The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-06-17
Remains of a Giant Race in Ohio.

A correspondent of the Cincinnati
E71quirer, writing about the remains of
a giant race found in MusNingum
county, Ohio, says: The mound in
which these remarkable discoveries
were made was about sixty. four feet
long and thirty-fi five feet wide, top
measurement, and gently sloped down
to the hill where it was situated. A
number ofstumps of trees were found on
the slope, standing in two rows, and on
the top of the mound were an oak and q
hickory stump, all of which bore marks
of great age. All tue skeletons were
found on level with the hill, and about
eight feet from the top of the mound.
Now to a more particular description of
these antiquated remains:
In one grave there were two skeletons
one male and one female. The female
face was looking downward, the male
being Immediately y on top, with the face
looking upward. The male skeleton
measured nine feet in length, and the
female eight feet.
In another grave were also found two
skeletons-male and female-with the
female face looking upward and the
the male face looking downward. The
male frame in this case was nine feet
four inches in length and the female
eight feet.
In another grave was found female
skeleton which was incased in clay
coffin, holding in her arms the skeleton
of a child three feet and half long, by
the side of which was an image, which,
upon being exposed to the atmosphere,
crumbled rapidly.
The remaining seven were found in
single graves, and were lying on their
sides. The smallest of the seven was
nine feet in length, and the largest ten.
One single circumstance connected with
this discovery was the fact that not q
single tooth was found in either mouth
except in the one incased in the clay
coffin.
On the south end of the mound was
erected stone altar, four feet and half
| wide and twelve feet long, built on an
earthen foundation nearly four feet high,
having in the middle two large flag
stones, upon which sacrifices were un-
doubtedly made, for upon them were
found charred bones, cinders and ashes.
This was covered by about three feet OF
earth. This excavation was made un-
der the direction of the Muskingum
County Historical S ciety, and the things
alluded to in this letter, or dispatch, can
be verified by number of witnesses
|
work as it progressed. 1t was pu. sued
with great interest and diligence, there
being the strongest incentive to prose
cute the investigation, for such remark
able developments in mound-opening
are very rare, and are therefore fasci.
mating in the extreme. Their futur
labors were also rewarded with ad.
d itionalsd which, if they
do not throw additional light upon
this giant race otpeople that once in.
habited this country, will at leas
stimulate research.
What is now profound mystery the
result of the excavation may in tim'
become the key to unlock still furthe
mysteries that centuries ago were com
monplace affairs. refer to ston
that was found resting against the heat
Of the clay coffin above described. 1t i
an irregular-shaped red sandstone
weighing about eighteen pounds, beini
strongly impregnated with oxide o
iron, and bearing upon one side TIVE
lines of hieroglyphics.