798 PAPEES RELATING TO ANTHROPOLOGY. 



earth mounds are still to be seen, and beautifully finished arrow-heads 

 are occasionally found. 



On the lands of Mr. James Marker, 3 miles southeast of Sharpsburg-, 

 is a cave, which tradition says was used both as a dwelling and as a burial 

 place. This cave is about 20 feet in diameter and C feet in height, and 

 contains two rooms. The outer room has been partially explored. Tbe 

 opening to the inner room is so small as to be diflBcult of access. An 

 examination of the cave last spring disclosed some flat stones, which 

 were removed; and underneath them a large quantity of ashes, burnt 

 bones, bead ornaments, arrow-heads, and flints were encountered. A 

 few years ago a pipe of exquisite workmanship was found in this cave. 

 It is situated on the banks of Antietam Creek, on a rocky bluff, and 

 possesess every advantage for defense, accessibility to water, game, and 

 other means of living. Several years ago a skeleton was found under 

 a ledge of a rock near this place in a good state of preservation. I have 

 also in my possession a pipe found on the banks of the Antietam near 

 this cave. 



IsTumerous changes have taken place in the streams and forests where 

 once roamed the aborigines. The construction of the Chesapeake and 

 Ohio Canal, which borders on the Potomac, destroyed a great many of 

 the mounds and earth-works. Along the canal, at a place called Mercer- 

 ville, 3 miles north of Sharpsburg, is an old, aboriginal burial ground 

 containing half an acre. Last winter the writer visited this spot and 

 found numerous pieces of pottery, bones, a few ornaments, and several 

 stems of pipes. The bodies were buried about 2 feet below the surface. 

 On an examination of the graves were found ashes and burnt bones, 

 which led to the belief that cremation was practised by these jjeople. 

 Large trees were growing on the spot, which indicates plainly that 

 this was an ancient burial site. The canal passes through a large part 

 of it. 



On the farm of Mr. Jacob McQuilkin, near ^Martinsburg, W. Va., are 

 two large mounds, one of stone, which is about 12 feet in height and 20 

 feet in diameter; this one had been explored. The other mound is of 

 earth, and is about 6 feet in height and 12 feet in diameter. Several 

 large oak trees are growing in this mound, probably 40 feet in height and 

 2 feet in diameter. In the mound were found arrow-heads, fragments of 

 pottery, some of which were very beautiful, also bones, and a large pes- 

 tle formed of sandstone, 18 inches in length. These remains are lo- 

 cated on a high cliff overhanging the Potomac River, commanding a fine 

 view of the surrounding country. Around them occur an abundance of 

 broken pottery and flint chippings. In one place twenty arrow-heads, 

 all differently formed, were picked up. There can hardly be a doubt that 

 this point was the lapidary of the aborigines. The arrow-heads found 

 were of different colored stone as well as of different shapes and sizes.. 



On the farm of Dr. Whiting, in what is commonly known as " Whi- 

 ting's Neck," a short distance from the farm of Mr. McQuilkin, are sev- 



