Milford chronicle., 1883-10-05
DeIaware's stone Age.


The E0ening Telegram of the 26th ult gives
the following interesting report Oi researches
made at Lewes and RehObOth.-Fur the last five
years systematic examination OF the archeo-
logical remains OF Delaware has been conducted
by Francis Jordan Jr. Of the Antiquarian soci.
ETY., Of Philadelphia, and these Investigations
have result in discoveries OF murE value 10 the
observer interested in this branch OF scientific
research. In conversation with Mr.. Jordan to-
day your correSpo dent learned that the remains
OF an ancient Indian town at RehObOth, lOur
miles south OF Cape Hcnlopen, have already been
discovered, and recently careful examinations
have been made OF the artificial shell deposits at
Long Neck Branch, and OF the extensive mounds
that occur on the sand flats in front Of LsweS.
Southern Delaware ppssessei unusual attractions
for the Indians on account of its proximity to
the oyster beds and fishing grounds OF the lower
bay, aud the vast accumula lations OF kitchen de-
bris that have been found on its shores furnish
Siroug evdeuce that fbr centuries multitude Of
people annually visited this locality. Eligible
sites on the little bays and inletS were selected
for their temporary villages aud occupied during
the months succeeding the planting season. The
remarkable deposits on Lewes AVID Long Neck
Branch are TWO miles apart and separated by a
hne forest, and, although they have an identical
antiquity, their condition is very different. Long
Neck Branch is a narrow strip OF laud mile and
a half west Of Cape Henopen, which century
ago projected into an inlet from the sea, where
now ouly an immense salt meadow exists. The
shell hills occupy this neck of land on an eleva-
ton that was then above high water mark and
traverse us entire length, which, extends
half q mile from east 10 west and is 500 feet wide
at It's base.
TREES OVER TWO HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
large part OF the deposit is covered with
grove Of pine trees, which have grown up since
the spot was deserted, and among them num-
Der whose cortica rings denote an age OF over
two hundred years II any other evidence we're
needed this would establish the prehistoric char
acter of these mounds. The trees and under
growth have contributed to their preservation,
and where the roots have arrested disntegralOn,
tie composition of these accumulatiOns can be
studied as accurately as il their abandonment
had been recent event. They consist Of hard
shell clam, oyster and cJnch shells and the bro
ken bones of animals, and marked feature is
the abundance of charcoal and cracked and cal
rined stone. These cnders aud stones are the
remnants Of aboriginal hre places. Fragments
uf earIhenware OF extraordinary size were iound
among the charcoal. AID whenever excavations
we're made the yield Of pottery was large and
the sheds m more perfect coalition than gen.
erallv occurs short distance from the hills
pn the surface of the sand, or directly undery-
rg it. were found several hundred specimens OF
stone Implements, comprising axes. hammer
stones, ce IS finished and unfinished arrow heads
and number Of perforated ornaments-many
Df them rare to arch9ol~glsts. Evidences OF
rail through the glades. ami connecting the en-
cam, ment with p.nd OF fresh Waterfront which
Ibe Indians ohtalned an unlimited supply, are
plainly visible.
PREHISTORIC REMAINS.
The mounds at LeweS are more extensive than
at Long Neck Branch, but less interesting, be-
rause they have lost much Of their original form.
When the Swedes landed on the spot where Lew
ns now stands tbis shell deposit lined the banks
Of an estuary that entered rom the hay, and the
bed OF this dried-up stream may still be traced.
A very large number OF stone implements were
also found here, together with two plpes OF unique
leslgn, several Ornamental tunes ana Two poIta
bic stone corn mills-One weighing over hun
lfed pounds, and containing in one OF its eoncav-
ties the grIndi, & stone, probably just as the In
iian women had Left it. Thirty years ago the
,ewes shell heap was fifteen to twenty feet high
md the dazz ing whiteness Of the bleached shells
made them conspicuous object far at sea, but
low they have M autuie that will hardly meas.
ire as MAJ inches. Tue great factor in this
york OF demolition has been utiarian man, by
whom tons Of decornposed shells have been car.
ed away and their valuable phosphate used for
.rizlng purposes, and the elements are gradu-
lly oblteratng what remains. Mr.. Jordan is
[ present compiling work in which he will
i've the result Of his labors in Delaware during
he past summer and part Of which will appear
Al forthcoming publication by the Smithsonian
lsitutiJn.