1895] MARYLAND ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 229 



A STUDY OF ABORIGINAL RELICS FROM THE STONE GRAVES 



OF TENNESSEE. 



Amongst the races that formerly peopled the Continent of 

 North America none have left more numerous and interesting 

 traces of their daily life and handiwork than the people known 

 as the Stone Grave Indians of Tennessee, 



This name has been given in later days from their manner of 

 burial, which diifered from methods generally employed by 

 other aborigines. The territory showing evidence of the prac- 

 tice of their peculiar customs is a wide one, comprising the area 

 now known as Kentucky and Tennessee, and extending in a 

 less degree into the svirrounding States, from Lake Erie to the 

 Savannah River. In the Central Basin of Middle Tennessee 

 and its surrounding highlands are many traces of occupation 

 left by these people. The region possesses very great natural 

 advantages ; its climate is temperate and even, it has a rich 

 limestone soil, and is abundantly watered. It is, then, no 

 matter of surprise to find it was once the scene of a dense and 

 busy population, the valleys of the Cumberland River and its 

 tributaries appearing to have been the section most closely 

 settled. Here are to be found unmistakable evidences of long 

 and peaceful occupation, for in no other way can be explained 

 the advance toward semi-civilization made by these aborigines, 

 and testified for them by their work left in pottery, shellwork, 

 careful method of interment, mounds and fortifications. 



So numerous are the last mentioned, that (quoting from Dr. 

 Joseph Jones) " it is evident that a chain of fortified towns 

 extended in former times all along the valley of the Big Har- 

 peth."* The necessity of defense probably developing in a 

 late period of their occupation, when pressed by the inroads of 

 fiercer and stronger people. 



*" Explorations of the Aboriginal Eemains of Tennessee." 



[July 25, 1895.1 



