Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-08-02
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial, July q
More of the Mysteries.

Correspondence of the Cincinnati Commercial, July 81
More of the Mysteries.
Curious ArcheologicaL developments in the Ancient
Mounds near Necark-Erhumation of a Rude
Oakea Coffin or dug. o,a'-A Human Sket
eton and its artificial Lntegments-C Copper
Rings, &C.
Mr. David Wyrick, of Newark, notifies me-
under date Of July 25th, that other archaoog
ical discoveries have just been made in an
ancient stone mound near Newark Readers
may decide upon the merits of these develop
ments for themselves. scarcely need remark
that persons who have paid any attention to
the archaeology of the west need no assurance
that similar discoveries have been made else
where, and that the antiquity of these at New
ark are undoubted. They tell their own tale
Mr. Wyrick says
"TO-day we were examining the contents Of
a large stone tumulus about eight miles south
of Newark. 1t was built of StOne-forty feet
high, on a base of nearly two hundred eet
diameter. Alter the stone had been removed
to within six or eight feet of its base, three
earlhen tumuli were discovered within the
perimeter of its base, with every indication of
three or more on the opposite side There ,cas
nell IN the centre Of the circle ten feet deep to the
toater. The first mound was opened, and in it
was found enclosed rude oak coffin. 1t was
evidently hewed out Of a solid log about eight
feet long, with an instrument similar to our
old-lashioned grubbing hose, or carpenters
adze in not very good order. Within it was
human skeleton. Ten copper rings of about
three inches diameter, occupied position as
il they had been deposited upon the breast of
the corpse, with other articles. 1t was envel
oped in a species Of woven fabric, so fragile
that when exposed to the atmosphere it crum.
bled into dust at the touch.
cine coffin had been laid on longitudinal
beams of timber, over which were laid cross
ties six or eight inches apart. The whole de-
post was then buried with earth six or eight
feet deep and covered with monster heap of
stone Doubtless the other mounds contain
similar treasures.
"Under this heap of stones were likewise
found two copper kettles of different capac
ties-one of about five, the other of ten or
twelve gallons The largest WdS filled with
flint arrovheads Or spears, differing from the
well known Indian flint arrow-heads).
Upon finding the coffin, and partially ex-
aiming its contents, it was left in charge of
the owner of the premises, when the discov.
erer returned to Newark, with four of the
copper rings and fragment of the coffin, with
the intention Of returning the succeeding day
yesterday with a sufficient number of wit
nesses OF character, to remove the relics as
perfectly as possible"
l will not presume to attempt to show the
antiquity Of these relics. Readers who are
doubtful may solve all their doubts by refer
ring to Caleb Atwater's communications to the
American Antiquarian Society mot the best
authority, however, to Souier and Davis pa
perS in the first volume of the Smithsonian
Contributions tn EDo,vtn1,ro h,
found at the Mercantile Library, Or to a dozen
other standard authorities upon the subject OF
American archaeology. Some may suggest
that this skeleton was that Of an Indian The
difference i'll the customs, character, &C., OF
the Indians and mound builders is apparent to
any one, and none understood the subject
better than Mr., Wyrick. Aud here take the
liberty to remark that Mr.. w rick has con-
clu1ed to give the public the benefit of his re-
searches into Ohio archaeology in volume
which, doubt not, will prove more thorough
and satisfactory than any yet written upon the
subject.
Since my first appearance in the holy stone
business, great many curious antiquities
have been found in the ancient mounds OF
Ohio, which have never been mentioned in
the newspapers-haveb been produced by gen
tlemen OF high character, with all necessary
exhibited. DIR. Unzicker among others, has Il
stone plummet, the conjugate diameter OF
which is aboutone and half inches, the trans
verse diameter being perhaps two and halt
inches. 1t is granite, well polished, with two
creases on the neck or point for cord. No
man could possibly mistake its uses. 1t was
found IN Butler county some years ago.
Hon. L. c. Day has other curious relics,
which resemble ordinary weights used in
trade. They consist of sandstone-but not
the sandstone common to this region. The
smallest weighs perhaps third of pound,
the largest nearly pound. | have the former
in my possession. 1t resembles weight pre-.
csely, excepting it is concave on both sides.
In the center Of one side there is hierogly-
phic which has not yet been deciphcred. The
diameter of the fiat side is perhaps two and a
half inches, and il is an inch thick in the cen
ter, and an inch and three eighths thick on the
perimeter. There are several theories con.
corning the uses to which it was adapted by
the makers. 1t seems obvious it was used for
a weight. Some suppose, however, it was
part OF barometer. DIR. Unzickcr thinks it
possible it was an article used in some OF the
games of the mound builders. 1t was plowed
up in field near the tumuli at Newtown, in
this county, by Mr.. Days father, some TWEEN
ty-five years ago 1t is not at all probable it
was made by white men or Indians and it is
altogether likely it belonged to the mound
builders
From the Boston Transcript.
D. 1