The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-07
Mound Excavations at.Payson, Utah
 Territory.

MOunu EACavdedOns Ut -faysOn, Juan
 Territory.
 We are kindly permitted, says the Eureka (Nev.) Sentinel, by a gentleman of this place to make public the follow ing interesting letter from friend at Payson, Utah Territory:
 SIR: Your letter requesting me to furnish you information and a descrip- ton of the Payson mounds and the late discoveries made therein, l have received, and I herewith forward to you such knowledge of these ancient moundsas l possess. The 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 800 to 1000 feet in circumference. For years farming was conducted on the land, and fields of grain were planted, grew and were harvested to the very base of the homes of the mound builders, the busy, hard-working toilers 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 l 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 | ,hr sph hoh tvxy 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 a huge iron or steel weapon, which had been buried with the body, but which crumbIed 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 teols 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 oE 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 bs- l I- <O k-sl 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 woman. There was 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 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 as the day they were built. All the apartments are nicely plastered, some in white, others in red color; crockery ware, cooking utensils, vases s-many of pattern similar to the present age-are also found. Upon enc large stone jug or vase can be traced a perfect delineation of the mountains near here for distance of twenty miles, We have.found several mill-stones used in grinding corn, and plenty of charcoal corn cobs, with kernals not unlike what we know as yellow dent corn. We judge from our observations, that these ancient dwellers of our country followed agricul- ture for 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 az white stone beads and marbles, as good as new; also, small squares of polished stone resembling dominocs, but for what use intended we cannot determine. have endeavored to give you full description of the explo- rations so far.