The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1892-12-16
BURIAL PLACEOF GIANTS.
Skeletons of an Ancient Race Un-
earthed in Indiana.
Many Traditions brought Out by the Dis
covery - Evidences of an Extinct
Tribe of Very Large


rich archaeological find was recent
ly unearthed two miles west of Craw-
fordsviue in gravel pit along the
high bluffs of Sugar creek. Thus far
twenty-five skeletons of Brobdingnagian
stature have been eXhumed, and the un-
burying of these mammoth bones is
still going on. This metropolis of long
ago is filed with excited hunters of
curios and scientific students from
Wabash college almost continually, and
as soon as removed from the gravel
their rattling bones are carried away To
become part of departments of arch
eology, which are being esta blished all
over the city.
The last skeleton taken from the
burial ground was a gigantic one. meas
uring seven feet in length. The femur
alone would prove that the skeleton
was that of a giant, and tEe pelvic
bones are twice as large aS those of an
ordinary man. The grinning skull of
the giant had perfect set of teeth, not
one cracked or decayed, and with an
enamel as beautiful as polished marble.
The bones were perfect in every detail,
Notwithstanding the fact that they must
have been inferred here for centuries
The entire absence of vegetable matter
in. the soil and the perfect drainage
would account for the preservation of
the bony structure.
OF the whole number of skeletons
thus far found only two indicate i'm
mature development, the remainder rep
resenting the framework of a race of
men evidently extinct for centuries.
This Is certainly the first discovery of
skeletons in which the characteristic
development of giants has been Oh
served 1t is thought by local scien-
fists that these bones belong To tribe
of aborigines, but this theory cannot be
fully established by the material
structure of the skeleton.
Although no implements or orna-
ments were found buried with the
bones, yet in close proximity many in
struments of warfare and domestic
utensils were found. They are mostly
composed of stone, though some are
composed of copper and n few of shell
and bone The stone implements are
lllnt spears and arrow heads, and appear
To be wrought with exceeding great
skill. Pottery is found in great abun-
dance. For many years specimens of
these pots have been unearthed in this
region, especially along the banks of
the creek.
Nome Of these skeletons was found in
a separate grave, they being for the
most part piled together IN one conglom-
crate mass Ten were found in one
place i'll close contact, facing the set
ting sun, and arranged in a sitting
posture Many of the bones found
farther down the bank, and IN Il soil in
which there was more vegetable matter.
crumbled TO dust as soon as exposed to
the atmosphere, and the symmetry of a
single bone could not be distinguished.
Many traditions have been brought
| out since this discovery One old set
! tier has called To mind the fact that tif-
ty years ago a tree was uprooted on this
same spot, exposing three skeletons OF
| gigantic dimensions, and as they were
| beneath the tree it must have sprung
| M long after the bodies were buried.
! cen Lew Wallace says he remembers
the actions of stranger who several
years ago spent many months digging
along the banks of Sugar creek in search
Of a gold spoon supposed to have beer
buried long ago when this part of the
| country was inhabited by savage tribes
| and the owner of the land on which
these remains were found calls To mine
| q tradition often related by his grand
father that Spanish treasure had beer
buried here in the long. long ago, wheI
the. country was a wilderness and Chi
caaro a barren waste of impenetrabl'
swamps-
The excavations are being continued
and it is thought that rich development
are in prospect. for there is not u foot q
! the soil removed that does not contain
! some relic or grlnning skull.