The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-06-14
Mementoes Of the Utah Mound Builders

we are kindly permitted by a gentleman
OF this place to make the public the follow
ing interesting letter from friend at Pay
son, Utah Territory:
The mounds are situated on what is known
as the Payson Farm, and are six in number,
covering about twenty acres of ground.
Last year, while excravating one of the lar
ger mounds, we discovered the feet of a
large skeleton, and carefully removing the
hardened earth in which it was embedded,
we succeeded in unearthing an entire skele-
ton without injury. The human Frame
work measured six feet six inches in length,
and from appearances it was undoubtedly
of the male gender. In the right hand was
huge iron or steel weapon which had been
buried with the body, but which crumbled to
pieces on handling. Near the skeleton we
also found pieces Of cedar wood, cut in vari-
GUS fantastic shapes, and in perfect state
OF preservation, the carving showing that
the people OF this unknown race were ac-
quainted with the use of edged tools. We
also found large stone pipe, the stem of
which was inserted between the teeth of the
skeleton. The bowl Of the pipe weighs five
ounces, made Of sandstone, and the aperture
for the tobacco had the appearance of being
drilled out. The inhabitants here saw race
OF people existed here fourteen hundred
years ago, and belonged to tribe Known as
the Nephites, who are often referred to in
the Book of Mormons, which also speaks of
terrible encounters these people had with
their ancient enemy, the Lamonites. We
found another skeleton near that of the above
mentioned, which was not quite as large,
and must be that OF woman. There was a
neatly-carved tombstone at the head of this
skeleton. Close by the floor was covered with
a hard cement, to all appearances a part of
the solid rock, which, after patient labor and
exhaustive work, we succeeded in penetrate
ing, and found it was but the corner OF box
similarly constructed, in which we found
about three pints of wheat kernels, most of
which Dissolved when brought in contact with
the light and air. A few of the kernels
found In the centre OF the heap looked bright,
and retained their brightness on being eX-
posed. These were carefully preserved, and
last spring planted and grew nicely, though
the field insects seemed determined to de-
YOUR it. We raised four and half pounds
of heads from these few grains. The wheat
is unlike any other raised in this country,
and produces large yield. 1t is Of the club
variety-the heads are very long, and hold
very large grains.
We have found many curiosties in the
inhabiting this section. We find houses in
all the mounds, the rooms of which are as
perfect as the day they were built All the
apartments are nicely plastered, some in
white, others in red color; crockeryware,
cooking utensils. vases-many of pattern
similar to the present age-are also found.
Upon one large stone jug or vase can be
traced perfect delineation of the mountains
near here for q distance of twenty miles.
We have found several milLstones, used in
grinding corn and plenty of charred corn
cobs, with kernels not unlike what we know
as yellow dent corn. We Judge from our
observations that these ancient dwellers of
our country followed agriculture for liveli-
hood. and had many Of the arts and scien-
ces known to us,as we found moulds made of
clay for casting Of different implements need
les made of deer horns, and lasts made of
stone, and which were in good shape. We
also find many trinkets, such as white stone
beads'and marbles, as good as made now;
also, small squares of polished stones re-
sembling dominoes, but for what use intend
ed we cannot determine. have endeavor-
ed to give you full description of the ex-
plorations so far, and as we continue will
keep you nformed.-[Eureka (Ne,o.) Senti-
MEL