NOTICE OF SEVERAL ANCIENT REMAINS OF ART. 



IN JEFFERSON AND ST. LAWRENCE COUNTIES, 



RY FRANKLIN B, HOUGH, M, D. 



In the town of Leray, Jeflferson county, there have been found two 

 ancient trench enclosures. One of these is situated near the bank of 

 Black River, a short distance below the little village of Lockport," 

 (Black River) and is now nearly obliterated by the plough ; except the 

 section that crosses the road, and that which lays in a pasture between 

 the road and the river. For the relative situation of this enclosure with 

 surrounding objects, reference is made to the accompanying plan, No. 1. 



In the cultivated field north of the road, are found in many places 

 traces of fireplaces, both within and without the trench ; and in a cir- 

 cular area to the northeast, several skeletons have been exhumed. From 

 the state of preservation in which these bones are found, it is inferred 

 that they belonged to the recent tribes of Indians that inhabited the 

 region. No aboriginal settlements were known to exist here at the 

 time of the first settlement by the whites, about fifty years since. The 

 same remark applies to all the other remains of ancient enclosures in 

 Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. 



The other trench enclosure is about one mile north of this, is larger, 

 and like the first, contains in and around it numerous traces of hearths, 

 fragments of pottery, shells of edible fresh water shell-fish, and the 

 bones of men and animals. Its outline is in many places very obscure, 

 and the plough will in a few years efface the last vestige of mound or 

 trench. The adjoining flat was once flowed by a beaver dam, making 

 a shallow pond of several acres in extent. The remains of this dam 

 are still distinct. It is built in a curve, the convex side being up the 

 stream. For the dimensions and topography of this enclosure, see 

 planNo. 2. 



