New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-07
GRAVES OF LEyyLLEYAPE INDIANS.


An INTERESTING EXPLORATION on TILE BANKS OF
HE BRANDYwINE.
lFRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE
PHILADELPHIA, July 2.-FOr more than fifty
yeaI an extensive Indian battle-ground has been known
TO exist the banks Of tho Brandywine, In
Chester County, but until the past year the
owner of the property mas refused to allow II 10
be desecrated. Permission having been Obtained
however to open of the graves, party of scientific
gentlemen connected with the Philosophical Society Of
West Chester, Penu recently made most satisfactory
examination of them. The cemetery is situated on
conspicuous knoll 300 yards from the creek III
grove of hickory and oak trees, covering area OF
probably 100 feet in diameter The ground whore they
occur has been disturbed, although the plough
has been gradually encrOachng upon the cemetery for
years. and mas oblteraed all signs of manyof the out
lying graves. At present about fifty Of them can be
traced by shallow dcpEessOns on the surface OF TIE SOIL
Upou digging into these hOlOws skeletons found
at an average depth Of three and half feet In various
stages OF disnegratiOn and, IN the majority OF H.
stances associated with objects OF European lntrodac-
ton About twenty of these graves opened with
the following results Around the neck OF one skeleton
was found necklace composed OF nineteen spherical,
opaque mllky-wnc Venetian b. ads eacI one measuring
about an inch i'll diameter. such patterns nave been
found in many parts of the State, and were evidently
eagerly sought in barter by the natives la another
grave were discovered large quantities Of snal! red and
alnber-colored specimens about the size Of buckshoL
In the same grave we're found two guu-fnts and u
highly polished fiat, eptical stone three inches III
length Two clay pipes also found, OF antique
FORM with the initials r. t. stamped IN the bowls,
which are ascertaned to have boon made in England
abou the middle of the seventeenth century, probably
by Richard Tyler noted early manufacturer OF Whiic
clay tobaccppipes. Thirteen long wrought-ron nais
were also discovered scattered around the skeleton,
opd adj q Them
that the pody had been encased wooden coffin. In
another grave were brought to light number Of Euro
pean trinkets such brass hnger-rlngs, coins ana
heads of several uncommon varieties. The most inter
esg and valuable Objects however, were several per-
iorated stone tubes varying from half an inch TO TWO
inches in length fOuI-sided and tGpering IN form.
These were of native workmanship, and had been worn
as anu cts ornaments. The stone Of which they
are composed Is dark-browns slate Of considerable
hardness Portions OF robes and textile fabrics were
also uuearhed One of the graves seemed TO have bsen
the resting place of prOmlueut man OF the tribe as re-
veaed by the large number OF objects associated win
the skeleton Tue of the property states that AT
one time, within his memory two grdVtstohes adorned
OF the tOmps when were covered win merogyph-
ca characters or pctoSIaphs out theso nave Deeh re-
moved and lost.
The bodies were placed AT an average 9ep,h OF .hIGe
aud haf feet extending on tdelr backs from east 10
west. They IN SOME cases buried III rude wooden
boxes, showing that communication with Tue WHITES
had taken place, as was also SHOWN IN me NUMBER OF
European
dams The graves date back only century OF two.
some the skeletons in olerdble state OF preser
walton, while others have become entirely dlslntc-
grated When it's known that the remains OF the Deia-
ware Indians IN Pennsylvania are exceedingly scarce
that all OF the graves IN various portions OF the
state which been thus far opened have revealed
the tact OF Intercourse with the carry settlers these par
cuar graves possess considerable Int rest showing
The extent OF such communication, ana the influence
winch was being eYered the customs OF the last
sIrylvols of the IrIbe by the adventurous whites.
Although sufficient number Of these graves have been
examined 10 reveal the general character OF their
tents IL Is proposed to continue these Investigations at
an early DAY. In order ~ ascertain what other facts
may DC developed.