The Washington times., 1903-12-20
RELICS OF THE MOUND
BUILDERS OF THE OHIO
Results of Recent Excavations in the
River Valley.

Prof. c. W. Mills, curator Of the State
Archaeological and Historical Society
together with a large force OF assist
ants, has been busy for the greater
part of the summer excavating the site
of village OF the mound builders. lust
north of this city. and has made some
extremely interesting discoveries. which
appear TO shed a new light upon the
habits and customs Of that ancient
people. The mound was large one
and has proved in many ways the
richest yet uncovered in this State.
The discoveries made seem 10 show
that mound builders were agricultur-
lists on large scale, as well as hunters
hshers' potters, and weavers. At this
village forty-nine large pits had been
Dug 10 serve as stOrehouses for corn.
beans. and other agricultural products
and when they We're fun there would
have been supplies sufficient TO carry
large tribe not only through the win
ter. but through the following seasb1
until the crops had matured. In many
Of these pits stores of grain were found
Some of It in good condition
There have also been found traces
Of great clam bake and aboriginal
merry-malIing For DAYS before the
great feast a portion Of the tribe must
have been busy collecting clans or mus
sells along the adjacent river. until over
10000 had been gathered. The hunters
had brought in elk. deer, bear, coon.
/ and grounding, and the women must
have got these ready for spit and CAL
dron- Then a pit. four feet in diane
ter and ten feet deep. was dug, and in
this fire was started and kept burn
ing so fiercely that the sides of the
pit were baked to a deep red.
When the guests assembled they must
have been greeted by appetizing odors.
Into the deep pit $50 boulders from the
river had been placed and raised to
white heat Then 10.OGO CLANS had been
dumped on them. covered closely with
vet grass, and left to bake. In other
pits great quantities Of game were
roasting, and near by in an immense
caldron was venison soup. Just what
other items were on the bill of fare is
not certain, but there We're probably
beans and grains Of the various kinds
in the soup, and a coarse bread made of
cornmeaL Then. when all was ready
the clans were uncovered, the meat was
distributed, and each one helped him
self To the soup.
The evidences Of all this are not to
be misconstrued. There IS the deep pit
where the clans were baked, with the
boulders still in it, and the burned sides.
About IL are scattered 20OO clam shells
Near by are the smaller pits. with their
heaps Of bones. and around the caldron
are spoons Of turtle shell The chopped
and splintcred deer bones show that the
basis Of the soup was venison.
There are those who think that this
great feast was arranged TO celebrate
the deaths OF two patriarchs OF the
tribe, who must have died at the same
time, as they were buried together.
They were a man and a woman, and
had reached an age so extreme that
the man had not single tooth left.
and the woman only one-this. too. de-
spite the fact that the teeth of the
aborigines were usually well preserv-
co A great array Of trinkets Of va
rious kinds were found with their bodies
Other bodies have been found, and many
interesting relics-these latter being
turned up at an average rate Of about
100 day. Several perfect and well
preserved bear heads have been found.
the first ones that have ever been dis
covered intact I'm Ohio. Among the
other valuable finds have been fish
hooks OF bone. as perfect as the mod
ern hook. images OF various ami
mails. carved and worn as charms;
necklaces made Of finely polished beaver
teeth; pottery Of various designs and
commentator; weaving implements, in
Guiding needles and small bObbins made
OF stone; carved pipes and a great va
riety OF other things The work of ex-
cavation will not be completed until
late fall, and many other valuable dis
coVerleS are expected. % ChiilicOthe
lohio) dispatch TO New York Tribune.