Evening journal., 1921-09-21
SKELETONS OF
4 Indians DUG
FROM BEACH
CONTINUED From First Page)

Wigglesworth says.
The survey was financed by Josiah
Marvel Of this city. who is deeply
interested in archaeological matters,
and by the Historical Society Of Del
aware. The report OF Mr.. Wisgles-
worth is as follows:
"Aiong the Atlantic coast south OF
Rehoboth Beach extends a success
sion Of conglomerate hills and sand
dunes. washed by the waves Of the
ocean and often presenting to the
beach almost perpendicular faces.
for a height OF six to ten feet These
hills and ridges are. doubtless. the
remnants Of what was one a conun-
uous blum. now sculptured by the
ceaseless and tireless action Of the
sea Standing on one of these ele-
vations and facing eastward the
broad expanse Of the Atlantic ocean.
holds the enchanted gaze while 10
the west and southwest the more
placid waters Of Rehoboth bay meets
the eye. This narrow peninsula be-
tween ocean and bay, was favorite
residence OF the Indians, both in pre-
historic and early historic times
The great abundance OF oysters.
cisms. and fish. and other shell and
sea food. was, undoubtedly, the
magnet that attracted the aboriginal
natives to this particular spot
Not so many years ago. and In
the memory OF many still living
there was an almost unbroken sue
ccssion OF shell heaps along this
coast. The waste resulting from the
consumption Of oysters, clans, mus
sells and conchs was very great and
the accumulations in many places
were so extensive as to excite the
wonder Of the early settlers OF that
section. A number OF years ago l
spent considerable time delving into
these shell mounds. being rewarded
by inding arrowheads OF very fine
workmanship and numerous pottery
fragments.
The name OF the Indians occupy
ing this region. at the time OF the
discovery OF America, was the Nan
ticoke tribe The word Nanticoke Is
Of Lenapean origin and is derived
from Nentego a variation Of Una
lachtigo. the name OF the most
southern, or Turkey clan. OF the
Lenapes. The meaning OF Nanti-
coke Is tide water people. or those
living near the ocean.
THE hills and dunes along this
beach were not once as near the
shore line as today, and may have
been. a few centuries ago, a mile or
more inward from the coast. The
relentless ocean has been slowly, but
steadily and surely, encroaching
upon this peninsula
"A year or so ago. severe storms
entirely obliterated what was once
an avenue in Rehoboth Beach.
"A summer resident who has oc-
cupied cottage on this beach fol
the past forty years, informed m'
that the ocean has encroached upol
the shore at least 1000 feet durinl
that time, and that he has been com
PEELED to move his cottage inlans
three times.
.s0id residents tell us that the Her
and Chicken Shoals, now far out a
sea, was once a part Of the main.
land. and that they well remember
when cattle grazed beneath the trees
that adorned this once ridge OF land
In my opinion. this backbone oi
the peninsula, of which the eleva.
tions and hummocks remain. wa,
once midway between the Atlanti,
and Rehoboth Bay, and formed. as i
were. a miniature watershed betweeI
sea and bay
lowing to the heavy rains and
number Of severe storms the face o
one of the cliffs was considerabl,
eroded during the past summer. ex
posing TO view the skeletal remain
II an adult human. The discover
Of these bones was made by the Rev
c. c. Morhart. Lutheran CLERGY
man. OF Cleveland. Ohio. a ma
greatly interested in archaeological
and historical matters.
The land upon which the slSele
ton was found is one and a hal
miles south OF Rehoboth Beach an
was purchased by the late Chief Jus
tice Comegys and Manlove Haye
about the year 1865.
4"After the death OF Chief Justic
comegys. his interest was purchase
by Mr. Hayes, who afterwards cor
veyed the property to a Mr.. Pattei
owner sold the land to the Cathol
Order of Paulists, who. after usir
the premises for a number of yea
as a religious retreat. disposed
the same to the Y. NJ. c. A. OF Ba
tirnore. the present owners.
'For the purpose Of making a
archaeological investigation OF n
interment ] journeyed on Saturds
afternoon. August 27. TO the seer
| OF discovery. On the following MOI
day morning 1 began the labor
the survey
Tho brow OF the cliff at this poii
Is eight feet three inches above n
beach and for a considerable di
tance Us direction was exactly mort
ARnd south The surface is cover,
q &itn thin, meagre. soil. barely su
taining a scanty vegetation. B
meath this thin top coating W
seven to nine inches of sand, restil
upon a subsoil of dark yellow ella
The surface soil and sand was thic
ly impregnated with coal ashs
cinders and pieces Of anthraci
coal; the stove or range debris Of
cottage that formerly occupied II
spot.
.Commencing at a point ten fe
back from the edge Of the cliff,
excavated q trench. running paral
with the face Of the bank. tt
trench was excavated for a distan
of twelve feet. made wide enoui
FOR working purposes and was thr
foet four inches in depth and on
!.