The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-04-20
DeMollsAINe A MOUND,
Strange and Curious Things Foupd in
the Earth Near Martins Ferry.

the Earth Near Martins Ferry.
MARTINS FERRY, o., April 19.--[Spec>
ial.l-Wide interest is manifested in the
demolition of the famous mound in Wal
nut Grove here. Work has been going on
two weeks and at least two more will be
required. The earth is used for street
filling.
Human skeletons, skulls, bones, elk
antlers, paleolithic enRravings and inns
plements, granite implements, arrow
heads, spear heads, pale grey finite,
cup stones, agricultural implements,
granite hammer stones, sinkers, per'
forated stones, etc., have been found.
Some OF the relics are entirely different
from any In history. Most of the relics
are found near the bottom. One of the
skulls is twice the size of an ordinary one.
Under the skull of one skeleton were
found thirty 1.-TWO darts, all fine specimens
and pointing In one direction. The
farther into the mound the workmen dig
the more interesting the discoveries be-
come. II is believed that hidden treas
ures will yet be found. The major part
Of the stones found are different from any
in the Ohio valley. Some are really
beautiful specimens. There are different
sizes, from the large salutrian points,
shape Of laurel leaf, down to very small
specimens.
Several OF the implements are beautis
fully Clipped. Several skin scrapers
were found and number of monsterian
points. The elk antlers found measure
M feet across and 6A inches in diameter
at the base. Some OF the human bones
are in good state of preservation, while
others crumbled into dust when removed.
All OF the teeth are sound. There are
several sets complete. Over two skeler
tons found was thin stratum of red clay
looking as IL 1t had been burned and care-
fully cemented over the dirt, as IL put
there TO keep Off the water. Many relics
were found here. No pottery has yet been
found. Among the last articles taken out
was an antique pipe to which the odor of
tobacco still clings. The height of the
mound from the base to the summit is 20
feet. 1t measures 119 feet In diameter.
Few OF the 1,500 mounds Ia Ohio are
larger. Ninertenths Of the mound Is made
of yellow clay. The other tenth is OF dark
earth and stones, The clay Is entirely
different from any in this neighborhood.
The mound is covered with dark earth
and stones. From the top to the bottom
there are at least thirty stratae of earth.
The tumulous 10 more symmetrica
and shapely than many others. The
earth is in different stratae, not in hori-
Sontal lines, but in conformity with the
surface of the mound. The articles Of
personal use must have been exposed to ON
intense heat, only stone or clay could re-
sist II. II II were not for this we might
know OF their habits and customs and the
advance they made in arts. They certain
ly had developed q civilization of Wig
orous and original growth. The dead and
buried culture of the ancient people to
whose memory they erected arch monu,
ments, is especially noteworthy in that it
differs from all other extinct civilization
The people must have been numerous
Their work stood distinctly original q nd
independent from any foreign influence.