The Penn's Grove record., 1913-09-19
INDIAN RELICS
LEFT IN SUSSEX
Site of Aboriginal Village Near
Newton Determined
WORK DONE BY THE STATE
Archaeological Researches in Progress
Under State Geological Survey.
Portions of Pottery and AgricuI-
tura! instruments Found.

B.
Trenton.-Max ~Schrabisch, of Pat
erson, has been engaged continuously
for the last five months in an exami-
nation of the traces and relics of the
occupancy by the Indians of the ter
ritory included in Sussex county.
The work forms a part of an archaeo-
logical survey of the State, now in
progress under the supervision of the
State Geological Survey.
Mr.. Schrabisch has visited every
township in the county. His re-
searches have included the location
and study of rock shelters, village
sites, camp sites and burial grounds.
The rock shelters were the homes of
the Indians in the winter seasons, or
during inclement weather. They
were formed by overhanging rocks,
OF caves. In the earth which forms
the floors of the Shelters at a depth
of from one to three feet, are found
bones, shells and the pottery which
formed culinary utensils.
The camp sites denote the abode
VI OAIG ~ 1uOIS ldlIlIllCS dIQ dlO lCS-
ognized by the presence of portions
of pottery and rude agricultural i'm
plementS and by chips of flint, which
indicate the workshop of ancient ar
rowmakers. The term village site is
given to dwelling places which have
evidently been used from time to time
by a number of families. 1t is to be
remembered that the Indians were a
migratory race, who changed their
abodes according to the necessities of
hunting, fishing or the cultivation of
maize or tobacco.
Cooking Utensils Found.
In the assures of rocks in or near
the village sites are, occasionally
found cooking utensils, apparently
stored for future use, and also the
weapons of the chase or of war.
In or near the burial grounds where
the old time warriors sleep are found
the ashes of the fires of burial feasts,
mingled with bones of deer or bear
and shells from far distant waters.
Mr.. Schrabisch has accumulated
many relics, including flint arrow
heads and spear heads, stone toma-
hawks, hammers and knives. At New
ton, in a meadow near Moore's
Brook, much earth has been turned
over in recent years for Franklin E.
Losee's brickyard. Mingled with the
earth many Indian relics have been
found, therefore, and because of a
tradition that ear the site Of the
town of Newton an Indian settlement
was located, local historians and anti
~quarians have decided that the Losee
brickyard was the Indian site. With
this opinion Mr.. Schrabisch does not
agree. The ground is low and
marshy, and within the memory of
persons now living the site was often
covered by water
Site Of Village.
One mile east of the alleged site is
q hill situated between two marshes
parts of the hog meadows" which
extend from Lafayette to Newton.
Near the base of the hill is the big
Spring" the principal source of the
west branch of the Paulinskill. On
the summit of the hill, which is still
covered by forest trees, is a series of
fiat rocks. Here are found evidences
of a more or less continuous Indian
occupation. The late Victor M. Drake,
who was editor Of the New Jersey
Herald in Newton from 1884 to 1858,
had the land adjacent to the hill
above mentioned for several years
He found thereon many Indian imple-
ments suitable for domestic use, for
the chase or for war. There is ap-
the hill and its environment was the
site of the Indian village of "Tok-hok-
nok."
The Indians who in habited the
northern part of New Jersey belonged
to the Delaware or Lenni Lenape
tribe. The last members of the tribe
were sent to the Oneida country in
New York State in 1902.
Prison Keepers Def.
Despite the resolutions of the
Board of Prison Inspectors and the
wishes of Governor Fielder and others
Head Keeper Madden of the State
Prison will not reduce the number of
guards in proportion to the number of
convicts at work on the roads of the
State.
Mr.. Madden issued a statement. in
which he reiterated his belief that
he is responsible not only for the vel
fare of the men, but also of the COM
munity in which they may be working
and he does not intend to take any