The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-06
FIRST DWEL1rRs IN THIS sTArE
Abundant Traces of Prehistoric Man in
Western Now York.

western NOW HOrk.
Evidences of prehistoric occupation of this
country are probably found nowhere so dis
tinct. unmistakable and numerous as they are
in western New York. and especially In Chau-
tauqua and CattarauRus Counties said a ma
tive OF Chautauqua. These relics have long
attracted the attention and prompted the in
vestigation Of competent local scientific men
and antiquaries. and within the past few
years have called to that locality many who
have made this subject a lifelong study. With
out exception these students OF unwritten his
tory have given their testimony as to the
great value Of the tumuli of western New York
as records Of the unknown people. The Chau-
tauQua Historical Society has done great SER
vice in preserving these evidences OF prehis-
toric times.
Near the mouth OF Cattaraugus Greek there
Is a series OF earthworks that extends to the
Conewanga Valley. Between Lake Erie and
Dayton. in Chautauqua county are the re-
mains Of a circular sepulchral mound. which
has an elevation of ten feet. 1t is 120 feet in
circumference. According to the most thor
ough antiquaries. this mound must have been
the burying place Of some great warrior. In
the towns of Lear and Conewanga. some years
ago. eight skeletons were found. They were
in a sitting posture. and were arranged In q
circle. A most remarkable circumstance con-
nected with this elimination was the finding
OF large blocks Of mica in the mounds among
the skeletons. Prof. Lakin OF Randolph. who
has given the subject much attention and
study. was Of the opinion that whatever peo-
pie might have built these mounds. they must
have regarded mica as a sacred substance. for
in all the burial mounds that have been opened
in Chautauqua and CattarauGus counties large
blocks OF mica have been uncovered. As there
are no deposits OF that mineral in the region
where the relics are unearthed. its presence
has always been a mystery to mon OF science.
One Of these ancient mounds was opened in
the village of Randolph. Three well-pre-
served skeletons Of human beings. who must
have been OF a race much larger in stature
than ours. were found. each with a large
block OF mica at its feet. the blocks being three
inches thick and almost transparent. On this
particular mound a tree three inches in diam
eter was growing. The roots OF the tree had
pushed their way down into the ancient sepul-
chre and were entwined about the skeletons.
When the first white settler came into
that region. more than n century and a quar-
ter ago.the remains OF numerous Notifications.
seepulehres, heaEths;r and earth symbolic were
whose desire to utilize the soil outweiGhed
written records of an extinct race. Relics In
skeletons. pottery. implements and weapons
tauqua and CattaraHgus counties nifty years
ago. They formed portions of the unyalued
E TeEEe1, lit MPn OF 1 os tbss every FSrt farmhouse ss in the the
the, unappreciative touch Of their possessors,
and are now among the most pTized %antiqui-
Some Of them were secured by collectors Ia
Europe. Without doubt one Of the finest col
Prof. LaIin. and it is made up chiefly, OF
relies discovered in the mounds OF these two
Although the greatest number Of the mound
formations marking the presence Of an OK
and blythe building OF railroads and wagon roads
@ ens a an int snd In sa aEd IRntersstias record co tp % 1r tSo
antiquary. Especially interesting relic Of that
age Is an earth formation near the New York.
Randolph. According to those who have read
the customs Of the m no, builders By the
represent a serpent. The formation is 425
who visit 1t bear unanimous testimony In de-
claring its nnmistakable resemblance TO a
on whose properly the symbol is was plough
ingsaround what the anti1uaries say is the
that extremity stood the stump OF a tree. which,
tradition says had fallen with age as long ago
as when the place was settled. The stpmp
presence on this mound was unmistakable
eyldence OF tho great age, OF the earthwork;
the mound that his ploughshare caught In a
projecting root of the old. stump. The earth
q number of stone spearheads OF a pattern and
finish that showed workmanship much su-
perior TO that in which the later flint arrows
Of the Indians were fashioned. The mound
was explored for a short distance, and nearly
200 spear and arrow points. were found, all
heaped together in one spot. Several stone
axes, polished and symmetrical, and many fine
specimens OF block mica were also uncovered.
There are still 300 feet OF this remarkable,
etiiRy which have not been disturbed. Other
excavations made near Randolph have re-
yealed roomy mica lined cells. some containing
large quantities, % pGrched corn in good D-eSer-
walton. Around some OF these singular s-S- .
uli deep and wide bitches had been dug by tho
ancient workmen.
The largest number OF mounds and other
evidences OF the time when the extinct race
existed are found in the eastern part of Chau-.
-auIua county. mostly along the highlands and
promontories bordering the valleys OF the
larger streams. On the summit OF the ridge
the height of 200 feet. in the midst OF a forest.
is a large and regularly shaped mound. plainly
formed from soil taken from the surrounding
locality. as traces of the orr FINAL excavation
are distinctly visible. In the vicinity, deep in
the soil. remains Of human bones were found
a year, or so ago. They seem to have been
burned before burial; Remains of the lnasto-
don have been found wherever these mounds
appear. and from that some authorities argue
that the prehistoric race In this region sub
lected that enormous beast 10 their uses.
both In times OF peace amt I'M the wars that the