Page:Anthropology.djvu/114

Rh sculptured rocks have been used for building purposes or are lying below the surface of the Monongahela River, even at low tide, the river being higher now at all seasons by reason of the slack-water improvements than it was forty years ago. The second geological report of Pennsylvania contains nothing on the subject of antiquities;Dr. Creigh, in his "History of Washington County," is entirely silent as to the numerous mounds, &c., which are found in the county limits; and the centennial volume of the "Resources of West Virginia," by Prof. M. F. Maury, ignores the many and exceedingly interesting remains in that State. I shall here, however, give simply an account of the antiquities of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and, in another paper, of those in parts of West Virginia. This account will necessarily be taken largely from an unpublished work by Hon. James Veech and Freeman Lewis, the latter an old and experienced surveyor of Brownsville, Pa. Remains of embankments or "old forts" are numerous in Fayette County. The Indians known to us could give no satisfactory account of them. While the trees of the surrounding forests were chiefly oak, the growth upon and in the old forts was generally of large black walnut, wild cherry, and locust. Some indicate an age of three hundred to five hundred years, and some stood around the decayed remains of others. Judge Veech thinks they were originally composed of wood, as their débris is generally a vegetable mold, no stone being used in their construction. Old pottery, made of clay and mussel-shells, is always found among these ruins. The old forts were of various forms, square, oblong, triangular, circular, and semi-circular. Their sites were generally well chosen in reference to defense and observation, and, what is a singular fact, they were very often, generally in Fayette County, located on the highest and richest hills, and at a distance from any spring or stream of water.

One of these "old forts" was on the land of William Goe, near the Monongahela River, and just above the mouth of Little Redstone, where afterwards was a settlers' fort, called Cassell's or Castle Fort.

Another was situated at the mouth of Speers Run, where now stands the town of Belle Vernon. Two or three are found on a high ridge southwardly of Perryopolis, on the State road, and on land lately owned by John F. Martin.

Another noted one is on the west bank of the Youghiogheny River, nearly opposite the Brood ford, on land lately owned by James Collins. There are several on the high ridge of land leading from the Collins fort south westwardly towards Plumsock, on lands of James Paull, John M. Austin, John Bute, and others, a remarkable one being on land lately owned by James Gilchrist and the Byers, where some very large human bones have been found.

There is one on the north side of Mountz Creek, above Irishman's Run. A very large one, containing 6 or 8 acres, is on the summit of Laurel Hill, where the mud pike crosses it, covered with a large growth of black walnut.