American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1822-12-10
ANTIQUITIES OF ONO.

Formerly, near the south line of Columbus, there
stood mound of earth, in structure an oo'use conc
having base of about seventy feet diameter. IT'S
base was on ground gradually elevated about seven
" feet above the adjacent plain; distant from the
Scioto river, a, the west, than hundred rods
The height of the mound was about 10 feet, cover
ed with trees of the size and kind oil the surround
ing forest, when the destroying hand oil man trans
muted this monument oil supersttious grandeur 10
practical utility. The main street OF the town was
laid directly over it, on account of which, it was de-
molished, and the massive heap, consisting mostly
of clay was burned into brick; by which the walls
OF our Legislative Hall and State Offices were cree
ted of earth much mixed with calcined human
bones For, on levelllng this mound, the pile was
found consist in large portions, OF decayed hu'
man bodies, mingled with their fellow earth. I'm
numbered skeletons, less decayed, we're thrown 10
the winds with as much carelessness as the sur
rounding dust. Several other things, the product oil
labor and art, were discoveredn this ingens bustafn
which we're dissipated with tasteless indifference
This was done 10 or IL years ago, when the build
ing Of the town was progressing.
The mound was not quite RACED TO its foundation
Having occasion to remove more OF II at this time
we daily make many remarkable discovers, by oc-
cular inspection. The workmen have, in many
places, excavaed six or seven feet below the base oil
the mound, whose difference they can easily disco
yer by the quality OF earth. Bones are deposited al
the depths of four and FIVE feet al small distances
from each other. Within six or seven square rods
superhcles, probably as many as two large cart
loads have been exhumated. Some OF the skeletons
lay entire, others scattered and confused In gene
raj, their size and shape do not differ from modern
skeletons OF the common varieties oil age. One
skull, being considerably decayed, is remarkable
for its thickness, being more than five -eighths Of
an inch thick. The upper Jaw contains the whole
ot the teeth, which all double, and larger than
usual. There is also one tooth within all the rest,
of regular shape and growing downwards in the di.
rcction OF the others. But the most singular dis
covery was two small pits Of four feet depth situated
a few feet east OF the site Of the mound One We
examined infinitely. Its bottom was covered with
Goals, ashes and bones, apparently the bones OF in
lants neatly consumed by fire. These were over
aid by stratum of clay and loan, the natural soil
/ his earthen urn was easily distingushabe amidst
the ruin Of its form, made by the lapse of time, by
the earth which covered it differing from the hard,
solid gravel that surrounded it. The pit was four
feet diameter.
Some small white stones are found on the skulls
OF some OF the skeletons. wrought into wide thin
beads, as handsomely polished as by any modern
lapidaty. In the same situation were found pieces
OF brass and "copper" irreguarly shaped into thick
beads. They are as large as hickory nut, their
form cylindrical, with tube as large as pipe
stem.
But lew OF these curlosities have been preserved
at ALL Some of them in possession Of those who
Will not readily part with them. But, we have
thought it due to the memory Of stupendous mo-
nument of the super ition, probably, Of an ancient
period-due to the philanthropy Of society, who
are snatching these perishing relics of antiquity
rom oblivion, and perpetuating them for the edit.
cation OF the present and succeeding ages.
Ohio DdD