The Hickman courier., 1877-06-08
Mound Excavations at PaysOn, Utah
TERRITORY.

We are kindly permitted, says the
Eureka New Sentinel, by gentleman
of this place to make public the follow
ing interesting letter from a friend at
Payson, Utah Territory.
SIR; Your letter requesting me to
furnish you information and a descrip-
tlon OF the fayson mounds and the late
discoveries made therein, | have received,
and herewith forward to you such
knowledge OF these ancient mounds as
possess. Inc mounds are situated on
what Is known as the PaysOn arm, and are
SIX IN number, covering about twenty
acres OF ground. They are from ten to
eighteen feet IN height and from 500 to
I,OOO feet In circumference. For years
farming was conducted on the land, and
helds OF gram We're planted, grew and
were harvested to the very base of the
homes OF the mound-builders, the busy,
hard-worklng tollers of the field ap
parently caring little how or when they
came here. About two years ago several
of the residents, whose curiosity had
been arrested regarding the mounds,
concluded to explore their interior to see
what could be found in the way of relics,
and perhaps to find the glittering treasure
that several spiritual mediums had said
was hidden In one of the mounds. The
explorations have divulged no hidden
treasure so far, but have proven to
US that there once undoubtedly existed
here more enlightened race of
human beings than that of the Indians
who inhabited this country, and whose
record has been traced back hundreds of
years. Last year, while engaged in ex-
cavating one of the larger mounds. we
discovered the feet of large skeleton,
and carefully removing the hardened
earth in which it was embedded, we sue
ceeded in unearthing an entire skeleton
without injury. The human frame
work measured six feet six inches in
length, and from appearances it was un-
doubtedly 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
being handled. Near the skeleton we
also found peices OF cedar wood, cut in
various fantastic shapes, and In a perfect
state of preservation, the carving show
ing that the people of this unknown race
were acquainted 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 to-
bacco had the appearance OF being drilled
out The inhabitants here say race of
people existed here 400 years. and bc-
Ionged to tribe known as the Nephites.
who were often referred to in the Book of
Mormon, which also speaks of terrible
encounters these people had with their
ancient enemy, the Lamonites. We
found another skeleton near the one
above mentioned, which was not quite as
large, and must be that of a woman.
There was a neatly-carved tombstone at
the head of this skeleton. Close by the
floor was covered with hard cement, to
all appearance part of the solid rock,
which, after patient labor and exhaustive
work, we succeeded in penetrating and
found it was but the corner Of a box
similarly constructed, In which we found
about three pints of wheat kernels, most
OF which dissolved when brought in con
tact with the light and air.
We have found many curiOsities in the
mounds belonging to this ancient race
once inhabiting this section. We find
houses in all the mounds, the rooms of
which are as perfect rs the day they were
built. All the apartments are nicely
JldSttItu5 solile III Nu4Nt- OLutES III 4 Itu
color crockery ware, cooking utensils,
vases-many Of pattern similar to the
present age-are also found. Upon one
large stone Jug or vase can be traced
a perfect delineation of the mountains
near here for distancs of twenty miles
We have'found several miIl-stones used in
grinding corn, and plenty of charcoal
corn cobs, with kemals not unlike what
we know as yellow dent corn We Judge,
from our observations, that these ancient
dwelleTs of our country followed agricul-
ture for a livelihood, and had many of
the arts and sciences known to US, as we
found molds made of clay, for casting
different implements, needles made of
deer-horns and lasts made of stone, and
which were in good shape. We also find
many trinkets, such a. white stone beads
and marbles, as good as new; also, small
squares of polished stone resembling
dominoes, but for what use intended we
cannot determine. | have endeavOred to
give you lull description Of the expIo-
ratiOns 80 far