101 



much eroded, and have a peculiar worm-eaten appearance. 

 Whilst, however, the more free action of air and water upon 

 the bones has produced this appearance, it seems, after a 

 certain time, to have induced a peculiar density and hardness, 

 somewhat resembling that of semi -fossilized bones, which has 

 rendered them less susceptible of further change. The bones 

 found at a greater depth, and particularly those of skeletons 

 previously undisturbed, have less of the eroded character 

 externally, and are generally lighter and more fragile, and of a 

 darker colour. This difference is particularly seen in the 

 crania ; many of which are very thin and decayed, and even 

 present large holes in the side which was placed most deeply 

 in the earth. 



The skeletons are those of persons of both sexes, but those 

 of adult males appear to preponderate. A few skeletons of 

 children and young persons, and the lower jaws of two decidedly 

 old persons, were found. Many of the skeletons must have 

 been those of men of a stature varying from six feet to six feet 

 four inches : the thigh bones, in several instances, measuring 

 from 19 to 21^ inches, and in one case not less than 22^ 

 inches, in length. 



The teeth are almost uniformly much worn down, as if from 

 the use of food of the hardest and coarsest kinds. This con- 

 dition is observed even in the incisor teeth, and is very charac- 

 teristic. A few of the bones present marks of disease ; one 

 thigh bone is affected by exostosis ; a tibia by the disease called 

 sjnna ventosa ; and two humeri and one tibia by necrosis. All 

 these diseases are more or less likely to have originated in 

 injuries or violence to the bones. The parietal bone of one 

 skull exhibits a considerable cleft, such as may probably have 

 been produced by a sword or other weapon. Two skulls present 

 a peculiarly thickened and spongy condition, from disease. One 

 of these skulls has a thickness of five-eighths of an inch, and 

 the hypertrophy, as exhibited in the prominent condition of the 

 sutures, is very marked. 



The crania are generally small, and their prevaihng shape 

 is elongated and partially pyramidal ; the frontal region being 



