Aside from the mammoth tumulus, itself 69 feet high and 900 feet in circumference, there were originally no fewer than seven mounds situated in the broad plain at the point. None was nearly equal to the one now standing, and the locations of most of the smaller ones are now lost to all excepting a few.
Archaeologists investigating the mound some years ago dug out a skeleton said to be that of a female because of the formation of the bones. The skeleton was seven feet four inches tall and the jawbone would easily fit over the face of a man weighing 160 pounds. That the women of that ancient day were not unlike the woman of today in their liking for finery was evidenced by the articles that were found beside the skeleton of what centuries ago was a “flapper.” Seventeen hundred ivory beads, 500 seashells of an involute species and five copper bracelets were found in the vault. The beads and shells were about the neck and breast of the skeleton while the bracelets were upon the arms.
There was also taken from the mound the skeleton of a man eight feet tall. There were no ornaments beside it. These skeletons were sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.
“Human Bones Found”
At many places near the mound human bones of large size have been found and relics in large number and great variety have been picked up. Many beads found nearby were of porcelain-like substance, and a stone image was found representing a human figure sitting in a cramped position with face and eyes projecting upward and hair knotted in the back of the head. The features of the figure, especially the nose, were distinctly Roman. It is thought to have been a god. The figure disappeared, and its whereabouts are now unknown, but, until recent years, it was among the relics in the mound museum inside the huge pile, which was discontinued some years ago owing to the decay of the walls.
One interesting feature of the excavating was the formation of the ground composing the mound. It resembled the surrounding soil and was sandy until a depth of about eight feet was reached when blue spots were noticed. These increased upon approach to the center until they were so closely laid as to give the soil a clouded appearance. Examination showed that the spots contained bits of bone and ashes which led the investigators to the belief that the entire mound had been built of cremated bodies which builders piled about and upon the vault of the chief and his queen. Others maintain that the mound was the burying place of a chief and his queen and that the mound was constructed by earth taken from a large and regularly shaped basin at no great distance from the mound and piled up a shovel full at a time.
Among the interesting finds made in one of the small mounds were several stone tubes. These were made from a fine lead-blue steatite 12 inches long, 1½ inches in diameter at one end, and 1¼ inch at the other end. The tubes were bored in the manner of a gun barrel to within a short distance of the larger end, and a small aperture was left. The use of these tubes has never been learned but the workmanship is anything but rude.
Charleston Daily Mail, May 2, 1926
SKELETONS IN MOUNDS NEAR TOWN The mound indicated by the cross in the diagram accompanying this article was 312 feet in circumference and 25 feet high. A second growth of timber was then on the mound, the decaying stumps of the first growth being still present. Sinking a shaft in the mound, a large vault was soon disclosed which contained numerous human bones and two entire skeletons. Four feet below the deposit and just below the original level of the ground were found six circular oven shaped pits three feet in diameter and three in depth. Those unearthed were in a semi-circle and it was assumed that the pits extended all the way around the mound. The pits contained a dark substance taken from the remains of indian corn.
The mound indicated at the extreme left of the same row was called the alter mound and was taken to be a connecting link between the mounds of this region and those of Ohio. It was 318 feet in circumference. At the depth of two feet the shaft disclosed a foot layer of clay and ashes, in which two entire skeletons lay horizontally, one immediately aboce the other. The upper and larger one lay with the face down and the lower with the face up, indicating a double burial.
The usual plan of sinking a shaft was followed. Earth and irregular sandstones, some of which made a load for two men, covered a vault seven by four feet in dimensions. In the vault was found a large and much decayed skeleton, wanting the head, which could not be found. A rough spear head was found with the skeleton. The Indian was seven and a half feet tall. It was enclosed in a bark coffin, and was placed on the back with the head towards the east. Six heavy copper bracelets were on each forearm.
