ANCIENT RELICS AT DAYTON, OHIO. 839 



removal of about 2 feet of the surface earth for quite a distance on either 

 side of the embankment. Fragments of pottery were here found by 

 Mr. Chester Kiehl, and were readily identified as being Indian work. 

 This gentleman invited a few acquaintances to assist him in his excava- 

 tion, which led to some interesting results. 



The pottery was found at an almost uniform distance of 3 feet be- 

 neath the original surface of the earth, associated with the bones of the 

 buffalo, the deer, and the elk, known to have been common in this valley. 

 Several human skeletons have also been found, which, at first, led to 

 the belief that a burial-ground had been discovered, but the following 

 facts induce an opposite opinion : The heaps of ashes were found at a 

 uniform depth, and usually contained the pottery, which was mostly in 

 fragments. The skeletons were found at the same depth, but were ex- 

 tremely few in number when compared with the number of ash-piles 

 and pottery and implements found in their vicinity, since the latter 

 would necessarily fall under the head of articles buried with the dead 

 to be of use in the other world ; however, there were too many relics, 

 too scattered, to appear to have been buried there. This was probably 

 an ancient village, the tribe of which perished or left, and the place was 

 afterwards covered by the heavy sediment of the river during inunda- 

 tion. The skeletons are probably those of a later race buried here, or 

 those of the old inhabitants whose bodies remained on the ground after 

 some great warfare. 



The removal of earth for the levee considerably lightened the labor 

 of excavation, and resulted in the finding of more relics than would 

 otherwise have been attainable. Some idea of their antiquity may be 

 gaiued by learning that they were found 2 feet beneath the surface 

 and that more than 2 feet must be added to this depth to make allow- 

 ance far the removal of earth for the neighboring levees. 



A large number of mussel shells, belonging to the species of Unio verru- 

 cosus, Barnes, were found with holes cut into shell, large enough for 

 the introduction of a finger. The valves in this condition were prob- 

 ably used as earth and sand scrapers, taking the place of shovels, prob- 

 ably also as skin scrapers, for which they are adapted. Placing the finger 

 through the hole, and the back of the valve against the palm of the 

 hand, it can be held with ease and firmness. Some of the scrapers had 

 become calcined by exposure to tire, and were found in an imperfect 

 condition throughout the ash layer. 



The carapax of the lady turtle, Chryscmys marginata, was found in 

 several instances, the plastron having been removed. In this condition 

 it could be used as a drinking (Hip, the handsome green color variegated 

 with yellow and red making it a pretty object. Near Cincinnati, the 

 shell of this turtle has been found pierced by two holes, which undoubt- 

 edly enabled the Indian to use it as a pretty, although cumbersome, or- 

 nament. 



A few arrow-heads made of chert were either triangular in shape or 



