USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Madisonville > Indian Village Site and Cemetery Near Madisonville, Ohio > Part 25
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The earth from the outside ditches of A was used to form the embankment c, g, through which a rivulet has cut its way near the eastern extremity. The small circle at c represents a mound 8 feet high, a little out of the center of
1 F. W. Putnam, Manuscript Notes.
: Charles Whittlesey, Descriptions of Ancient Works in Ohio, Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, Vol. III, No. 7, pp. 9 and 10.
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TURNER GROUP OF EARTHWORKS
the work. The group of mounds, m, m, m, are from 2 to 14 feet in height. B is a circle, with a slight inside ditch, and a broad opening for an entrance.
The section, a, b, gives the position of the ditch, n, the bank, o, and the space of 30 feet between them, called a berme.
There are some examples of graded ways among the ancient works of Ohio, but none resembling this. The grade at Marietta leads from a strong work
Stetsons
0
lich soil
Three Miles. above NEWTOWN
3000
FIGURE 1 Whittlesey's plan of the Turner Group, 1850.
down to the Muskingum River, and had an evident purpose, that of access to water. It is principally an excavation and not an embankment. There is also a grade, partly in excavation and partly in bank, from a portion of the Newark Works in Licking County, leading to a branch of Licking or Pataskala River.
The great excavated road at Piketown, likewise descended to water. But here, a grade that might with as little labor have been constructed in a direct line to the Miami River, is made in the opposite direction, away from water. I should judge that the rivulet was not a permanent stream, and therefore
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HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
could not furnish a constant supply of water. Besides, the graded way in- stead of terminating at this rivulet, crosses it, and probably by an ancient culvert or sluice, allowed the water to pass under the road.
Without taking such measurements as would be sufficient to estimate the contents of the ditch in cubic yards, it appeared to be about equal to the em- bankment in capacity. The section a, b, gives its form, and the position of the low interior wall.
It is not improbable that there may have been outworks connected with this remarkable group that were not seen, or which have been destroyed by the plough.
The plan of the group shown in plate 1, is adapted from the sur- vey by D. S. and J. A. Hosbrook of Cincinnati, made for the Pea- body Museum in 1887. Cultivation for thirty-seven years since Whittlesey's plan was prepared has probably still further reduced the mounds and embankments.
The principal earthworks consist of a great oval enclosure situated on the second terrace of the Little Miami River, about 1000 feet from the river's edge. This enclosure is about 1500 feet long (nearly a third of a mile), and approximately 950 feet wide. At the northeastern end of the oval is an opening or gateway. At the southwestern end is a second opening which connects with a graded way about 600 feet long, leading to an elevated circle upon a portion of the first or upper terrace, which had been detached from the main part of the elevation by two deep trenches, one upon either side. This elevated circle is about 30 feet above the level of the great enclosure.
Within these two connected enclosures are two small earth circles with inner trenches, and fourteen mounds, occupying the positions illustrated in the plan and model, plate 1 and figure 2.
Eight hundred feet south from the elevated circle is the entrance to the long enclosure with low parallel embankments and rounded ends. This is nearly one-half mile in length and about 250 feet in width. This is probably analogous to the chunkey yard of the Creeks, where games were played and prisoners exhibited.
To the west of the elevated circle are four mounds upon the second terrace, regularly arranged in relation to the circle. To the north of the great enclosure and upon the third terrace at the river's edge is what is left of a stone-covered mound which has been par- tially carried away by river floods. Upon portions of the first terrace to the southward are several other mounds, not shown in
6
TURNER GROUP OF EARTHWORKS
the plan, which probably bear no direct relation to the group under consideration.
The Embankment of the Great Enclosure. The embankment forming the great enclosure could be traced practically throughout its entire length. Beginning at the foot of the graded way, about one-half of the northwestern section was well defined except in one place, the average height being about 2 feet and the width approximately 20 feet. Beyond this, for a space of about 500 feet, the embankment was just perceptible; the remaining portion, ex-
FIGURE 2
Model of the Turner Group, looking northwest.
tending to the northeastern gateway, was about 1 foot high and 25 feet wide.
The southeastern half of the embankment was nearly obliterated except near the western end, where it rose to a height of about three feet, but its outline could be traced for practically its entire length by the dark color of the soil.
Like numerous other similar embankments in southern Ohio there seems to have been no accompanying trench upon either side. The embankment was low, and while it may have been somewhat reduced by cultivation, it probably never was much higher than when first noted by Whittlesey. Hoping to throw some light upon its origin, it was decided to carry trenches through it at certain points.
