Some Facts and Comideratmis about Fort Ancient. 297 



over them and apparently without reference to their existence, and 

 also from the generally ancient appearance of the remains, were thought 

 to indicate an earlier date than the occupation by the Indians. That 

 there is no very great difference in these dates, however, is evident by 

 a comparison of the bones thrown out by the plow with those of the 

 Indians bui-ied in the vicinity, as will be noticed. Although the con- 

 ditions of the latter burials are more favorable for preservation, the 

 remains are decayed to about the same degree. About the lodge 

 marks of the village itself no remains of any kind were found. 



The occupants of the village seem to have buried their dead upon that 

 portion of the fort wall contiguous to their dwellings. The character- 

 istic marks of intrusive burial are apparent in the examination of 

 graves which are numerous upon the embankment in the vicinity. 

 These are rarely more than two or four feet in depth, and contain 

 each a single skeleton*, buried with the head toward the east, in a rude 

 stone cist, formed by placing flat stones on edge at the sides of the 

 body and covering Avith similar stones. Despite the apparently 

 favorable conditions for preservation of the bony structure of a human 

 body thus buried, in the mound-shaped parapet, which readily sheds 

 the water, in some cases the skeletons are found exceedingly decayed, 

 and one such cist was opened in which the body was entirely resolved 

 into earth, except a few bones of the hand. By great care, hov/ever, 

 two skulls were recovered entire and preserved for examination. 

 These exhibit unmistakable evidences of belonging to the Indian race. 

 The foot, also, that in no case are anv relics found interred with ihe 



7 7 ^ 



dead in these graves, also distinguishes them from the burials within 

 the fort. 



One other fact, however, bearing upon the question of the com- 

 parative age of these minor remains, may be disposed of here. Frag- 

 ments of pottery, in connection with human and animal bones, identical 

 with those found within the fort, were observed in an original deposit 

 upon the present bank of the Miami, a few rods above the railway 

 station at Fort Ancient, subject to overflow ; but, as the freshets, 

 now almost of yearly occurrence, were unknown in our western streams 

 before the destruction of the forests, the fact of ov^erflow, as an element 

 in the consideration, loses much of its importance. The main fact 

 established, is, that these remains are coeval with those found within 

 the fort, and that both were deposited after the river had reached its 

 present bed. 



The portion of the fort wall where the Indian burials are most 

 frequent, is that which approaches nearest the river, and is a spot 

 whose extreme beauty in situation and surroundings exhibits the 



