Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-11-25
Discovery OF Indian Relies.
SALEM. Mass, Nov. l6.
,r of the Caiedonidti

SALEM, Mass, Nov. 10.
TO the Editor of The Caledonidn:
On Tuesday, Nov. 10Th, most remark.
able Indian burial ground was discovered
aud examined at Marbehead. Mass. by q
party of gentlemen connected with the
Essex Institute of Salem. The place
where these remains we're found is desig.
mated as the Indian burial Ground in an.
cient deeds, il is also made the site Of an
old fort by town traditions, aud the numer.
Gus deprcssiOns which dot the surface are
supposed to mark the line of the defensive
works. though one can hardly see aay
signs of an ancient breastwork in these ir-
regular depressions. This locality has
never before been examined.
The party left Salem in a barge about
ga IN, with a full supply of digging
utensils, and proceeded to a hill in Mar
blchead, which overlooks Salem, across
the harbor of that city. On reaching the
brow Of the hill, measurements were care
fully taken and plan of the spot was
made. This being done the excavations
begun they were about three feet in diam
eter. reaching down to the hard-pan, vary
ing from two to thre feet, and were made
directly over the circular deprcsslons.
Nothing of interest was found except
few bits of charcoal and shells, and about
| p. NJ. the party left the excavations and
proceeded to investigate the lunch baskets.
a short distance off. Upon resuming work,
a new trench was opened and at the depth
of two feet the shovel struck something
which proved to be part Of human tibia.
The soil was then carefully removed and
a skull, In good state of preservation was
unearthed The excavation was then en-
larged, and after several hours OF cautious
labor the area Of the grave was outlined,
disclosing Ave skeletons four of which were
in wonderful state Of preservation the
fifth however was nearly all decomposed,
it evidently being a child. They were
closely laid side by side aud all but one
faced to the East, the other, which was
smaller than the others, and may have
been a female, was facing the West. The
bodies had been placed IN a sitting pos
ture, but buried GU their backs, with Il
stone under either eud Of each body.
With the skeletons were found three fine
Indian cups, pestlc. two glass beads,
several pieces of copper tubes, used as or-
naments for the hair, and large shell,
of kind not found North of Cape Cod.
Finding it impossible to remove the re.
mains tetore night, two members Of the
Institute, one Of chem your correspondent,
volunteered to Stay by them over night, as
it was not considered safe to leave them
unguardsd. The next day visitors began
to arrive before six in the moroing. aud
as many as Two thousand persons visited
the locality before the bones ere entirely
removed, A foe photograph Oft the grave
was obtained, after which the work of re.
moving them was commenced. and, effect
cd aftef six hours Of hard labor, and they
will soon be on exhibition at the museum
of the Institute
These graves arc supposed to be about
ECO years old, aud are considered the
most important discovery Of the kind ever
made III Essex Co., and will doubtless
throw new light on the subject of Indian
Archaeology, E.S g.
-------------------- q 90 --------