Page:Anthropology.djvu/81

80 P is an earthen mound, on the farm of J. A. Shuttleworth. It is 4 feet high and 50 feet in circumference, and was opened in 1807 or 1811 and later. From an old man, who was a boy when it was first opened, I learn that a number of bodies had been buried in it, and that an ax or two were found. On the night of the day on which it was opened occurred the earthquake of that year, and the whole neighborhood thought that the Indians had come after them for disturbing their bones.

Q was one or two graves, now obliterated, on the farm of Achilles Davis.

R is a point on the farm of Dr. Walter Davis, where some relics were found in digging the foundation of a house. A lot of bones were near these relics.

S is the site of three graves covered with stones placed on edge, and is on the farm of George Davis, sr. The two near each other have been opened, and a number of human remains were exhumed from each. They had, seemingly, been buried with their heads together and their feet radiating from this center. Plates of mica were found with the crushed skulls, as if they had been placed over their eyes. Only one implement was obtained here. A bone had apparently been buried with one of the bodies, and, when discovered, it was lying upon the arm, at the elbow, and parallel to it. The third grave has not yet been examined, but will probably be explored in the spring.

T is a group of four earthen mounds on the farm of Thomas Coleman. They have all been excavated at some time. The last examination took place in July past, and yielded one skeleton, and a copper bead almost destroyed by oxidization. Their relative positions as to streams and to each other is shown in diagram T. (See also the accompanying plan.)

U is the site of two mounds 8 feet high, and 60 or 70 feet in circumference, on land owned by Mr. Hugely, upon the bluffs of Dick's River. The mounds seem to be composed of gravel, earth, and limestone. Several persons have examined them, and pronounced them mounds. Partial excavations have been made, but without success. Poplar trees (Liriodendron) 2 feet in diameter are growing upon them. I am disposed to think that the mounds are the remains of lime-kilns made in the first settlement of the State; at any rate the limestone in them has been burned.