Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-11-29
SEEKS PLACES WHERE
INDIANS LIVED
Joseph Wigglssworth Begins
Search Herea eabouts and Asks
Farmers Help.


places formerly inhabited by I.enape
Indians that have never been searched
The Historical Society of Delaware
mas expressed Its willingness TO n
nance n search. and Mr.. Wiggles-
worth requests farmers to assist by
giving desired information. He has
published a brief archaeology of the
Leni Lenape and plea for the preser-
vation of the prehistoric implements
OF the tribe. an extract OF which fol-
lows.
1T Is my intention, II sufficient CO.
operation is given me. to undertake
the preparation of an archaeological
map of New Castle county. This man
has for It's object the proper recording
or all evidence OF n pre-Columbian
occupancy OF the country and will
designate the exact location Of all
points of archaeological interest. the
village and camp sites. workshops.
trails, shell heaps. burial places and
In fact every trace OF aboriginal occu-
patton. l have personal knowledge of
nearly 90 village and camp sites in
this county. found during the past 35
years. and I.have annually been visit
Ing these locations In my pursuit et
archaeological knowledge and search for
prehistoric implements. As years pas,
by the gathering of facts concerning
ancient village sites and remains be-
GENES more and more difficult. be-
cause the evidence is gradually but
surely being obliterated or DESTROYED
IL is, therefore. of the greatest inn
rortance that the citizens OF the
county. and in fact the entire State
should be aroused 10 the Importance
OF noting such rapidly diminishing
evidence as still remains of the village
sites or other remains OF the Indians
or their prehistoric predecessors. To
that end l would be glad 10 have YOU
give me any information X YOU know
OF any village or camp sites. work
shops, trails. shell heaps, burial place,
or other indications OF the former oc.
cupancy OF the Indians in you,
neighborhood. If you know OF an,
such evidence please give the exac
location and general character OF tn.
remains and also the name and ad
! dress of the owner Of the land or
which situated. If from all parts o
the county the information above out
! lined can be given, an archaeological
map can be made which not only woul,
he very interesting. but highly in
. structive TO all students Of aborigina
man. Let us preserve as far as pos
sible the evidence OF those who oc
'cupied the land before us for her
we discover the remains OF an ancien
b culture as well as the footprints OF
Vanished race.
, Full so per cent OF all the Indial
: relics found in this vicinity are foun,
. by pure accident and are picked up n
: surface finds by non-collectore.
is n fact that the greater number q
! these finders are not even passivel,
interested in them and are not in tn
( least interested in their preservation
!. Delicately Clipped arrowheads hav
: been ruthlessly broken either by r.
: effort 10 strike fire from them or in a
( attempt to initiate the original India
: archers. Splendid specimens of work
/. Imanship have been picked up fror
: freshly plowed fields and immediatel
thrown away. possibly cast at som
passing bird or dog.
'Numberlcss fine implements {
damaged by lying around the hous
}. barn. woodshed or other outbuildn
10 be used in cracking nuts or in diiy
ing nails when the proper tools fo
; such purposes Were not convenient.
/. For the past 35 years ! have bee
- an ardent collector OF the aborigin:
= implements OF this neighborhood. DuI
80 ing this long period OF time l hay
= searched all the village and cam
4. sites in the county, known 10 me. hay
delved. dug and hunted along stream
and tidewaters, have wandered up an
- Gown plowed fields and have thorough
ly investigated near and around 9,
: called Indian springs, runs and field
i IN this time have succeeded in finc
y mems of handiwork of the ancient al
Z tisans.
From an archaeological or scientif
il, standpoint my collection is valuab
- one, and l wish eventually TO place
In the custody of some local societ
or institution. Many scattered impl.
ments are undoubtedly in the posses
son of individuals, who take no pa
ticular interest in them. but il the:
j., specimens We're gathered into OF
great collection, The collection ecu
:. be suitably labelled and catalogu,
and preserved for the study of arch
ological students and the inspection
the pubic. and IL would be a lastir
memorial to the prehistoric races wi
fphahsfad n,t,- Sfafar