The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-11-09

A slight cist had been excavated, which
received the body free from cement or
stone encasement, and having placed with
it the few personal articles which orna-
mented it in life, careful covering OF
sand was made to the height of the cist,
and terminating in small tumulus.-
The sand had evidently been carried from
nearer point. This is a peculiarity, and
worth attention. Respect for the dead
would not permit him to be buried in the
coarse gravel of the plain where the
graves are located.
of the articles of personal adornment
recovered were parts of two metallic or
naments, brooches or ear-drops, found in
close proximity to the head They are
an alloy, pewter perhaps, circular in form
and two inches in diameter Also two
spiral wire sprigs of brass, one inch in
lengh and half an inch in diameter, and
three or four shell beads, one quite large
! These are by far the most valuable and
interesting relics recovered, as they are
purely aboriginal, while the metallic ar
ticles are of European fabrication. In
addition to those discovered was the rude
form of pocket knife, but so oxydized
as to be almost undistinguishable. Of
course these articles, with the exception
of the bone beads, are of white mans
manufacture, and utterly valueless to the
archaeoligist The occupant cf this hum
BILE tomb lived after interviews had been
established between the whites and In
dians. This discovery dispelled all illu-
sions of great antiquity. It was interest
ing, however, as showing the mode of
burial practised by the wild tribes who
roamed these period Of settlement by the
whites. Such discoveries are valuable to
science, and the gentlemen who made the
researches considered themselves amply
remunerated for their trouble.
The cranium is worthy the attention of
ethuologists. It is properly orthognath-
Gus, resembling the round headed Cal
muck, figured by Haxley. The forehead
is tolerable full, the zygomanc processes
prominent, bat not the maxilliary and or
bital conformations which distinguish the
common Indian. These indicia, with a
fair facial angle, might raise doubt with
some as to the true character Of the per-
son buried were it not for counterbalanc-
ing proofs. Part of the right superior
naxilliary being gone, it is somewhat diff
ticult to determine how much of pro-
nathous from there may be, which in an
almost unfailing characteristic of all
Ncmadic races. write these hasty notes
without having given the skull careful
examination. Perhaps further examina-
ton may support some additional facts
1t is in possession of my friend l.. W.
Brodhead, Esq, proprietor of the Kitta
tinny House, and will constitute fea-
ture in his collection of antiquities for
this locality. To Mr. B. the public are
mainly indebted for these explorations
He is a gentleman of taste, Judgment and
refinement
This is region of much interest to the
student in archaeology. 1t is field rich
in minor remains OF aboriginal art
desire to be explicit. The classes of re-
mains are found in the Delaware and
subordinate valleys; those representing
the stone age, and the more recent as de-
velopcd by to-day's researches. Not a
single article belonging to the stone age
was found in the tomb opened to-day, un-
less we except the bone bead-bone and
stone going together in the first era of
mans progress toward civilization. The
stone implements, ornaments, &c, found
along the Delaware are exceedingly rude,
and show the people who used them but
little advanced The terra Gotta, as re-
presented by the fragments which | have
seen, show low state of the Gctile art
No specimens of the bronze age have been
discovered. A few Illuminated pieces OF
copper, and a single axe of the same me-
tai, have been found A letter from an
early citizen Of Easton to John Hiche
wolden, the Moravian missionary, in 1911,
referring to an Indian grave on the bor-
der of lake on the summit Of klttatln-
ny mountain, mentions "brass kettle
as among the contents. This, like the
metallic articles taken from the grave ex
amined today, was undoubtedly of white
mans fabrication.
That the earlier occupants of the plain
on which are the graves alluded to, pos
sessed stone implements and instruments
there is scarcely a doubt. Some arrow
heads and an abundant supply of fin
spades have been found on the plain ant
near the burial ground. Further re
search, which it is contemplated to make
may develop valuable results. W. De Ii