The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-09
INDIAN GRAVE IS OPENED BY STEAM
 SHOVELS AT DAM
Tomb Contained Remains of Five People, Together With Earthen Pots and
 Other Relics
By RALPH WHITAKER

Florence, March S.-(Special. )-An h. dian burying ground was opened to the light of day by the march of progress and development in the Muscle Shoals district this week, almost within the corporate limits of the town of Flor ence. Workmen excavating on hill- side for the railroad at Dam No. up- turned relics of the long ago, confirm ing time honored traditions.
 For some years past there has existed a tradition among the people of Flor ence and Lauderda1e county that an ln- dian tomb of some kind existed on the banks of the Tennessee river along the shores of the Muscle Shoals. There was invested in this tradition an interest en- hanced by the stories of the older gener- ation now passing away about the 1n- dians that inhabited all this section, and where lived a number of prominent men of the lost tribes of the red men. To the philosophic antiquarian these stories still hold an abiding place in their minds. and we yet hear interesting tales of mounds caves, graveyards, of Indian relics innumerable, spread along the pal isades and hillsides of the famous flow ing Tennessee.
 This train of thought is recalled by the discovery this week by workmen on the dam site of tomb of the aborigines on the precipitate hillside between the Florence Wagon Works and the dam site. Here, half way from the river bank to the top of the bluff, just below the dam site and at the motfth of a small stream, the modern steam blow drove it's shovel into a tomb that contained the remains of five people, in what appeared to be roof-lilke covering or vault.
 SKULLS WELL PRESERVED
 The skulls were we'll preserved, intact, and incased in loose earth that indi- cated careful burial. The teeth of some animal and other bones were also found in what was evidently a carefully pre- pared sepulchre. The tomb had the ap- pearance of being hollowed out between the crevices of the rock, and was about 5 feet from the front of the precipice The skulls found were low and retreat ing. Farther pots were also found in the tomb, it being the custom of the Indians to bury their belongings with the dead
 Mai D. A. Watt, engineer in charge of the construction of the huge dam, had the relics carefully gathered, placed in two dynamite boxes, and carried to the officers quarters in Florence.
 The entire Tennessee river valley abounds in distinct evidences of the Indian life here in the long ago, and the antiquarian would find here rich field for investigation and adventure.
 The Indian did not know of commer- cia, fertilizer and high explosives as we know them in modern times, and this huge water power project which will gen. crate electricity for the manufacture of powder in times of war and cheap com mercial fertilizer in times of peace, is an important milestone in the develop kment of the resources of our southland We are harnessing the great water pow CT of the Tennessee river to drive the machinery of great industries which Will be located here in the near future, the utilization of which water power the Indian did not understand.