J E V V 1^: R S N C O U N '1' Y — E A R T H - W R K S , ETC. 25 



over the surface, and may after rains be collected in considerable quantities. Here, 

 too, have been found skeletons buried according to the usual custom. 



The aboriginal population must have been very large at this spot, which, both 

 in aspect of soil and the close proximity of springs and pure streams, affords a 

 most beautiful site for an Indian village. 



About a mile to the southward of this group, upon the land of Mr. Mendall, was 

 another work, of which no trace now remains. Another occurred at a place called 

 Clark's Settlement, still another at Ellis Settlement, and others in various parts 

 of the township, concerning which no definite information can now be obtained. 



Near the neat and pretty village of Pierrepoint's Manor, is also the site of an 

 ancient town, undistinguishable from the fortified village already described, except 

 by the absence of an embankment and trench. Large quantities of relics have 

 been recovered here. A work of considerable size was visible until within a few 

 years, half or three fourths of a mile northwest of the village of Adams, on the 

 lands of Mr. W. Benton. It is described by Mr. Justus Eddy, in a letter to the 

 author, as having been semicircular in form, five hundred feet in diameter, and the 

 open segment facing or rather opening towards a marshy piece of ground, through 

 which flowed a small stream. There were two or three breaks, or passage-ways, 

 in the embankments. At the time of the settlement of this part of the country by 

 the whites, about fifty years ago, trees two and three feet in diameter were growing 

 upon the wall, and within the area. The embankment was then between three 

 and four feet in height. Within the work were found quantities of pottery, pipes, 

 and beads, covered with ornamental figures. A silver star-shaped ornament, bear- 

 ing the initials P. H., was also found. It was quite thin, not exceeding the com- 

 mon sixpence in thickness. 



Upon an island, outside of Sackett's Harbor, known as Snow-shoe Island, it is 

 said, there are traces of an ancient work. So far as could be gathered, it was 

 a pahsaded structure, unaccompanied by an embankment. 



Besides the various earth-works above described, there are a number of other 

 interesting objects of antiquarian interest in this county. Among them may be men- 

 tioned the " bone-pits,''^ or deposits of human bones. One is found near the village 

 of Brownsville, on Black River. It is described as a pit, ten or twelve feet square, 

 by perhaps four feet deep, in which are promiscuously heaped together a large 

 number of human skeletons. It will be seen ultimately, that these accumulations 

 owe their origin to a remarkable custom, common to many of the Indian tribes, of 

 collecting and depositing together the bones of their dead, at stated intervals. 

 Another pit, very unlike this, however, exists about three miles east of Watertown. 

 It is situated upon the slope of a hill, and was originally marked by a number of 

 large stones heaped over it. Upon removing these and excavating beneath them, 

 a pit about six feet square, and four deep, was discovered, filled with human bones, 

 all well preserved, but in fragments. Upwards of forty pairs of the patella 

 were counted, showing that at least that number of skeletons had been deposited 

 in the pit. It is said that the bones, when first exhumed, exhibited marks such as 

 would result from the gnawing of wild animals ; and from this circumstance, and 

 the fact that they were so much broken up, it has been very plausibly supposed 

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