Evening star., 1925-09-12
RICH INDIAN MOUND
EXCAVATIONS STOP
Treasure Laden Tomb in
Ohio to Be Closed on Ac-
Cour' If Weather.
By the Associated Press


CHILLICOTHE. Ohio. September
l2.-The oncoming Autumn sea son
with It's uncertain weather conditions
called a halt today to the excava =
tions in the Great Seip mounds near
Bainbridge. just as Psychologists an
nounced they had made one Of the
greatest finds in the history Of their
explora tions into the works of the
ancient American moundbuilders
Until next Spring the three -fourths
Of the mound which has not yet
been opened will retain the secret
it has held for centuries. During
the Winter the curators OF the Ohio
Archaeological and Historical So
ciety, Columbus. will study their
findings of the last few days in the
burial place of the Princes OF the
Pearls"
Skeletons Removed.
The skeletons of the four supposed
princes were removed last night from
the platform on which they have long
rested, preparatory to their transfer
TO the SoCiety's museum in Columbus.
! AT the museum the bodies will be
arranged as they We're found a few
days ago BY II. c. Shetrone,
archaeological curator. and his helpers.
An ornament, which is thought to be
an instrument similar to the pipes
of Pan" will be studied. If the orna =
ment turns out to be an instrument
II will be the first time any records
OF the moundbuilders' musical in
clinations has been found.
The discovery Of a piece Of colored
oil h
supposed princes yesterday wrote a
new chapter in the endeavors of ar.
chaeologists, for colored cloth woven
into design has never before been
found in the mounds. Besides the
finding of the cloth. imprints of a
canopy of fabric were found on the
ceiling. The intact piece of fabric
was found under copper plate
/ beneath the skull OF one of the
! skeletons. 1t bore circular. designs
! done in colors OF tan. green, black anG
| white. II appeared. When exposed tc
| the warm air the fabric began tC
crumble, but not before artists had
| sketched the design and it had beer
photographed.
Quarts of Pearls
/ The early contention of the explor
ers that the four bodies had been
| shrouded in a fabric of pearls of vary
| ing sizes was borne out by Yesterday.
| explorations. When the skeletons were
| lifted from their resting place. II was
| found that they had lain on a piece
! of small pearls. all of them pierced as
/ If they had been strung or woven TO
gether. Several quarts of pearls were
| swept up and stored away for trans
portation to the museum
Scores of fragments of tortoise
! shells, etched with figures of birds
and highly FURNISHED, were uncov
| cred with the bodies. The figure OF
| q swan cut from tortoise shell was
| found. A necklace OF tusks. some Of
| which are the largest ever found in
Ohio, was unearthed. There were nc
weapons found buried with the dead
| Curator Shetrone said the absence ot
! weapons in the tomb Is another eyi
| dence that the moundbuilders were {
l peaoeable people, more devoted to ar
/ than other ancient races
The curator late yesterday gave
! his explanation of the copper NOSE
| found on one of the skulls. He said
| the mound builders. in disfnterrinf
i and re-entombing their dead. Learned
| that the nose OF q skull soon de
| teriorates. Not wishing this particu
lar man to go to the happy hunting
| grounds" without a nose, he said
! the tribesmen evidently fashioned
one for him that would last through
the ages.
That this same man was a person
Of high rank is further indicated by
! wore as he lay in state. for protrud
| ing from his skull were found tive
copper rods more than a foot long
! around which his hair had beer
! coiled.
Mr.. Shetrone said the bodies hat
lain in the mound at least 900
| years, perhaps 1000. or even more.
The mound, before excavation was
! begun. was 240 feet long. 160 fee
| wide and % feet high. II has sew
eral trees growing on 1t. one of which
is an oak of at least a century:
growth, il Is believed.
In the vicinity of the Great Seir
| Mound are smaller mounds which
have not been opened.
The explorers believe the great
| mound holds still further treasures
for them, for they have cut ava
| only one-fourth OF it at the west
| ern tip.