Trench A. Just north of the southwestern opening at the foot of the graded way, a portion of the embankment was removed, in 1889, by digging a trench 100 feet long and 50 feet wide, at a,
PEABODY MUSEUM PAPERS
VOL. VIII, No. 3, PLATE 1
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RIVER
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GREAT ENCLOSURE
MARRIOTT HOUND 2 O
GRADED WAY
ELEVATED CIRCLE
MARRIOTT MOUND I
O CEMETERY HOUND
TURNER GROUP OF EARTHWORKS ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, HAMILTON COUNTY OHIO
ENCLOSURE
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SCALE IN FEET
LONG
OHIO
TURNER GROUP
Plan of the Turner Group of Earthworks from the survey by D. S. and J. A. Hosbrook, made for the Peabody Museum in 1887.
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HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
plate 1. Mr. M. A. Saville had charge of this work for the Mu- seum. The trench was carried into the hard-pan, which lay at an average depth of 2} feet below the surface. Its sides extended somewhat beyond the edges of the embankment.
Within this excavation were found thirty-seven post-holes, several small ash-beds and pits, six altars, and a large hearth of flat limestones. Their distribution is shown in figure 3.
o
O
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NEARTH
O
O
ASH PIT
O
O
ASH BEON
O
O
ALTAR
POSTHOLES
O
O
FIGURE 3 Plan of Trench a, embankment of the Great Enclosure.
The post-holes were 3 to 12 inches in diameter. The following table shows the number of each size measured:
Number of post-holes. . 1
Diameter of post-holes in inches 3 4 5 6
7
8
9 10
1 0 4 6 4 6 4 0 7 12 11
With a few exceptions, these were not found until a depth of nearly 30 inches was reached. They extended from 10 inches to 3 feet beneath this level and into the hard-pan, the majority being 18 to 24 inches deep. Nearly all were filled with dark earth mixed with ashes and charcoal.
Several small ash-beds of various sizes were encountered, 9 to 30 inches below the surface, most of them lying at a depth of about 30 inches. Some of them may have been post-holes filled with ashes.
ALTARS
O
O
O
- The sE shout the
: Dates below the soi the the other
Tr ary wss 4 inches The day at its
The rogers were Mani with the Cor sarth of small
estei frasi Berth of the inciais di carvel
.diets an the
Eis with the incised
che most refined this carving were
:: ENS =Resine. which was .... Ess lers piered together.
apsi pas & the design appears de- ty bsi te se szimmal with upright
Ti Ppen This head, separated from
shown somewhat reduced in d. By split- RZE g zghvise through its center and joining the . proizvei, with the smaller head having cross- hatchei verk appearing in the center. This head, also reduovi in size. is shown in. :. By reversing the drawing i, the horned hed, ". appears as the principal figure. The lower part of this ro bone which was destroyed. evidently had similar patterns.
PEABODY MUSEUM PAPERS
VOL. VIII, No. 3, PLATE 2
a
b
€
A
sent of the Great Enclosure: engments of human femur: Animal heads, somewhat eversed. (About 2/5.)
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HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
The designs upon fragments of another carved bone, probably a portion of human femur are shown developed in b and c. Un- fortunately, only a small part of this specimen could be restored, and not enough of the design remains to be intelligible. Like most of these curious carvings, the complete design represents a conventionalized animal form, probably a bird. Two other ex- amples of this class of work from the central altar of mound 3 are shown on pages 57 and 58. Interesting specimens from other mound groups are figured elsewhere.'
Most of the carvings are upon human bones. One of the speci- mens from the Hopewell Group, Ross County, shows the figure of an ocelot incised upon one of the long bones of a large bird. Other examples are cut in antler and shell. Fragments of wooden bowls from the Hopewell Group show the same type of decoration. A stone pipe bowl from the Liberty Group, representing a human head, has the face ornamented with this form of decoration, indi- cating its use in face and body painting. This highly specialized style of ornamentation was doubtless applied to many other com- mon objects.
This peculiar art development was no doubt as characteristic of the great earthwork area as that of the Northwest Coast tribes is of the region which they inhabit. It is probably true that in no section of America north of Mexico had decorative art reached a higher plane than in southern Ohio.
Altar 2 was intact but contained no artifacts. Altars 3, 4, and 6 had been broken or disturbed by the plow.
Altar 5 was in good condition and is shown in plate 9, a. This is now in the Cincinnati Museum. Its cavity was filled with ashes, charcoal, and burnt bone. Among the ashes were found a perforated fossil tooth of a shark, seventeen shell beads of various forms and sizes, four pearl beads, a broken point, and fragments of bone and antler implements.
