Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-08
THE OHIO MOUNDS.
Interesting Paper Before the British
AssOciation-What a Careful ExpIora-
ton Has Disclosed.

| One Of the most interesting papers read
before the British Association today.
| says Montreal letter of Aug. 20 to the
New York EUeniHg Post, was by Pro.
| lessor +. W. Putnam, of Cambridge.
Mass, who gave a summary of a long
paper, illustrated by'large diagrams and
many photographs. This was a notice Of
the explorations Of group Of mounds in
the Little Miami Valley, Ohio. where
Professor Putnam and Doctor Metz have
been at work for the past three wears
under the auspices of the Peabody
Museum of American Archaeology at
Harvard College. Professor Putnam
called attention to the imperfect manner
in which mounds have generally been ex-
plored and to the Importance of thorough
work. He then by extemporized dia
grams and blackboard sketches showed
the singular structure of the largest
mound OF the group in question, which
was one hundred feet in diameter and
twelve feet high. This mound was sur
rounded by wall of stones which was
continued around five other adjoining
mounds. The stone was four feet high
and was below the natural surface. In
side of this wall were many stony struc-
lures. A system of thirty-two pits. each
about two feet in diameter and five feet
deep. was found. From each of these
pits tubes of clay from eight to eleven
feet long and about foot in diameter, ex-
tended toward the center Of the mound.
each tube or flue, as they have been
called, terminating in one or three up
right chimneys about two feet in height,
or, as in several instances, opening into
a large pit six feet deep, which was COW
cred by dome of clay. Around these
singular structures there had evidently
been frame structure, as traces of MANY
parts were found, the wood of some hay-
ing been changed to iron by the infilrta-
zion of the metal. The pits also showed
similar traces of having been lined with
wood. The contents of the flues and pits
were described, but until the chemists now
engaged upon an analysis of the singular
white, ash-llke substance found in the
fumes have completed their work, Pro-
fessOr Putnam thought that il would not
be safe to make conjecture as to the prob
able use of the pits. The absence of
burning on the sides of the pits showed
that fires had not been built in them, and
the so-called ashes may be something
else. Over these pits was layer of hard |
material formed by cement of iron and
gravel, and ON this were several burnt
clay hearths.
On one of the burnt places large num-
Der OF objects of various kinds were
found. These had been all thrown on
fire and were mixed with ashes and char
Among these objects were over $4,000 |
pearls, thousands of she'll beads, orna-
ments and beads made of native copper,
several ornaments made of or covered |
with meteOric iron and native silver,
many objects of stone, ornaments of mica |
etc., etc. Several photographs were shown
of some Of the more interesting of these
things.
Over this part of the mound was first a |
layer of clay mixed with charcoal, then |
layer of pure clay, then a thin stratum of |
sand, followed by one of pure clay, above |
which was another layer of clay mixed |
with charcoal; then one of clay, on which |
was covering of stones, and, finally, |
over this a covering of clay. In one part |
of this mound a large pit had been dug |
seven feet deep, at the bottom of which |
were two full human skeletons, around |
which were arranged sixteen skulls, |
without other bones of the skeletons. Six |
of these skulls had been bored with from |
two to nine small holes, and nearly all |
showed signs Of scraping, us if the flesh |
had been cut or scraped from the bone.
Altogether, as Professor Putnam stated, |
this mound and it's contents were most
remarkable, and the careful manner in
which the work had been conducted, at
an expense of nearly thousand dollars
for labor, was appreciated by the audi
tors,