THE ARCHEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF NEW YORK 527 



At other points in Charlotte were ash heaps, caches and other evi- 

 dences of an ancient occupation. Between the forks of a small 

 stream on lot 53, upon the farm of John Ames, are two large ash 

 heaps which were examined by the writer. The larger was 42 feet 

 in diameter and had a depth of 3 feet of burned soil and stones ; 

 the smaller was 120 feet east of the larger and was 26 feet in dia- 

 meter. 



Gerry. In Gerry aboriginal remains are more numerous and 

 important than in any other town in the county. Beginning in the 

 extreme northern part one-half of a mile south of those described 

 at Sinclairville, upon the eastern portion of the farm of George 

 Dingley near the east line of lot 48, were many caches. 



One-half of a mile south of the southern boundary of the village 

 of Sinclairville upon lot 47 and upon lands of B. Q. Hanison and 

 the late B. F. Dennison, was a circular intrenchment inclosing 

 several acres ; within or near this earthwork many human skeletons 

 and a large quantity of arrowheads and implements of stone were 

 found at different times. One hundred feet of the eastern portion 

 of this old intrenchment a few years ago was still plainly visible. 

 The old Chautauqua road ran east and west through this earthwork. 



Seventy years ago 1 or more, as many as fifty human skeletons 

 were disinterred from two pits located not far apart, near to, and 

 northeast of, this intrenchment. All the bodies seem to have been 

 buried at the same time and thrown together in great confusion. 



About 130 rods northeast of this intrenchment was an ancient 

 burial ground well known to the pioneers, where many bodies seem 

 to have been regularly interred. So slightly were the dead sepulchred 

 here that while the ground was still covered with woods skulls 

 and other bones were sometimes discovered partly above the sur- 

 face of the ground. These grim relics so awakened the super- 

 stitions of the early settlers as to have given rise to startling stories 

 of ghosts and murdered pioneers. About 40 or 45 years ago M. 

 M. Henderson, W. Putnam, the writer and others were present 

 when twenty-five skeletons were disinterred. They were buried 

 regularly in a sitting position in two parallel rows, the skeletons 

 in each row partly facing the skeletons of the other row, but alter- 

 nating so that the leg bones of each skeleton extended along by the 

 side of the same bones in the skeleton in the opposite row. Their 

 place of burial is located on the north side and some distance from 

 the old Chautautqua road on lands formerly owned by James Cady 

 on lot 47. 



This was written about 1800. 