It seems probable that a building of some kind occupied the space uncovered by this trench, possibly one of a series of earth- covered structures originally forming the enclosure.
We are apt to associate earth-covered buildings with the Arikara, Pawnee, Mandan, or other western and northern tribes, forgetting
1 C. C. Willoughby, The Art of the Great Earthwork Builders of Ohio, Holmes Anniversary Volume, Washington, 1916.
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TURNER GROUP OF EARTHWORKS
that in early historic times it was the custom among many of the southern and central Indians to cover the walls (and in some instances the roof also) of their variously shaped buildings with clay or earth. The Caddo, Taensa, Natchez, Choctaw, and Biloxi are among the tribes who followed this custom.
It was suggested by Lewis H. Morgan 1 many years ago that long earth-covered communal houses may have occupied some of the embankments of the great earthwork enclosures of southern Ohio.
The excavation of portions of this low embankment seems to
GRAVES
ASH BEDS
OUTLINE OF BLACK SOIL
FIGURE 4
Plan of Trench c, embankment of the Great Enclosure.
indicate that possibly in this instance the enclosure may originally have been formed of oblong earth-covered buildings, erected upon the natural surface of the ground. It is possible that they may have been arranged in clan groups, something after the manner of the great tribal circles of some of the Plains Indians. As the build- ings decayed, the earth covering and other debris would be added to the dark earth and ashes surrounding and covering the hearths, some of which were found undisturbed during the excavations. This is offered as a suggestion only, and may be worth considering in future explorations of similar earthworks.
Trench B. To the north of trench a, the embankment ap- parently had been reduced in height for a space of about 150 feet. This part was not explored. To the northeast of this leveled portion, a second trench, plate 1, b, the same width of the first, was dug
1 L. H. Morgan, Houses and House-Life of the American Aborigines, Contributions to North American Ethnology, Vol. IV, pp. 207-214.
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HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
for a distance of 200 feet. Nothing of special interest was en- countered in or beneath the embankment at this point. One small altar containing no artifacts was unearthed near its southwestern end, and seventeen post-holes, irregularly arranged, two or three ash-pits or ash-beds, and the remains of a child, were found at intervals.
Trench C. In 1890 the exploration of the embankment at c, plate 1, was continued under the charge of Mr. Saville. Several ash-beds, an undisturbed hearth of flat limestones, and four shallow graves were unearthed. The positions of these are shown in the
0
10
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30
FEET
i
O POSTHOLES
HEARTHS DESTROYED BY PLOW
STONES SCATTERED
HEARTHS
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OUTLINE Of
OUTLINE OF BLACK SOIL
FIGURE 5
Plan of Trench d, embankment of the Great Enclosure.
plan, figure 4. The composition of the embankment at this point was similar to that shown by trench d.
Trench D. During the same season, Mr. Ernest Volk also ex- plored 150 feet of the embankment at the point just east of trench c. The results are indicated in figure 5.
Several hearths were found in the eastern half of the excavation. These consisted of one to three layers of limestones which had in most cases been placed on a thin layer of surface soil overlying a natural stratum of clay. Mixed with the hearth stones and cov- ering their surface were ashes, charcoal, and black soil. Many of the stones were partially, and a few wholly, calcined by the heat. The deepest of these hearths was only 14 inches beneath the sur- face, but none of them had been disturbed by plowing. The hearths in the western half of the trench, however, were nearer the surface, and the stones had been scattered by the plow through- out this area. Mixed with the ashes and black soil in both sec-
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TURNER GROUP OF EARTHWORKS
tions were potsherds, flint chips, fragments of mica, broken bone, and flint implements, broken and burnt bones of various animals, and also a fragment of a terra-cotta figure similar to those from the altar of mound 4.
Six post-holes were found, symmetrically arranged. The posi- tions of these are shown by the small circles in the plan. They
d
FIGURE 6 Objects found with skeleton in Trench d: a, Chipped knives; b, Flaked knife; c, Beaver tooth chisel; d. Cut jaw of wolf. (About 1/2.)
were about 3 feet in depth. The smallest was 7 inches, and the largest was 12 inches in diameter. They may have formed a part of the supporting timbers of a large structure. Near the southern edge of the black soil, in the western part of the trench, portions of
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HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
a skeleton were found which had apparently been disturbed by cultivation. Only a few fragments of the skull were unearthed, and these showed contact with fire. With the bones were nine undisturbed flint knives lying together, figure 6, a. Seven were leaf-shaped, and two had shallow side notches. Five of these flint knives were in a row, points to the north. Above these were four others, with points to the south. There were found also with the bones, a flaked knife, b; the cut lower jaw of a gray wolf, d; and a beaver tooth chisel, c.
