Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-10-04

Archaeological Research - Recent
Discovery OF Corn Crushing Mills
of Stone.
Special Correspondence of the New York Evening
Telegram.
FELToN, DEL Sept. 25.-For the last
five years systematic examination Of
the archaeological remains Of Delaware
has been conducted by Francis Jordan,
Jr., of the Antiquarian Society vi Phila-
delphia, and these Investigations have
resulted In discoveries of much value to
the observer interested In this branch of
scientific research. In conversation with
Mr.. Jordan today your correspondent
learned that the remains Of an ancient
Indian town at Rehoboth, four miles
south of Cape Henlopen, have already
been discovered, and recently
careful examinations have been
made of the artificial shell de-
posits at Long Neck Branch, and
of the extensive mounds that o.
cur on the sand flats in front
Of Lewes. Southern Delaware pos.
sessed unusual attractions for the Indians
on account o. its proximity to the oyster
beds and fishing grounds Of the lower
bay, and the vast aooumulations Of
Kitchen debris that have been found on
It's shores furnish strong evidence that
for centuries a multitude Of people an
nually visited this locality. Eligible
sites an the little bays and inlets were
selected for their temporary villages and
occupied during the months succeeding
the planting season. The remark
able deposits on Lewes and Long
Neck Branch are two miles
apart and separated by fine forest,
and, although they have an identical an
tiquity, their condition is very different.
Long Neck Branch is narrow strip Of
land mile and a half west OF Cape Hen.
lopen, which century ago projected into
an inlet from the sea, where now only an
immense salt meadow exists. The shell
hills occupy this neck Of land on an eleva-
tion that was then above high water
mark and traverse its entire length, which
extends half mile from east to west and
is 500 feet wide at its base.
A large part OF the deposit is covered
with grove of pine trees, which have
grown up since the spot was deserted, and
among them number whose oortioal
| rings denote an age Of over 200 years. II
any other evidence were needed, this
would establish the prehistoric character
| growth have contributed to their preserva-
| ton, and where the roots have arrested
disintegration, the composition of these
| acoumulations can be studied as aocu-
| rately as If their abandonment had been
recent event. They consist of hard
| shell clam, oyster and oonoh shells and
| the broken bones of animals, and a
marked feature is the abundance of char
coal and cracked and oalcined stone.
These cinders and stones are the rem
nants of aboriginal 6replaoes. Fragments
of earthenware OF extraordinary size were
found among the charcoal, and whenever
excavations were made the yield OF pot
terry was large and the shells in q more
| perfect condition than generally occurs.
| A short distance from the hills, on the
surface of the sand, or directly underly.
ing it, were found several hundred speci-
mems OF stone implements, comprising
| axes, hammer-stones, oelts, finished and
unfinished arrow heads, and number Of
perforated ornaments-many of them
rare to arohaologists. Evidence of a trail
through the glades, and connecting the
enoampment with pond of fresh water,
from which the Indians obtained an un-
limited supply, are plainly visible.
The mounds at Lswes are more exten
sive than at Long Neck Branch, but less
interesting, because they have lost much
of their original form. When the
Swedes landed on the spot where Lewes
now stands this shell deposit lined the
banks of an estuary that entered from
the bay, and the bed of this dried-u
stream may still be traced. A very large
number of stone implements were also
found here, together with two pipes O
unique design, several ornamental tubef
and two portable stone corn milis-ont
weighing over 100 pounds, and contain.
ing in one of its concavities the grindi (
stone, probably just as the Indian womer
had left it. Thirty years ago the Lewes shel
heap was Is to 20 feet high, and the daz,
cling whiteness of the bleached shells mad,
: them conspicuous object far at sea, bu
nnw they have an altitude that will
hardly measure as many inches. Thu
great faotor in this work of demolition
has been utilitarian man, by whom tom
: Of decomposed shells have been oartet
,, away and their valuable phosphate uset
: for fertilizing purposes, and the elements
, are gradually obliterating what remains
Mr.. Jordan is at present compiling a worl
! in which he will give the result of hi
labors in Delaware during the past sum
mer and part Of which will appear in
/ forthcoming publication by the Smith
> sonian Institution.