Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-01-05
Number 6.
A sss.ad Opening.

Some two weeks since We assisted in
penetrating some distance into one Of
the large mounds on the flats Of Grave
Greek. believed to have been Of saeri-
fetal character, and probably contain
ling valuable relics. Although our COM
pany penetrated about thirty feet in,
and to the depth of about twelve feet,
near to a level with the surrounding
earth, we discovered nothing of an i'm
portant character toward settling the
question ofthe people who built it.
Since that time, that perseverino,
thorough snd intelligent archaeologist,
Mr.. Willis D'Hsss, in behalf Of the
Smithsonian Institute, proceeded to a
further exploration of the mound on
level with the first opening, and finding
nothing, they commenced again near the
mouth of the entry and began descent.
They had not proceeded far, when
little below The surface of the surroun-
ding earth they struck upon stcne.-
This was the edge of circle of about
sixteen feet in diameter, the stone form
ing the surface of concave circle being
placed upon edge from circumference to
centre. The stone varied in weight
from about twenty to one hundred and
fifty lbs. and were laid with great care.
In the centre, at the bottom of the cist,
was flat stone of about twenty by thir-
ty-six inches in size. This removed
there were three in depth, and under the
last were charcoal and ashes.
The charcoal is fresh and perfect in
grain, the ashes show large admixture
of lime, are apparently animal or bone
ashes, parts of these adhering with such
tenacity as to sometimes break the stone
in removing them. These ashes ex-
tended under the whole surface of stone,
and varied in thickness from centre to
circumference. Under the ashes was
coating of white clay, very firm, contain
ing small portion of lime. This was
about three inches and a half in thick
ness, and under it was stratum ofcoarse
sand not found in this country. The
sand was little more than FIVE inches
in thickness. when the diggers came to
the natural sand loan of the soil around.
This was five and half feet below
the surface, and the excavation was
clearly made before the mound was COM
menced and for the purpose of some form
of worship or sacrifice. The stones,
which were partially lime, were not
acted upon by the fire, showing that
they were laid on after the wood and
bodies were consumed, or that the ashes
were deposited there having been pre-
viously burned. The distance from the
top of the mound to the bottom of the
cist is eighteen feet, from the surface of
the adjoining soil to the top of the
mound, twelve feet and half perpen-
dicular height, the diameter of the
mound at the base, about seventy feet.
Among the ashes in the centre of the
vault were small pieces of bones, evi-
IDENTIFY having undergone the process of
fire. Above the stones forming the
centre of the concavity, was found a
skeleton in an evidently charred state.
One part of the forearm bone, about
four inches long and very large, was in
the most perfect condition. Close 10 the
skeleton were two copper wristlets that
compare accurately in general shape
with those worn by the Northwestern
Indians, but are much larger. They
are beautiful in form and workmanship,
though somewhat corroded, and were
almost exactly alike. The copper is
rather more ductile than that Of the ma
tive Lake Superior copper, corresponding
nearly with the hammered copper now
in use. They were hammered, not cast.
These wristlets from the shapes were
worn tight to the wrist, and yet were
ten inches in circumference or an inch
larger'than the largest wrist in this city.
This mound is outside of the area ap-
propriated to mounds and Notifications
in the flats of Grave Greek, is about. a
mile from the river and not more than
one hundred yards from the spurs of the
mountains. The natural beauty or the
scene from the mound is rarely surpass-
ed in this beautiful country. It is evil
dent that it had peculiarly sacred
character, but for what especial purpose
it was for, further investigations and
comparisons must determine.
There has been a growing interest in
the antiquities Of this country for some
years, and the best informed men, though
not the best bookmskers, have settled
into the full belief that race ofpeople
once existed here, who had an alphabet,
who possessed a knowledge Of some
means of tempering copper, that We
have not, and who could braze it with
substance now unknown.
Wheeling Times.