St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-11-20
Discovery of Indian Relics.
SALEM, Mass, Nov. l6.

To the Editor of the CaIedOnidn
On Tuesday, Nov. 10th, Il most re-
markable Indian burial ground was dis
covered and examined at Marblehead, /
Mass. by party of gentlemen connect
ed with the Essex Institute of Salem.
The place where these remains were
found is designated us the Indian Bu
rial Ground in ancient deeds, it is also
made the site of all old fort by town
traditions, and the numerous depres-
SiOns which dot the surface are sup
posed to mark the line of the defensive
works. though one can hardly see any
signs of an ancient breastwork in these
irregular depressions. This locality has
never before been examined.
The party left Salem in Il barge about
Q Il. M, with Il full supply of digging
utensils, and proceeded to Il hill i'll
Marblchead. which overlooks Salem,
across the harbor of that city. On
reaching the brow of the hill, measure
ments were carefully taken and Il plan
of the spot WAS made. This being done
about three feet in diameter, reaching
down to the haId-pan, varying from
two to three feet. and We're made di
rcctly over the circular depreSsions.
Nothing of interest was found except IL
few bits of charcoal and shells. and
about p. III. the party left the cXcava-
tionS and proceeded to investigate the
lunch baskets. Il short distance of. Up
ON leSuminy work. Il new trench WIS
opened and ut Il depth of two feet the
shovel struck something which proved
to he part of human tihia. The soil
was then carefully removed and Il skull,
in good state of preservation WAS un-
earthed. The excavation WAS then en-
laIged. and after several hours of eau
tiouS labor the area of the grave was
outlined. disclosing five skeletons. four
) of which were in il wonderful state of
preservation the fifth however WAS
nearly all drcompoSed. II evidently he
lug Il child. They were closely laid
side 10y side and all but one faced t"
the East. the other which was smaller
. than the others, and may have been Il
= female. was facing the West. The
. bodies had been placed i'll Il sitting pos
: ture. but buried on their backs. with {;
stone under either end of each body.
With the skeletons were found three
tine Indian cups. pe>tle, tw" glass
beads. several pieces of copper tubes
used as ornaments for the hair. and 4
large she'll Of Il kind not found North
of Cape Col.
Finding 1t impossible t" remove til,
remains before night. tW" members Z"
the Institute one of them YOUR CORES
p"ndrnt. volunteered T." stay 10! then
over night. a> il WIS not considered sat,
to leave them unguaIdcd. The mex
day visitors began to arrive before 81,
i'll the morning. and a. many aS tive
thousand PERSONS visited the locality
before the bones were entirely removed
y fine photograph of the grave WAS "h
tanned. after which the work of rcnIoN
ing them was commenced. and. cil,ctc,
y after six hours at hard labor. and the,
will soon Ice on exhibition al the muse
uu of the Institute.
" These graves are supposed I" IL
about 200 Years old, and are conSiderr'
kind ever made in Essen CO.. and vii
= doubtless throw new light on the sub
irct of Indian Arch;rolo.N. f.. :. {.