At the time of the exploration of mound 1, a trench was carried into the embankment just north of its eastern opening. A hearth
FIGURE 7
Elevated Circle and Graded Way, looking nearly west. Mound 12 is shown in the distance to the right of the center.
or stratum of burnt limestones, 6 to 10 inches deep, and about 30 feet wide, formed its base at this point. Dr. Metz writes as follows regarding its composition in the vicinity of this excavation:
The northeastern section of the embankment for a distance of 300 feet was composed of ashes, charcoal, burnt limestone, and earth, in which were in- numerable fragments of chipped points, implements, pottery, and burnt bone, also many perfect implementa, beads, etc. This part of the embankment was a great place to make surface finds, and many specimens were gathered by collectors.
The Elevated Circle. This is situated on what was originally an oblong elevation or table-land, formed by a detached portion of the first river terrace, about 2-5 of a mile long and 550 feet broad near its center. The central portion of this terrace (see plate 1, and figures 2 and 7) had been made into a circular elevation by
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TURNER GROUP OF EARTHWORKS
cutting two deep ditches in the form of segments of circles through the hill. According to Whittlesey's measurements, these trenches were 70 to 85 feet broad at the top, and 12 to 18 feet deep. The top of the elevation was 25 to 30 feet above the field of the great enclosure. The greater portion of the earth taken from these great trenches had undoubtedly been used to form the graded way, which connected the elevated circle with the great enclosure. Probably a part of it was also used in the construction of the circular embankment upon the elevation.
The embankment forming the elevated circle was, in Whittle- sey's day, about 15 feet across and two feet high. The enclosure formed by this embankment was approximately 482 feet in diame- ter, north and south, and 485 feet, east and west, and contained two mounds. The space between the circle and the edge of the embankment upon which it was built was about 25 feet wide, with a gradual slope outward.
BURIAL PLACES WITHIN THE GREAT ENCLOSURE
General Description. Upon the northwestern side of the great enclosure at the point marked e, plate 1, is a low ridge, which was about a foot in height above the general level of the field. This ridge had been plowed since 1825. Here Dr. Metz had noticed, in various places, small areas covered with flat river stones, which had been disturbed by plowing. This, in connection with the fact that skeletons had been unearthed when the road leading across the ridge to the river was made, led to the conclusion that it was the site of an ancient cemetery. Explorations were begun by Pro- fessor Putnam on September 22, 1886, with the help of two men, and the work was carried on till October 2. During this time graves 1 to 25 were explored. The work was continued in October by Dr. Metz, who opened seven additional graves (26 to 32). The plans and cross-sections are from sketches by these two explorers. In 1889 and 1890, other portions of this burial place were excavated by Mr. Saville, who was then a student with Professor Putnam.
The interments of the uncremated bodies were usually in com- paratively shallow graves, many of which were carefully con- structed and outlined with flat limestones set upright. In some instances, a wall was laid at the head and foot (see plates 4 and 5).
PEABODY MUSEUM PAPERS
VOL. VIII, No. 3, PLATE 3
EXPLORATIONS OF 1886 F. W. PUTNAM AND C. L. METZ
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EXPLORATION OF 1889 M. H. SAVILLE
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EXPLORATION OF 1890 M. H SAVILLE
Burial Place within the Great Enclosure. Its position is shown by the area e, plate 1.
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9-a
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HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
The bottoms of a few of the more carefully made graves were paved with flat stones, and upon this paving the body was ex- tended, usually upon its back. Comparatively few artifacts were found with the skeletons. These, however, were usually of such a nature as to show conclusively that the burials were contemporary with the people who built these mounds and enclosures. The graves were usually filled with earth, and covered with one or more layers of limestones, which in some instances extended be- yond the limits of the grave. Other graves were filled with stones. Still others were without the side and end stones. These, however, were usually, but not always, partially or wholly covered with a layer of stones near the surface.
The graves or cineraria containing cremated human remains were usually small excavations outlined, like the larger graves, with flat limestones set upright. They were circular, or in the form of a parallelogram. Occasionally, the ashes and burnt bones of a cremated body were interred in the grave with the ordinary burial. Sometimes elaborate stone cists were constructed for these remains, as in grave 27 (plates 3, and 4, h). Like the large graves, these cineraria were often protected by a layer of stones, at or near the surface. Some of the layers covered much more space than was occupied by the grave itself. At times, the cre- mated remains were placed in a comparatively shallow excavation, and covered with earth, no stones being used in connection with the burial.
