Miscellaneous Papers Relating to Anthropology/Exploration of a Mound Near Braceville, Trumbull County, Ohio
EXPLORATION OF A MOUND NEAR BRACEVILLE, TRUMBULL COUNTY, OHIO.
By S. N. Luther, of Garrettsville, Ohio.
Recently, in company with Mr. O. Baldwin, I explored an ancient mound on the estate of the late Nathan Humphrey, esq., situated one-third of a mile southeast from the center of Braceville, Trumbull County, Ohio. Miss E. B. Humphrey, who now has charge of the estate, informed me that the mound was formerly covered with a growth of heavy timber, which was cleared from it by her father many years ago, and that grading and the process of cultivation have reduced it from not less than 10 feet in altitude to its present height of 4£ feet. It is situated on a terrace a few feet above the alluvial bottom of the Mahoning River.
The length due east and west is 75 feet, and the breadth about 60 feet. It is elliptical in form, composed of the dark sandy loam which surrounds it, and in several places has been considerably disturbed by previous explorers and by the burrowing of woodchucks. We commenced by digging trenches from the east and south sides toward the center, somewhat below the base of the mound. In the eastern portion we found the remains of five bodies, a short distance from each other. Except the crania and fragments of the long bones, nothing could be saved, barely enough remaining to define the position in which they lay. Of the crania two were saved in fair condition. With two others we were not so successful, though enough was preserved for several measurements. The fifth was so frail that no portion of it had escaped decay. The bodies were usually buried with the head to the west, though in. one case this order was reversed, the head lying to the east. Near the latter were a quantity of very bright-red ocher, pieces of pottery, and at a short distance a stone pipe of peculiar construction. Many bright fragments of stone, a few arrow-heads, and flakes of chert were found in the process of excavation. Throughout the undisturbed portion of the base, and about 1 foot from the original soil, a very hard layer of earth was discovered, 2 inches in thickness, beneath which were the skeletons. It is stated that a tier of skeletons were obtained by removing the upper part, and that many relics have been secured, but the persons who made the excavations being inaccessible, I cannot obtain authentic information of their observations.
Measurements of the crania.—No. 1, the best preserved skull, is that of an old person. Length, 7.05 inches; vertical height (inside measure), 4.92 inches; occipito-frontal arch, 13.09 inches; parietal diameter, 5.68 inches; horizontal circumference, 20.35 inches; cephalic index, .8056.
No. 2 is that of a young person (the wisdom teeth only partly through the process). Length, 6.90 inches; vertical height (inside measure), 5.10 inches; occipito-frontal arch, 14.45 inches; parietal diameter, 5.45 inches; horizontal circumference, 20.25 inches; cephalic index, .7898.
No. 3. Length, 7.07 inches; vertical height (inside measure), 5 inches; occipito-frontal arch, 13.30 inches; parietal diameter, 5.45 inches; horizontal circumference, 20.50 inches; cephalic index, .7708.
No. 4. Length, 7 inches; parietal diameter, 5.70 inches; cephalic index, .8143.
Three-fourths of a mile west of Hiram, Portage County, I examined a stone structure to which my attention had been called several times by persons who supposed it to be a place of burial. On viewing it, I found an annular pile of sandstone nearly 3 feet high, inclosing a space 10 feet in diameter, with an outer diameter of 25 feet, making a wall 5 feet in width: When the center was excavated, ashes and charcoal were found to the depth of 3 feet, the wall showing the action of much fire. The entire absence of bones and other kitchen refuse, with the elevated location, led to the inference that this was a signal station. It is one of the highest points on the Western Reserve, and commands a view of over 30 miles to the east, and also a portion of the Cuyahoga River on the west.
There is quite an important cemetery in the extreme southeast part of Geauga County, 2 miles southeast from the village of Parkman. The graves were mostly constructed of flat stones, placed on edge at the sides and ends. They are paved and covered with the same flagging stones found at the Grand River, which is not distant. Over these were piled loose stones. The location is a side hill, with a descent to the east. In one place the graves extended several rods up the hill in a line, in such a manner that the foot of one grave made the head of the next, and were all covered by a continuous pile of loose stone. This burial-place has been almost entirely despoiled by the persistent efforts of relic-seekers. I can learn of no implements of special interest that were found here. Those obtained consist of the commoner forms of chert, with celts, grooved axes, &c.