Notes on Ohio. ig 
occasion required near the spot where they fell: this usually 
has been in the bottom lands near the rivers, their bons 
being often exposed to view from the falling in of the river 
banks, after freshets. 
The remains of their stone hearths are also brought to 
hight in the same way, near which are discovered vast heaps 
of calcined clam-shells, bones of fish, and of deer. This has 
been more particularly the case nearthe mouth of the Musk- 
ingum river. ‘This spot, from the vast quantities of shells 
washed out of the bank, must have been a place of their oc- 
casional residence for many years. Such places are fre- 
quent oa the Ohio river, and near them are often found bits 
of broken potter’s ware, of a coarse construction, appearing 
to be made of pounded shells, and clay, in composition. 
IT once saw a perfect vessel of this kind ; it would hold 
about two quarts, was handsomely proportioned, nearly the 
shape ofa large cocoa-nut, and had four neat handles placed 
near the brim, opposite to each other. It was found in the 
bank, on an island in the Ohio river, near Belpre. 
Arrow heads of flint, are found in ploughing the fields, 
scattered all over the bottom lands, some so large that they 
must have been used for spears’ heads. Stone hatchets, 
and stone pestles for pounding corn, are alsocommon. On 
the beach near the mouth of the Muskingum, was 
found a curious ornament, which from the neatness of the 
workmanship, must have belonged to some distinguished per- 
sonage amongst that ancient race of inhabitants, who con- 
structed those wonderful works in this neighborhood. It is 
made of white marble, its forma circle, about three inches 
in diameter. The outer edge is about one inch in thickness, 
with a narrow rim, the sides are deeply concave, and in the 
centre is a hole about half an inch in diameter. It is beau- 
tifally finished, and so smooth that I have no doubt it was 
once very nicely polished. It is now in the possession of 
David Putnam, Esq. of Marietta. 
Ancient mounds are frequent all over the county of 
Washington ; some are constructed of stone, and some of 
earth; others are composed of both stones and earth,—and I 
have been informed, from good authority, that there are 
some On the heads of Jonathan’s creek, in Morgan county, 
whose bases are formed of well burnt bricks, df about four or 
five inches square. ‘There were found lying on the bricks, 
_ charcoal, cinders, and bits of calcined bones ; and above thém 
Vor X.—No. 1. Qh 
