Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-29
as partially concealed from view by

was partially concealed from view by
ferns, fallen leaves and other accumula-
appeared among the leaves and moss, nearly
every one OF which showed well defined evil
dences OF having been tested by the picks OF the
ancient miners In an hours search among the
ruins ne found several we'll preServed dishes,
which, being too heavy for removal he con.
cealed, with the Intention of returning at an
early day TO reclaim them The subsequent
discovery or the SoapStone quarry In Amelia
county. Va, and the subsequent interest
Ing Investigation OF the same by Mr.. Frank
Gushing, OF the Smithsonian Instituuoa
led him TO communicate to Professor Baird
the existence OF the Dumbarton quarry
who requested him to make an early visit
10 the locality In company with MIR. CuSh-
Ing, who, at the time, was still absent tn Viz
GINA On his return, both visited the mine In
company, and In brief time succeeded In find
Ing proiusion of unfinished aud broken uten-
Sis Their search demonstrated the fact that
the quarry was superior to any similar remain,
SO lar as known, on the continent They dis
ures, no less than seven well defined shafts or
excavaties. which led into the hill, whence the
early potters had procured quantity OF stone,
superior to that found upon the surface
With the exception of the southern side. the en-
tire hill Is composed of the much desired pot
stone. About midway from the base OF the
OF an ancient shaft formed for the purpose of
testing the quality of the mineral, which at this
point Changes into coarse g~anite-looking
f foe now being auarrled by the neighboring
farmers From the stream at the northern
1ase the hill Is about IS feet high, 600 III
len ts, and 800 in breadth. Its general
out Int resembles truncated pyramid, with
Its highest plane at the eastern END.
on the nor ,hern side 1t descends to the creek,
Passes under it. ascendS precipitouSly and ex-
pands into distinct quarry more than three
umes the magnitude or the one under discus
sion. The creek which forms the mutual
boundary between the quarrieS runs for hun
dreds OF feet over beautiful uneven greenish-
gray floor OF soapstone, worn into fantastic ruts
and pools by the sand and pebbles brought
down from the adjacent fields during the spring
and an "a. autumn floods. In careful study
mentioned, many hundred dishes were found.
All were more or less broken yet OF extreme In
te1est, and having a permanent value. Among
c chtse relics Were found many quarzite picks
spade with which the earth was removed while
making an opening into the hill. The vast
number Of unfinished and broken bowls and
dishes found about the hillside, and the conven>
ienee Of the quarry to the river sustained his
belief, that this must have been point of much
commercial interest to the Indians in pre- Col
size, and shape; degree of thinness
to which reduced, and particularly those
showing slo the grooves and burrows produced by
the cutting instrument with which they were
FABRICATED, were exhibited by DR.. Reynolds to
the audience. In selecting masses Of soapstone
ior domestic wares, the natives seem to have
Inc Inc Size and shape OF the dish in contempla-
ton. Some OF the unfinished blocks are high
ana massive, with thick wallis and bottO rs
which, being OF the proper hardness, would
seem to indicate that mortar was inten led
broad, shallow dish. with slightly
elevated rim and a thick bottom, could
nave nav &c peen l.,,s used .s either as baking
ZION with fiat stone mullers. or broad bot
toned pestles: In this shape no such solidity
as In the mortar was required as the mullerS
were used In rotary manner. AT first glance
1t you'd seem that this mineral is too friable
and Yielding to be successfully employed for
such purpose; but thorough knowledge of its
pecu1aritieS, 1t becomes quite hard and durable
when exposed to heat or long continued atmo5-
pheric influence. This property renders 1t valu-
able In ornamental architecture where elaborate
designs and economy OF tine and exposure In
their execution could be combined. Nearly ali
these dishes are supplied with handles at the
ends, OF earllke shape, from tie fourth OF an
inch to an inch and a half In length. In one
instance was dish With one handle near the
top and the other at the bottom of the extretn-
lily. The capacity OF these dishes was from
pint 10 seven gallons, and they are generally or
circular or oval shape.
g. After fully explaining the different dishes be-
fore the society DR.. Reynolds said that
the excavations were made upon regular
six to ten feet large was sunk
dow eight or ten feet until the underlying
ledge was reached. A horizontal trench was
next commenced at the bottom and carried out
ward IN sloping manner until the surface of
the nil was reached. This trench was probl-
bly, made to enable the miners to remove large
masses of SoapstOne with ease, and serve TO
carry away the water Which would collect In
tue bottom. The lecturer then proceeded to
describe the large quarry on the north side OF
the stream, and said he was led to believe that
at ie lei e Jour hundle years must have passed
S1Lce this quarry was worked to any extent. An
air or extreme antiquity now fingers about
these relics OF rude race OF people whose
descendants are each day being pressed more
closely TO the wall In their hopeless struggle
with civilization.