Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-10-10
RICH STORE OF RELICS
Prehistoric Treasure Discovered
Near Chillicothe, O.
GREAT INDIAN MOUND OPENED "
DR.. william c. MtIis of the ohio
State Archaeological Society Says
the Mound Was Constructed of
Three Burial Grounds and Sur
rounded by Aboriginal village
Site-Curious Specimens Unearthed.

Within five miles of Chillicothe, o.,
has been discovered and explored an
Indian mound which is pronounced by
experts the richest in relics of pre-
historic times ever uncovered in that
section of the country.
Chillicothe, which is the burial place
of five former governors of Ohio and
OF Logan, the celebrated Indian chief,
is surrounded within territory of
thirty miles by thousands of these
mounds. This latest discovery was
brought to light through The efforts OF
DR.. William c. Mills, curator and di-
rector of field explorations Of the Ohio
State Archaeological society, says the
New York World. The society in the
last few years has been making
thorough investigation of all mounds.
and while pursuing his work in this
locality Dr. Mills ran across the
mound, which lies in a rather unfre-
The Archaeological society obtained
permission from Mr.. Adam Gardner,
the owner of the land, TO open up tho
mound. Half Il score of men were
soon put to work ON it. The eXcavu.
ton was conducted under the direction
saw that he had made one of the
richest archaeological finds" in years.
The mound was 20 feet in diameter
and ~ feet high, constructed of three
distinct burial grounds and surrounded
by an aboriginal village site. 1t is sit
uated on an elevation comprising some
fifteen acres and commanding an ex-
cellent view both up and down the
fertile Scioto valley. The entire west
side of this elevation slopes precipitous-
ly to the waters edge, and it is at this
point that the channel of the Scioto
river is deepest.
Growing this elevation. not hun
dred feet from the steep bank and Just
on the skirt of small wood, arose
the proturberance which has proved
such treasure trove for the Archno-
logical society.
A. was AbN NIuVNlNFA ! tNtI
saw" said Dr.. Mills. land in some re-
spects will be the most valuable ever
opened in this section of the country,
One unusual circumstance was that it
was filled from top to bottom with
bones of all kinds. They We're taken
out with almost every shovel of earth
down to five feet below the surface.
Although have opened many mounds
this Is the first time l have ever seen
bones thrown together promiscuously.
We were able to fill barrels and bar
rels with them. The bones were most
~ those of deer, elks, bears, raccoons,
beavers, wildcats, mountain lions and
also of various kinds of fish.
Some bones We're fashioned into ag-
ricultural implements. Innumerable
needles or perforators of various kinds
were taken out. Many of these had
been made from the teeth of animals.
One particularly interesting and pretty
specimen of the mound builders in
genuity and delicate work manship was
an awl made entirely from the bone
Of a deer found at the head Of skele-
ton. 1t was almost sixteen inches in
length and the thickness of an ordinary
lead pencil On the handle was carved
the almost perfect head of fox. Con-
sidering the fact that these people
were unacquainted with the use of
steel tools, this intricate work is some
thing marvellous.
1--WE have taken out thirty-nine skel-
etons, and what | consider peculiar
feature of the burial ground is that
there was one skeleton and only one
at the base, the majority of them be-
Ing discovered either four feet above
or four feet below that point. 1t is no
strange occurrence to find skeletons at
the base, but they are never found sin
gly, and am unable to account for it
in this instance"
The workmen started digging at the
apex and a skull was struck by pick
when they had gone about four feet
into the ground. After that the burr.
ais were disclosed at much the same
distance apart, most of them lying in
rows, extended at full length, with as
many as eight in one row. Numerous
ornaments and implements accompa-
MED the remains, such as iridcscent
ocean shells made into all imaginable
shapes and innumerable bright beads.
Delicate shells carved into crescents
and pierced with holes We're lying near
skeletons. These had been used as or
naments worn suspended by cord
hung around the neck. Finely pointed
arrowheads of Jasper and chalcedony
were everywhere met with and one es-
pecially artistic platform pipe was Sc
cured. Implements of the agricultur !
list and weapons of the warrior were
exposed. Mussel shells rounded out !
to serve as digging tools. stone NOR
tars. hatchets and axes were plentiful |
Among the most valuable of all the |
relics was a war club carved out of |
stone and over thirty -one inches in
length. Animal bones cut into all |
manner Of rude designs and large |
quantities of primitive pottery were |
disclosed. The pottery consists of pull |
verified shells and pebbles mixed with |
q |