Charleston Gazet te, June 15, 1930
Salem Professor Discovers Huge Skeletons in Mounds
Dr. Sutton Believes Tribe of Giants Once Inhabited Doddridge County Section; Data on Exploration Will Go to Smithsonian Institution.
SALEM, June 14-Excavation of two mounds near Morganville, in Doddridge county, about 11 iles west of here revealed what Prof. Ernest Sutton, head of the history department of Salem college, believes is valuable evidence of a race of giants who inhabited this section of West Virginia more than 1,000 years ago.
Professor Sutton revealed tonight that he had been excavating the two mounds for the past several months. Skeletons of four mound builders indicating they were from seven to noine feet tall have been uncovered. Professor Sutton believes they were members of a race known in anthropology as Siouan Indians.
The best preserved skeleton was found enclosed in a casting of clay. All the vertabrae and other bones excepting the skull were intact. Careful measurement of this specimen indicated it was a man seven and a half feet tall.
The Kanawha Spectator , Vol. I, 1953
“The two largest mounds excavated and explored by Colonel Norris were on opposite sides of the
Kanawha. One of them was situated on what was then a farm, belonging to the estate of Colonel
Benjamin H. Smith, where Dunbar is now; and the other was on the Creel farm, now part of South
Charleston. This mound still remains in a small park between MacWorld and Seventh Avenues at ‘D’
Street. At the time of Norris’ explorations there were so many of these mounds in this section,
indicating a once ancient community, that Norris suggested the title of Great Kanawha City as a
suitable name ‘for this ancient hive of people.’
“The excavations made in the Dunbar mound revealed it to be a double storied structure. The
exploration was made by first sinking a vertical shaft through the center of the mound, down to and
slightly below the original surface of the ground. This mound was about 175 feet in diameter and 35
feet high-as high as a modern three-story house. Within the mound were found successive layers of
skeletons, some of them sepulchered in a stone vault, and those nearer the bottom in a large wooden
vault. Some of the beams of the latter were of walnut, and were 12 inches in diameter. “About half way down to the bottom the earth was mixed, for a depth of three or four feet, with
ashes. One skeleton, still enclosed in a coffin made of bark, was in a better state of preservation than
the others.
“Within the large wooden vault, near the bottom layer of earth, lay the principle figure, a huge
skeleton measuring seven and a half feet in length and nineteen inches between the shoulder sockets.
This figure lay prone, the head pointing toward the east. Around this skeleton were four others. Dr.
Hale, who watched some of Colonel Norris’ excavations, states that the irregular positions of these four
skeletons indicated that they had been placed in a standing position, at each of the four corners; and that their irregular heaps suggested to some who saw them ‘the possibility that they may have been buried alive, to accompany their great chief to the happy hunting grounds and land of spirits.’”
The Dunbar Mound, was flanked by two henges, each 666 feet in circumference. The Nephilim Chronicles, A Travel Guide to the Ancien
t Ruins in the Ohio Valley, 2010.
Wisconsin
Janesville Gazette, July 6, 1860
DISCOVERY OF LARGE HUMAN SKELETONS
Buck, of Driesbach City, six miles north of LaCrosse, sends the following account of the discovery of large human skeletons to the Winona Republican: A. L. Jenks, of this place, in prospecting in one of those mounds that are so common in this western country; discovered at the depth of five or six feet, the remains of seven or eight people of very large size.
One thigh bone measured three feet in length. The under jaw was one inch wider than that of any man in this city. He also found clam shells, pieces of ivory or bone rings, pieces of kettles made of earth and coarse sand. There were at the neck of one of these skeletons, teeth two inches long by onehalf to three-fourths of an inch in diameter, with holes drilled into the sides, and the end polished, with a crease around it. Also an arrow five inches long by one and a half wide, stuck through the back bone, and one about eight inches long stuck into the left breast. Also the blade of copper hatchet, one and one-half inch wide and two inches long. This hatchet was found stuck in the skull of the same skeleton. The mound is some two hundred feet above the surface of the Mississippi and is composed of clay, immediately above the remains, two feet thick; then comes a layer of loam, then another layer of clay six inches thick, all closely packed that it was with difficulty that it could be penetrated. There are some four or five different layers of earth above the remains. There is no such clay found elsewhere in this vicinity.
