102 



[Senate 



In the town of Rutland are vestiges of several ancient works. One 

 of these is on land owned by the heirs of the late James Wilson, and 

 near the residence of Abner Tomlin. The space is still covered with 

 a forest, and trees of several centuries growth are standing upon and 

 within the enclosure. Decayed and fallen trunks of others, of which 

 but slight traces remain, indicate that the present growth of timber has 

 been preceded by another quite as ancient, and carry back the origin of 

 these works to a period exceedingly remote. 



The little hillocks formed by fallen trees, have in some places so 

 confused and obliterated the original work, that it is difficult to deter- 

 mine its precise extent. The annexed plan (No. 3) conveys a good 

 idea of the extent and form of this trench enclosure. Great numbers 

 of human skeletons have been found buried in the trench which sur- 

 rounds the slight mound yet remaining. Within the area have been 

 found graves, and fireplaces ; while in the fields around, which have 

 been cultivated, great numbers of flint arrowheads, stone chisels, pipes, 

 and fragments of coarse earthen ware, have been found. Among the 

 charcoal found within the enclosure, charred corn has been found in 

 considerable qnantities. The skeletons appeared to have been deposited 

 in something like a regular manner, with their heads to the west, and 

 the knees drawn up to the body. This place is about one mile from the 

 western line of the town of Rutland, and two miles from Black River. 

 There is said to have been found in this locality several years since, a 

 copper arrowhead. Whether of ancient or recent workmanship, is not 

 known. If the former, it would indicate an acquaintance with distant 

 localities of that metal, as none has been found, in the metalic state, 

 nearer than the great mineral regions of Lake Superior. 



In the year 1842, a collection of human bones, evidently of ancient 

 date, was discovered in Rutland, about three miles east from the village 

 of Watertown, on a commanding height, and in a field owned by Mr. 

 E. Huntingdon. 



On removing a circular pile of stones, about three feet high and ten 

 feet in diameter, there was discovered a flat stone, which covered a 

 hole four feet square and two feet deep, filled with bones, thrown pro* 

 raiscuously together. They were evidently nothing but bones at the 

 time of their burial, as the space was too small to have contained so 

 many bodies. Some bones exhibited the marks of teeth, as if they had 

 been gnawed by wild animals. 



The surrounding fields contain traces of fireplaces, with much char- 

 coal and charred corn ; and the whole appears to bear evidence of an- 



