Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-12-09
AZ a &c gr; saiictorg 40 a 81; Tyson u
IT; rum, Jamaica, 72i a 35it; Bss,vn 81.
From the 81. Louis Enquirer.
DWARF SKELETONS.

From, the 81. Louis Enquirer.
DWARF SKELETONS.
A short lin. since Mr. Long, the rrorrie-
Tor Of farm on the soutI, hank Of the Mer-
rimack river, about Is miles fro;n This place
discovered on the scile where he had fixed
his dwelling, numter of graves, the size
ofwhich appeared 10 lie uncomm"n'y small.
This awakened his curiosity aud led him 10
a minute examination, which, convinced
him they were The remains Of hu'nan beings
much smaller than at the present day. He
seemed to be warranted in this conclusion
as well from the uniform appearance of the
skeletons (the length Of which in no case
exceeded four feei) as from the teeth which,
bore the evident marks Of these belonging
to adult persons.
He communicated the facts to Mr. Whcr-
ry of this place who on Sunday last, ,ogeth-
or with two other gentlemen. accompanied
Doctors Walker g. Grayson to The place of
interment. They found, as bath teen STA
ted, in ia wood adjacent to the house great
number of graves, all situated on small tu-
null or hiflocks, raised about feet above
the surface they examined several ihe 1T
Of which BY actual measurement was disco
vered 10 be only 20 inches in length; the
grave was carefully cased up on both sides
as well as the head and foot with FIAT stones;
in the bottom also stone was fixed or which
the body was lying, placed on the right
side with the head to tie east. Time had
completely destroyed all IT,, soft parts of
the body, as well as disccmposed the bones
which however still preserved their rela-
tive situation. The teeth which wese ex-
pectcd to furnish the best and perhaps on
ly date TO judge of the age, were found in
stale almost perfect. being defended by
the enamel, which seems only to yield TO
chemical decomposition. To the astohish-
ment OF all they proved 10 be the tec.A Of a
being whu If il had not attained the entire
age Of puberty had unquest!onably arrived
at that period OF life wien The milk teeth
yield to the scion or permanent set. The
anoldris and incisores were nj the ordinary
size of the second teeth. The jaw bone
seemed to have its full compliment, unless
il was the DENTS sapientia, or what is better
understood by the w:.dom teeth, which
make their appearance from the age OF 10
to % or %. The next grave examined was
on an adjoining mound, and measured 81
inches, it resembled in every respect the
first, except that the top Of it was covered
with fat stones placed horizontally several
others were opened, all Of which presented
uniform appearance, and none, although |
many were measured, proved TO be in length
more than feet or inches.
From these facts the minds brought 10 |
The irresistible conclusion that these are the |
remains Of beings differing altogether from,
and inferior in general size TO ourselves
for if in the subject first mentioned, we sup |
pose it to be being Of the usual growth,
the facts OF its having attained the age Of |
or years as seems proven from the teeth,
is directly opposite to, and at war with the |
circumstance of its being only % inches |
long, the usual length OF child s or 10 !
months old, and justihes the conclusion,
that by nature it was destined to be OF inle-
rior size. As to the length Of time these !
bodies have tecn deposited, there is no |
clue by which to form any certain opinion.
The bones have been thoroughly changed |
by time, nothing remaining but the lime or
earthly particles Of them, which can under
60 no further change, and may as well be
supposed to have been in this state GEN. !
turtles ago as one. II is certain they have !
been there an immense length of time from |
the large growth Of timber on the mounds,
and the roots Of trees that have made their
way through the graves.
This subject certainly invites the atten-
lion of The learned and curious, and opens
field for investigation at least to form some
plausible conjecture Of a race Of beings who
have inhabited our country at period TAR
beyond that of which tradition gives US any
account.