638 Were they Mound-Builders ? [ October, 
some people occupied this section of country before the advent 
of the Iroquois, for we cannot think that previously to that time, 
this fertile land, abounding in fish and game, was entirely without 
inhabitants. Who these tribes were, Hurons, Shawanoes, or some 
more advanced people, is but a matter of conjecture. It is an 
interesting subject for investigation, and it may be the good for- 
tune of some one yet to discover relics that will lead to an eluci- 
dation of the mystery. 
In this paper I wish to call attention to and describe some 
ancient graves, and their contained relics, which I have recently 
opened and examined, leaving it for others to conclude from the 
premises which I shall furnish, whether these were simply Indian 
graves of an old date or those of another people. 
I have known of the place, examined for many years, and had, 
with others, previously done some superficial digging, finding at 
one time, in a grave, thirty arrow-heads and a small copper awl. 
The latter, of which Fig. 1 is a drawing, might have been used 
for piercing holes in buckskin garments, but as implernents for 
Fic. 1.—Full size. 
this purpose were usually made of bone with the point rounded 
and sharpened in a similar manner, and as these were obtained 
with comparative ease and were equally serviceable for sewing 
purposes, I think that possibly this copper implement had a dif- 
ferent, or at any rate an additional use. According to many early 
writers the natives at the time of the discovery, were found in 
possession of ornaments, necklaces, &c., of pearls, the perforating 
of which was done with a heated copper spindle. The square 
shape of this implement indicates that it has been set in a handle, 
and the point being very smooth, shows use of some kind. That 
it was intended for a drill of this description seems not improb- 
able, when viewed in connection with certain shell relics subse- 
quently found, and which are described in this article. 
Aside from the above, as far as I have been able to learn, little 
had been found by others digging at this place. It is known as 
an “Indian burying-ground,” and was originally an extensive 
knoll of sand and gravel with an upper stratum of loamy soil 
about four feet in thickness, mixed with angular fragments of sand 
rock. It has a southern exposure, and is abutted on the north 
by a precipitous rocky hillside. Unfortunately, however, the 
most of this old graveyard was removed years ago to make an 
