PERCH LAKE AND OTHER NEW YORK MOUNDS 



3 1 



In Tioga county there was a circular burial mound at Owego. 

 Several mounds were in the vicinity of Newark Valley. One of 

 these was 15 feet high and 250 feet around, suggesting natural 

 formation. 



In Wayne county I examined several mounds July 18, 1902. One 

 was northwest of Savannah and in the midst of camp sites. It is 

 circular and but slightly separated from the ridge behind. It is 60 

 feet across and 3 feet high. Another burial mound north of Crusoe 

 creek and northeast of this, is now small and low, but distinct. 

 Another was examined 2^ miles south of Savannah. It is at the 

 south end of a ridge containing caches, from which it has been 

 separated by excavation. The bodies were apparently laid on the 

 surface and the earth heaped upon them. It is 30 feet across and 

 about 7 feet high. The first of these mounds shows little work. 



In Wyoming county is a burial mound about 4 miles south of 

 Portage. 



In Yates county a small burial mound on Bluff point is 9 feet 

 long and 4 feet high. 



These are all the burial or monumental mounds thus far reported 

 in Xew York, as distinguished from defensive earthworks. Very 

 few indeed resemble those of Perch lake, and this led to the special 

 examination of the latter. Their peculiar character is emphasized 

 by this comparison with New York mounds elsewhere, and though 

 scattered examples may yet be found here, it is quite probable that 

 nowhere else in the State will they be seen in such numbers or in 

 such fine preservation. They form a unique group, well worthy of 

 further study, though offering little in the way of fine relics, or 

 indeed of any at all. 



By way of caution it should be remarked that the hight of mounds 

 is commonly made too great unless accurately determined ; and there 

 is also a disposition to consider any symmetric elevation of moderate 

 size an Indian mound. Even when human bones are found in them 

 they are not always artificial. 



A curious spot miles west-southwest of Unadilla may be 

 described here, having never been mentioned before. For the 

 account and chart, thanks are due to Mr Harry B. Cecil of that 



