The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-09-22
OHIO MOUNDS YIELD
INTERESTING HISTORY
OF AB0RICINES' LIFE
(By Associated Press)


COLUMBUS, o., Sept. 22.-Another
chapter in the interesting history of
Ohio's a5origines is being completed
by Harry c. Shetrone, assistant cura-
tor of the Ohio State Archaeological
and Historical museum. He has, he
believes, nearly fully identified the
early mound builders of the Great
Miami Valley, about whom little had
been known, after two weeks of exca-
walton of mounds in Butler county.
The mound builders of that locality,
Shetrone believes, were branch OF
the same aborigines whom construct
ed Fort Ancient in Warren county,
people belong to what is known as
the Fort Ancient culture, one of the
two outstanding cultures OF the early
inhabitants of Ohio.
AS a result of Shetrone's excava-
tions, innumerable articles, and skele-
tons were unearthed. II was brought
out that one of the villages excavated
was fortified one, triangular in
shape. on two sides protected by the
steep bands of a creek and the Great
Miami River, whose course now is
some distance away. and on the third
side by an earth embankment.
Sites of Excavations.
Excavations were made on Campbell
Island. in the Miami river north of
Hamilton, and on the George Hine
farm, located near the river about
five miles south of Hamilton. The
latter place. it is believed, was the
site of the fortified village.
Pottery vessels, ranging in capacity
from one pint to one gallon, arrow
heads, ear ornaments. hatchets and
beads were found buried with skele-
ions of the mound builders. The pot
terry is the most interesting OF the ar
ticles, as it is decorated with scroll
and other designs, and on the whole is
rather artistic.
The village site on Campbell Island
covers several acres, but part of it is
covered with farm buildings and farm
lots, so that only small part was
available for excavation Twenty-one
burial places were found by the She
trone party.
No Burial Grounds.
The excavation revealed that no
designated part of the village had been
set aside as a burial grounds. as was
the case at Mound City at Camp Sher-
man. Graves were found here and
there. giving rise to the belief that
possibly the dead were buried on the
site of their tepees.
Right next to a burial place was
found a pit in which was stored grain
for winter keeping. In some instances.
the aborigines would sink pit right
through a grave.
For almost 100 years. many objects
L IL. l. II -
farmers, in the territory excavated. A
burial mound, a short distance from
the original course of the river. was
explored and while but five graves
we're found, the contents proved I'm
usually interesting and valuable from
the standpoint of science.
Find Corn and Beans.
Some of the pottery vessels found
with the dead contained corn and
beans, all charred but still in such d
fair state of preservation that they I'M
doubtedly will be objects of interesting
study for botanists. In these graves
were found flint knives, scrapers, ar
row points. spear points, large digging
instruments made from elk antlers,
drinking cups made from land turtles,
bone avis, needles, hoes and digging
implements of shell, flint shippers of
deer antlers, and a few stone smoking
pipes. ornaments cut from jaws of wild
animals. hide dressing implements and
shell beads.
The most valuable information OBJ
tanned, Mr.. Shetrone said. was that
which enabled the archaeologists TO
determine the relation of the inhabit-
ants of this site TO other aborigines
The evidence points conclusively, Mr.
Shetrone declared, to the fact that they
we're of the same culture as the Fort
Ancient builders, differing only in the
respects that naturally would occur in
the changed locality.
The articles obtained now are being
prepared for display in the museum on
the Ohio State university campus
here