236 



Cincinnati Society 0/ Natural History. 



Some eight inches of soil, which originally covered this 

 portion of the ridge, had previously been scraped away, 

 exposing the almost uniform gravel of the bank. When the 

 protruding bones were discovered a sharp outline of the sec- 

 tion of the grave was visible, the material filling the grave 

 being a very fine and even sand. No signs of ashes were 

 discovered. 



The skeleton was in a horizontal position, while the few 

 relics, which were found with it, were principally on its left 

 side, in the region of the neck and shoulders. 



The relics consisted of a few fragmentary 

 shell and horn beads ; bone needles ; stone 

 skin dressers, stone war implements; a 

 flat slate pendant; a few hunting and war 

 arrow and spear flint points ; beaver teeth ; 

 and two finely preserved harpoons. 



The harpoons are particularly interest- 

 ing, as they are the first of the kind that 

 have been recorded as found in the Miami 

 Valley. They have four and five teeth 

 respectively and measure j^g an d 7yw 

 inches in length, and are made from deer 

 horn. All harpoons heretofore found in 

 the numerous graves and mounds opened 

 in the Miami Valley have had only a 

 single tooth, and in most instances were 

 smaller than these specimens. 



The skeleton itself was very well pre- 

 served. It is of a male, variously estimated 

 to have been from five feet six inches to 

 five feet ten inches in height, and proba- 

 bly about forty years of age. Owing to 

 the manner in which the skeleton was dis- 

 covered and removed, the toe, ankle, and 

 wrist bones are entirely wanting, while 

 only a few of the finger bones remain. 

 Otherwise, the skeleton is complete. 



In considering the skeleton in detail, we will, as far as prac- 

 ticable, follow the order of treatment of Dr. F. W. Langdon, 

 in his paper upon " The Madisonville Pre-historic Cemetery : 



One-Half Size. 