Daily Northwestern , July 13, 1891
RELICS OF THE CAVE
The Skeletons Unearthed at Clifton
POSSIBLY THOSE OF THE MOUUND BUILDERS
Remains Discovered on the East Shore of Lake Winnebago Supposed to Belong to a Pre-Historic Race-The Evidence Presented-An Antiquarian Expected to Make an Investigation of Calumet's Big Mounds
The recent discovery of skeletons at Clifton has attracted a great deal of interest throughout the sate. In the town of Harrison. Calumet county, on the east side of Lake Winnebago, is on a piece of land that contains as many as fifty mounds-nearly all being perfect images of men with outstretched arms, but of gigantic proportions. A number of ridges run through this property, off which are these mounds. A portion of the property is owned by A. W. Miller of Milwaukee [...]
The length of the mound from which this skeleton was taken is 12 feet and the width of the outstretched arm 5 feet [...]
The skeleton has a tremendous chin, a high forehead, an extraordinarily large humorous bone, the elbow joint [...] strong in proportion. A well posted gentleman says that the skeleton is different in every way from that of an Indians. The Indians have prominent cheek bones: these are not. The Indian lived from the result of the hunt” everything about the head of this skeleton shows its possessor to have been a vegetarian. The remaining teeth are solidly set in. It is probable that the man, of which only these crumbled bones remain, was nearly 7 feet tall. It is worthy of study
New York Times, August 9, 1891
THE WISCONSIN MOUNDS
Elaborate Systems of Defensive Works-Madison the Centre Of An Ancient Race Their Burial Places And Their Weapons
MADISON, Wis., Aug 9-The largest prehistoric work in this state heretofore described, and of which the Smithsonian Institution has published a complete report, is Fort Aztalan, near Lake Mills, so named from the pyramidal mounds found there, which greatly resemble those found in Mexico. But without doubt the most stupendous and elaborate system of defensive works in the State are found in the vicinity of this city. The celebrated mounds of Ohio and Indiana can bear no comparison either in size, design, or the skill displayed in their construction with these gigantic and mysterious monuments of earth-erected we know not by whom, and for what purposes we can only conjecture. That the unknown race was semi-civilized is certain, as art of a high type flourished among them. Carving in stone, especially was brought to a high degree of perfection. The art of weaving and dying cloth was known and practiced, the colar used being invariably red.
Madison was in ancient days the centre of a teeming population numbering not less than 200,000 souls. It is situated on the northern end of a chain of five lakes, between Lakes Mendota and Monona, and extending south to Lake Wingra. It is built on a chain of hills which slope gently down to the water's edge or end of high bluffs. This was the mound builders paradise in bygone ages, and the region has lost none of its natural beauty.
On the land of Gearge Catterson, seven miles south of Madison, is a prehistoric foret. It occupies the summit and southeast side of a huge hill overlooking Lake Kegonsa. It is bounded on the east by a marsh and the cliffs of the lake on the south. It is undoubtedly a strong position for defense. The fort is square in shape. Its four outer walls are each 400 feet in length, and from the center of each side high walls, 800 feet long, stretch out. Inside the fort, about ten feet from the first of breastworks, extends a second parallel to the others. In this line gates were left in the corners, and these were protected by round mounds, the tops of which show evidence of fire, for a few inches below the surface are found quantities of charcoal. In the centre are three mounds in a direct line, connected with each other by a thin bank of earth. The tops of these mounds are sunken showing that they served the purpose of “ caches” being hollow, but in the lapse of ages the tops have caved in.
