The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-13
INDIAN MOUND OPENED
RICH IN RELICS OF PREHISTORIC
TIMES
Opening of Mound Near chiIlicothe,
ohio-It Contains Great Quantities Of
Animal and Human Skeietons-The
Mound Is 70 Feet in Diameter, and
Ornaments of Shells, Beautifully
Carved, Are Among the Bones.

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio, Sept 12.-
Within five miles of this city has been
discovered and explored an Indian
| mound which is pronounced by
experts the richest in relics of prehis-
toric times ever uncovered in this Sec
ton 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 a territory of thirty
miles by thousands of these mounds.
This latest discovery was brought to
light through the efforts of DIR. Will
liam G. Mills, curator and director of
field explorations of the Ohio State
Archaeological society. The society in
the last few years has been making a
thorough investigation of all mounds,
and While pursuing his work in this To-
cality DR.. Mills ran across the mound.
which lies in rather unfrequented
spot and has passed unnoticed.
The archaeological society obtained
permission from Mr.. Adam Gardner,
the owner Of the land, to open UP the
mound. Half a score of men were soon
put to work on it. The excavation was
conducted under the direction Of DR..
Mills, who before a week elapsed saw
that he had made one Of the richest
archaeological finds" in years.
The mound was 70 feet in diameter
and 71a feet high, constructed of three
distinct burial grounds and surround
ed by an aboriginal village site. 1t is
situated on an elevation comprising
some fifteen acres and commanding an
excellent view both UP and down the
fertile Scioto valley. The entire west
side Of this elevation slopes precipi-
tously to the waters edge, and it is at
this point that the channel of the
Scioto river Is deepest.
A Queer Mound.
Growing this elevation, not 100 feet
from the steep bank and just on the
skirt of a small wood, arose the pro-
tuberance which has provided such a
treasure trOVe.
'It was the queerest mound I ever
saw said DR.. Mills, land in some re-
spects will be the most valuable ever
opened i'll this section of the country.
One unusual circumstance was that it
was filed from top to bottom with
bones of all kinds. They were taken
out with almost every shovel of earth
down to five feet below the surface. AL
though I have opened many mounds,
| this is the first time I have ever seen
bones thrown together prOmiscuously.
We were able to fill barrels and barrels
with them. The bones were mostly
those of deer, elk, bear, raccoon, beav-
| er, wildcat mountain lions and also of
| various kinds of fish.
"Some bones were fashioned into
agricultural implements. Innumerable
needles or perforators of various kinds
| were taken out; many Of these had
| been made from the teeth o. animals.
| One particularly interesting and pretty
| specimen Of the mound builders in
genuity and delicate workmanship was
| an awl made entirely from the bone
| of deer found at the head Of a skele-
| ton. 1t was almost sixteen inches in
length and the thickness of an ordi-
nary lead pencil. On the handle was
| carved the almost perfect head of a
! fox. Considering the fact that these
people were unacquainted with the use
| of steel tools this intricate work is
something marvellous.
Many Skeletons Found.
1--WE have taken out thirty mine skel-
etons, and what I consider a 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
singly, and am unable to account for
it in this instance"
The worknen started digging at the