Ancient Bones. 243 
below the surface. This skeleton was seen‘by several per- 
sons ; and among others, by Dr. Daniel Turney, an emi- 
nent surgeon of this place ; they all concurred in the belief, 
that it belonged toa human being. Pickaway plains are, or 
rather were a large prairie, before the land was improved by 
its present inhabitants. This tract is alluvial to a great 
a depth ; greater, probably, than the earth has ever been 
perforated, certainly than it has been here by the hand of 
man. ‘The surface of the plain is at least one hundred feet 
above the highest freshet of the Scioto river, near which it 
lies. On the surface isa black vegetable mould, from three, 
to six, and nine feet in depth—then we find pebbles and 
shells imbedded among them: the pebbles are evidently 
rounded and smoothed by attrition in water, exactly such 
as we now see at the bottom of rivers, ponds and lakes. 1 
have examined the spot where this skeleton was found, - 
and am persuaded that it was not deposited there by the 
hand of man, for there are no marks of any grave; or 
of any of the works of man, but the earth and pebbles 
appear to lie in the very position in which they were de- 
posited by the water. This skeleton is no more, but one 
skull found nearer still to this town, a drawing of which ac- 
companies thjs communication, I have been careful to pie 
serve fora similar plate. (See 2d plate.) 
On the North side of a small stream, called Hargus 
creek, which at this place empties into tne Scioto, in dig- 
ging through a hill composed of such pebbles as I have de- 
scribed in Pickaway plains, at least nine feet below the 
surface, several human skeletons were found, perfect in ev- 
ery limb. “The drawing* which I have annexed, is exactly 
one fourth part as large @ as one of these skulls which is in my 
possession. These skeletons, thus found, were promiscu- 
ously scattered about, and parts of skeletons were some- 
times found at different depths below the surface. This 
hill is at least 50 feet above the highest freshets in the Sci- 
oto, and is a very ancient alluvion, where every stratum of 
sand, of clay, and pebbles, has been deposited by the wa- 
ters of some stream. Near this hill isa large prairie, seve- 
ral miles in length, and nearly half a mile in width, which, 
from every appearance, has been the bed of the Sacte, 
* Although I profess no skillin drawing, 1 believe the drait is correct. 
