Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1883-05-03
INDIAN MOUNDS.
RELICS OF A VANISHED RACE.
Twenty-Seyen Skeletons Unearthed.
(Lenoir Topic.)

DIR. Spainhour and Mr.. Rogan have
continued their Investigations and have
made some valuable discoveries. On
Tuesday and Wednesday of last week
they opened mound rs yards distant
from the first one and within a few
feet OF the present banks OF the Y ad-
kin, all on Rev. r 7. Nelson's land.
The skeletons of 81 Indians were
found. Two distinct methods of sepul-
ture have been met with. Of the 81
skeletons, 8 were buried in stone, that
is the remains were entirely surround
ed with stone, and no relics of any
sort were found with them There
were six stone sepulchres, two of them
containing each couple of skeletons
lying the one on top of the other, and
the bottom one having its arms and
legs stretched out and weighted with
heavy stones Over one of the stone
graves was found the half of one of
the mysterious 'pitted" stones, con-
cerning the uses of which in Indian
sepulchres there has heen so much
speculation. 1t is oval in shape, hav-
ing in the centre circular depression
large enough to hold hen egg.
At a distance somewhat removed
from these stone sepulchres were found
nine bodies buried separately and ten
at least, if not more, buried in bunch.
Of the ten but one wore ornaments,
and he presumably chief, was lying
at the bottom, face downward and
with outstretched arms. Around his
| wrists and neck were beads Of sea shell
alternating with hollow stems of bea-
ten copper plate about an inch long.
These shell and copper beads had evi-
IDENTIFY been once held together with
some sort of string, but it was decay
ed. His face rested in shell, veri-
table "conch," about as large as a
breakfast plate, the whole concaye
surface of which was filled with hero
glyphics cut into it with some sharp
instrument. The figures are mostly
square, circular or triangular, though
one or two irregular figures resembling
trees and bended arm are upon it
No tracings of animals are upon it, I
is doubtless the history Of the chief
career. Three other hierogl lyphi'
shells were found though not SO large
/ as this one. The presence of these
shell beads and conchs indicate either
that the mountain Indians went to the
sea coast or that they traded with the
coast tribes.
Plenty of hatchets,, Hurderous look
ing tomahaws, arrow tips of all sorts
some copper poison tt ps and a bushe
or more Of round, smooth rock useC
for dressing raw hides were found.
Thirteen pipes, some of soapstone
and others of serpetine, no two alike
in shape or ornament were found. One
beautiful serpentine pipe had an ami
NAL figure upon it-that of a buffalo
It was doubtless the chiefs pipe.
On the chiefs breast was found {
curious cup shaped ornament. 1t can
not be discovered whether it is ofstont
, or metal. 1t has two holes near th'
centre and all over the convex surface
are circular depressions. A glass bead
: red and white, about a half inch long
three pieces of iron, an inch wide
three inches long and an eighth of al
inch thick, much corroded, one Of th
, pieces having on one end some petri
,, fed wood tied around it with a petri
fed string, were found. It is though
to be the remnant of sword or larg
knife stolen in some foray made upol
: the low country whites.
The String or ligament whic
passed through the she'll beads an
copper stems, holding them together
it was not expected to discover, bu
two beads, one shell and one coppe
; we're actually found together and th
:, ligament was seemingly quite strong
Placed under the microscope its fibre
!. indicated that it was vegetable sui
: stance probably jute or hemp.
: The chiefs lower jaw bone had
!. perfect set of beautiful teeth. On
was decayed almost down to the gum
and one could almost hear him in in
agination grumbling because the ell
terprising investigator had not com
along in time to extract the tooth IL
stead of waiting $50 or 200 years t
. dig after his bones.
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