Scattered about inside the second line are six rows of earthworks about twenty feet long. A group of seventeen burial mounds occupied the northeast corner of the fort, arranged in the shape of a turtle. Two of these were opened and interesting finds made. In the first mound opened a layer of forest mold six inches in thickness was first removed; then seven feet of yellow clay was penetrated and a thick bed of ashes and charcoal, in which were scattered arrow heads of flint, and pottery prettily ornamented in various patterns was brought to light. Below this was a foot of clay so hardened by the fiores as to turn the edge of the spade. Beneath this was a rudely made coffin off large flat stones probably brought from the lake.
Upon being opened this coffin was found to contain a large sized skeleton in a sitting posture, the earth within the coffin having held it in shape. The hardened clay above prevented the least moisture from entering thus preserving the bones in fairly good condition. At the side of the body was found a curiously-carved pipe in shape resembling a human head with peculiar characters rudely cut on the sides. Near the right hand was an axe of banded slate in the form of an ancient double edged battle axe, a number of arrow heads and a gorget of slate.
In opening a new road through the hill a landslide occurred exposing a hollow place about six feet square, which contained the skeleton of a person who must have been a giant in his day. Beneath the hand was an axe of synenite, finished with great skill and very nicely polished and grooved, which weighed five pounds.
12th Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution
1890-1891
Sheboygan County
There are some scattering mounds on the hills bordering the Sheboygan marshes on the north. These are usually isolated, simple conical tumuli, though some are in irregular groups on elevated situations. The only one opened (the rest had been previously explored) was situated on a sandy ridge half a mile north of the marsh and 100 feet above it. It was about 50 feet in diameter at the base and 5 feet high. After passing through 18 inches of surface soil the central mass was struck, which appeared to be composed of earth mingled with fire beds, charcoal, ashes, and loose stones. Near the center of this mass, at the bottom of the mound, a large human skeleton in a sitting posture was discovered, apparently holding between its hands and knees a large clay vessel, unfortunately in fragments. These were covered over by large an irregular layer of flat boulders.
The New North, ( Rhinelander) July 23, 1908
GIANT SKELETON FOUND
Massive Human Bones and Indiana Relics Unearthed Near Pelican Lake.
That human beings of enormo
us size inhabited this section od the country ages ago was proven last Sunday, when the massive skeleton of an Indian was unearthed near Pelican Lake.
The interesting discovery was made by Geo. Patton and L. H. Eaton, two Chicago tourist, who are spending the summer there. For several days the men noticed a mound on their travels through the woods and at last led by curiosity decided to excavate it. Procuring spades they fell to work and after digging down to a depth of about four feet were surprised to find the bones of a large human foot protruding through the earth. Digging further they gradually uncovered the perfect frame of a giant. The skeleton was nearly eight feet in height and the arms extended several inches below the hips. Buried with the bones were numerous stone weapons and trinkets. Among these were a curious stone hatchet, a copper knife, several strange copper rings and a necklace made of the tusks of some prehistoric animal. The skeleton is no doubt that of an Indian who was one of a tribe of giants who roamed this part of the state over one thousand years ago.
Last year near Monico, there was unearthed the bones of a human arm three feet in length. This former discovery goes to show that the Pelican Lake giant was not alone on earth. The Chicago men will present the skeleton to some geological museum.
The New York Times, May 4, 1912
STRANGE SKELETONS FOUND
Indications That Tribe Hithero Unknown Once Lived in Wisconsin.
MADISON, Wis., May 3.- The discovery of several skeletons of human beings while excavating a mound at Lake Delvan indicates that heretofore unknown race of men once inhabited Southern Wisconsin. Information of the discovery was brought to Madison today by Maurice Morrisey, of Delavan, who came here to attend a meeting of the Republican State Central committee. Curator Charles E. Brown of the State Historical Museum will investigate the discoveries within a few days.
The Nephilim Chronicles: Fallen Angels in the Ohio Valley Page 41