A few burnt spaces and beds of ashes were found in the cemetery where bodies may have been burned, but it seems more probable that most of the cremating took place on the site of one of the large mounds, where evidences of long continued and intense fires were abundant. Only a few artifacts were found with the cre- mated burials.
Graves Excavated by F. W. Putnam, 1886. Grave 1.1 This con- tained the skeleton of an adult extended upon its back, head to the west (see plates 3, and 4, e). The grave was outlined with upright limestones. Just north of the skull was a large shell ves- sel; shell beads were at the neck; a spool-shaped ear-ornament of copper rested in each hand; and near the left tibia were found a
1 A few of the more important of these graves are described by Prof. ssor Putnam in the Peabody Museum Reports, Vol. III, pp. 556-562.
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TURNER GROUP OF EARTHWORKS
bead, a copper pin, a flint flake, and two pieces of shell. Within the grave, and near the right hand of the skeleton, rested a pile of burnt human bones, about a foot in diameter.
Grave 2. This small grave contained burnt human bones, and was outlined with eleven flat stones. The inside measurements were: length, 22 inches; width, 11 inches; depth, 10 inches (plate 4, d). The grave was covered with two large flat stones, and
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FIGURE 8
Ceremonial axe blades of cannel coal from Burial Place e, of the Great Enclosure: a, From Grave 12; b, From Grave 8. (1/2.)
several small ones. Two beads and an ornament, all of shell, were found with the bones.
Grave 3. Although covered with stones, and having the general appearance of a grave, this may have been used for another pur- pose. It was about 4 feet in diameter, and had been dug in the gravel to about the same depth. It was filled with black soil, charcoal, and ashes. It had much the appearance of a cache-pit. No human remains were found in it.
Grave 4. A small grave with stones surrounding it. It con- tained the extended skeleton of a child, head to the east.
Grave 5. This was 6} feet long, 33 inches wide, and 20 inches deep, and was outlined with the usual upright stones. Four large flat stones, upon which the body had been placed, nearly covered
PEABODY MUSEUM PAPERS
VOL. VIII, No. 3, PLATE 4
b
d
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Cross-sections of graves containing skeletons or cremated human remains, Burial Place in the Great Enclosure: a, Grave 29; b, Grave 32; c, Grave 7; d, Grave 2; e, Grave 1; f, Grave 24; g, Grave 21; h, Grave 27.
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HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
the bottom of the grave. The body was extended, head to the east. With the bones of each hand lay a spool-shaped ear-orna- ment of copper. At the side of the grave near the left shoulder were two pairs of similar ornaments, and a bone point. At its foot near the southern corner lay a conical stone object, bear teeth ornaments, and a piece of galena. Two of the teeth were inlaid with pearls. Under the large floor-stone near the foot of the grave were several flint flaked knives, and a small copper blade (figure 44, b). Beneath the second floor-stone lay the two discs of a spool- shaped ear-ornament, and a portion of a copper-covered bead. Under the third floor-stone were a copper bead, and a band of thin copper. These objects are shown in plate 6, a.
Grave 6. This was neatly walled, and covered with twenty-one small stones. It contained two skeletons, which are shown in plate 5, b. One extended on its back, skull to the west, and arms lying at full length; left hand over hip, and the right a few inches away from side of hip. The legs had been pushed to one side to make room for the second body, the skull of which was just below the hips of the first. The legs of the second body were somewhat drawn up, extending by the side and partly under the legs of the first. The bodies were both adults, the extended one probably a female, and the other a male. They evidently were interred at the same time.
Grave 7. This is shown beyond grave 6, in plate 5, b. It is surrounded by eleven stones set on edge. Dimensions, 30 by 16 inches. Its bottom was partly covered by seven small stones. It contained burnt human bones, and a much disintegrated tobacco pipe. A cross-section of this grave appears in plate 4, c.
Grave 8. This proved to be a pile of gravel, 9} feet long by 4 feet wide, carefully covered with many stones, 6 to 12 inches in diameter. The surface soil had been cleared away all about the gravel, leaving it in the form of a grave mound, but there were no edge stones. No skeleton was discovered beneath the gravel. To the east of this grave, at a distance of 3 feet, was the edge of a fireplace, 6 feet in diameter, where the clay overlying the gravel had been burned to a depth of 3 or 4 inches.
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