382 ANTIQUITIES. 



A part of the embankment extends into the woods on the north side, and on 

 it arc growing several trees, one of them a pine tree 3^ feet in diameter. This 

 tree has undoubtedly grown where it is since the embankment was made. The 

 tree must be several centuries old. This, and in fact everything around it, 

 testifies to the comparatively great antiquity of the fort. 



A few rods to the west of the enclosure, on a knoll, there were two burial- 

 grounds, where the dead bodies of the inhabitants were deposited. Sixty years 

 ago, according to my father, " a hundred graves could be counted in a row." 

 These burial-grounds -were quite extensive, embracing not less than two or three 

 acres. In a northeast direction, about fifteen rods from the fort, was another 

 burial-ground. The northeast gate, as before mentioned, led directly to this 

 one. This burial-ground contained at least half an acre. In all of them the 

 bodies Avere as thickly deposited as they conveniently could be. The last 

 burial-ground mentioned is still visible, it being in the woods ; but the other two 

 have been ploughed, so that they cannot be distinguished at present. In the 

 one that is now distinguishable, I have assisted in digging out several graves. 

 In some, bones were found; while in others, nothing of the kind were seen. 

 Wherever there is a grave tlie earth is sunk a little. In the first one that 

 v/as opened we found the thigh-bones, hip-bones, arm-bones, and various other 

 smaller ones. A jaw-bone and several teeth were found, but no hair. We 

 used nothing but our hands to throw out the earth with ; otherwise, it is prob- 

 able, we should have found more things. The earth was very loose, and it was, 

 consequently, easily throwiji out. The depth of the grave was about 3J feet. 

 One grave, in which several bones were found, was under a root of the stump 

 of a large pine tree. This tree was, perhaps, from three to six hundred years 

 old, and it is probable that it has grown there since the grave was made. 



All things indicate that these people were buried in a sitting posture. The 

 graves are very short, not being more than four feet in length. Also the jaw, 

 hip, and thigh bones were all found together, just as they naturally would be if 

 the body was buried in a sitting posture. 



Various little trinkets have been found on the " fort-lot" at different times. 

 A great many arrow-points have been found there, made of the hardest flint 

 stone. Stone hatchets, or axes, have also been found. Several years since, a 

 neighbor, Mr. David Farriugton, found a pipe there, probably used for smoking 

 tobacco ; the stem was not very long, but of a sufiicient size to admit a wooden 

 stem of any length ; the pipe-bowl had the face of a frog formed on it. 



Within three miles of here there arc three other similar forts to the one which 

 we have here described. 



DAVID TROWBRIDGE. 



remains of an ancient town in minnesota. 



Itasca, Anoka County, Minnesota, 



November 25, 1863. 



Dear Sir: Presuming that your Institution is the proper one with which 

 to file a report of new discoveries, I take the privilege and pleasure to inform 

 you that indications are favorable to encourage the belief, that upwards of one 

 hundred years ago there existed at the mouth of Crow river, where it empties 

 into the Mississippi, 24 miles above the Falls of St. Anthony, a toAvn compris- 

 ing at least seven hundred inhabitants. I have commenced collecting the ar- 

 ticles that have been found, Avitli the intention of forwarding the same to you if 

 you desire me to do so. 



AVe presume that the village was destroyed by fire of an enemy, for these 

 reasons : we find the outlines of the buildings forming ridges of earth, under 

 which are ashes, indicating fire ; we also find human bones near the surface, 

 which leads to the belief that they were not buried. 



