Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-12-12
DWARF SKELETONS

ST LOUIS, Nov Co.. short time since Mr.
lug .he proprietor ot farm on tie south
odhk OF the Neramec river, about ID miles
from TINS place, discovered on the site where he
hau iXed his dwelling, a number of graves
Tue Size OF which appeared uncommonlv small,
MS awakened ms curiosity, aud led him 10 a
minute examination, which convinced INN thew
were The remains Of human beings much small
er uan those OF the present day. He seemed
warranted IN this conclusion, as well from the
UNIFORM appearance vi the skeletons, 1.-THE
iehSth OF which IN no case exceeded, 4 feei) as
iioih the teeth, which bore evident marks of
nose Belonging TO adult persons He commu
mca'eu thaSe facts toa gentleman of tins place
VINO on Sunday last, together with two other
gentlemen, accompanied Drs. Walker and
uiaAsoh 10 the place OF interment They found
as tad been stated, in ID wood adjacent 10 The
mouse, great nnmber Of graves, all situated
on small iumu'i or hillOcks raised about = feet
ABOVE me surface they examined several the
hrst ct which by actual measurement WINS dis
covered 10 be only % inches ia length The
etaVe WAS Carefully caSed upon both sides as
wei AS AT the head and foot with flat stones in
me notion also dstOns WAS fixed on .shIcI, the
body was lying, placed on the right side. with
Inc mead 10 the east. Time had coinsleteiX
ueNtioSed all the soft parts of the hoCiN as well
az decomposed the bones, which however still
preserved their relative situation
me teeth which were expected to furnish
Tue nest and perhaps only data IL Judge were
iound IN state almost perfect, being defended
ny the euamel, which seems only 10 weld Ia
cnymicai decomposition. 10 the asionshmeht
or all, they proved TO be the teeth of being
VINO " II had not attained tie age OF pube,tV
rad nnqueStiOnabiy arrived at thai period Of
lie, wien the milk teeth yield TO the second or
permanent set. The mOidrrS and i1cisOres we're
OF the ordinary size of the second teeth The
Jaw bone seemed TO have its full complement,
u'Ass IL was the dea.eS SaDienti.e OF what ~
Better understood By tie wisdom teeth ~ ich
make their appearance from the age Of Is To
y Or3.
The next grave examined was on an adjacent
mount, and measured a inches IL resent led
IN every respect the fist, except that the Top
oil III was covered with Hat stones placed boTi.
zonta'iy. Several others were opened ali of
"nich presented an uniform appearance, and
none, aiihough many were measured, proved
10 De ~ length more than feet 2 or 3 inches
FROM these facts the mind IL brought to the ir.
resiStDie conclusion, HAT those are the remains
OF beings differing aliOs Their from and infeIior
III general SIZE, TO ourselves. For, if ia the
snD ect nTst mentioned, we suppose il to be a
being OF the usual growth, the fact Of its having
attained the age OF or 8 years, as seems prov
Ell from the teeth, is directly opposed 10 and at
war WIN the circumstance of its being only 23
inches long, the usual length OF a child or 10
months old, and Jusities the Conclusion that
by nature, II was destined 10 be of inferior size
AS 10 tie time tat those bodies have been
deposited, there is no clue by which To form
any certain opinion. The bones have been
thoroughly changed Ivy time, uoihiua remain.
ing bat the lIme or earthly particles of them.
WhIci can undergo no further change, and NAV
as well be supposed TO have been in Tins STATE
hVe centuries as one. 1t is certain they have
been there All immense length OF time from
the large growth OF timber on the mounds, aud
the roots OF trees that bad made their way
through the graves. This subject certainly in.
vites the attention Of the learned and curlous
and opens an AMPLE field for investigation. al
least 10 form some plausible conjecture of
race of beings wh0 have inhabited our country
at period far beyond thar OF which tradition
gives us any account. GHissouri Gag.