has been suggested by some archaeologists, is beyond belief.

An aborigine sufficiently skilful to work hematite into so grace- ful and symmetrical a form, would certainly hesitate about risk- ing the object from his primitive fishing line. An ordinary notched pebble would serve the purpose much better, and could be easily duplicated. Surely the plummet must be ceremonial. Dr. Bowers suggests that they were used as charm stones, basing his conclusions upon the testimony of some aged California In- dians whom he interviewed years ago.*   *See the Antiquarian, January 1897. (Columbus, O., first number.)

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Report of Field Work.              235   Figure XXI exhibits five ceremonial and ornamental ob- jects, a tube pipe broadened at one end, and a flat bone handle