Archceological Ex2olorations nvar Iladisonville, Ohio. 139 



December 16th, two skeletons were exhumed, one in horizontal and 

 the other in a sitting position. Several skeletons and three ash pits 

 were discovered on the following da}^ and on Saturda}^ December 20th, 

 a group of five children, all about three years of age, was found. 

 These skeletons were in a horizontal position, heads south, and lying 

 side by side: depth 1 foot 10 inches: making a total of 15 skeletons 

 exhumed during the week. 



From December 22d to December 27th, five adult skeletons, all in 

 horizontal positions, were found, and two pits containing sand and a 

 few relics, but no ashes. 



On Monday, December 29th, an adult dwarf skeleton, probably fe- 

 male, was uncovered. It was lying on its side, head south, facing east. 

 The spine of this individual presented an example of a somewhat 

 remarkable pathological condition, the spinous and articular processes 

 of all the dorsal and lumbar vertebra being anchjdosed; t?ie bodies re- 

 mained free, with the exception of two in the lumbar region, which 

 were connected only b}^ a thin band of osseous tissue. The lumbar 

 vertebra were in their turn solidly united with the sacrum, and the 

 latter bone with the ilia. Several of the carpal and metacarpal bones 

 had also become united into a solid bou}^ mass, and the atlas w^as con- 

 nected with the skull in a similar manner, altogether making this 

 probably one of the most interesting cases of disease of the osseous 

 system on record. 



The skeleton of a child about three 3^ears of age was also exhumed 

 to-day, and a singular collection of bones disposed as follows: a skull, 

 resting on its base, facing south, over which were placed the two ossa 

 innominata, and at its side three femurs and one tibia; no other bones 

 were found; depth 2 feet 3 inches. Tuesday, December 30th, a group 

 of five skeletons was discovered, one an adult male, six feet in length, 

 and four of children about three or four years of age. All* these re- 

 mains were in horizontal positions, side by side, and about the same 

 depth, viz. : 1 foot 9 and 10 inches. Two broken vessels and two stone 

 fleshers were found with this group. 



December 31st, an ash pit, 3 feet in diameter and 5 feet 2 inches in 

 depth, was opened. The layers w^ere as follows: leaf-mold and sand, 

 24 inches; ashes, 38 inches; contents, pottery sherds, U^iio shells, 

 burnt limestone, animal remains and a few flint implements. 



[To BE Continued.] 



