Proceedings of the New York Historical SocietyPress of the Historical Society., 1849 - New York (State) |
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aboriginal Albany Alonzo Manuel Peon American ancient Annual Report antiquities Archbishop of Cambray ARCHIBALD RUSSELL Avon BARTLETT Big Conesus bones Brodhead Buffalo cabinet Campbell Canada Cash received Catalogue Cayugas collection Conesus copy corresponding member De-o-don-sot defences deposited documents Domestic Secretary Don Alonzo Manuel donations E. G. Squier East Bloomfield embankment enclosures Erie Counties Executive Committee feet Fénélon fire Foreign Corresponding Secretary French Genesee gentleman Greenhow heretofore implement Indian interesting Iroquois January JOHN RUSSELL BARTLETT labors Lake Ontario last annual meeting letter from O. H. Librarian Library Madam Catalina Schuyler Manuscripts Maps Mary Jemison memoir mentioned ments mound newspapers notice O. H. Marshall Ontario County original palisades papers Philip Schuyler possession presented and read published referred remains resolution Secre Senecas shelves Society's Squier stream subscription terrace tion town traced Treasurer tribes valuable villages volumes W. H. C. HOSMER Western New York Wetmore WILLIAM York Historical Society
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Page 46 - They are, however, for the most part, comparatively small, varying from one to four acres, — the largest not exceeding sixteen acres in area. The embankments, too, are slight, and the ditches shallow ; the former seldom more than four feet in height, and the latter of corresponding proportions. The work most distinctly marked exists in the town of Oakfield, Genesee county ; it measures, in some places, between seven and eight feet from the bottom of the ditch to the top of the wall. In some cases...
Page 60 - I am driven to a conclusion little anticipated when I started upon my trip of exploration, that the earth-works of Western New York were erected by the Iroquois or their western neighbors, and do not possess an antiquity going very far back of the discovery.
Page 43 - Some detached facts have also been presented in local histories and publications, but usually in so loose and vague a manner as to be of little value for purposes of comparison and research. The observations of all these authorities were merely incidental, and were limited in their range. By none were presented plans, from actual surveys, of any of the ancient works of the State ; a deficiency which, it is evident, could not be supplied by descriptions, however full and accurate, and without which...
Page 56 - In respect to date nothing positive can be affirmed. Many of them are now covered with heavy forests ; a circumstance upon which too much importance has been laid, and which in itself may not necessarily be regarded as indicative...
Page 44 - I believe, by every succeeding writer upon the subject of our antiquities, without any attempt to verify the assumption upon which it rests. I have, however, found that the works occur indiscriminately upon the first and upon the superior terraces, as also upon the islands of the lakes and rivers. Misled by statements which no opportunity was afforded of verifying, I have elsewhere, though in a guarded manner, ventured the opinion that the ancient remains of western New York belonged to the same...
Page 58 - I am aware that the remnants of the Indian stock which still exist in the State, generally profess total ignorance of these works. I do not, however, attach much importance to this circumstance. When we consider the extreme likelihood of the forgetfulness of ancient practices, in the lapse of three hundred years, the lack of knowledge upon this point is the weakest of all negative evidence. Cusick, the Indian, in his so-called "History of the Six Nations," has, no doubt, correctly described the manner...
Page 41 - ... fires, and by the few rude relics which the plough of the invader exposes to his curious gaze. Their cemeteries, marked in very rare instances by enduring monuments, are now undistinguishable, except where the hand of modern improvement encroaches upon the sanctity of the grave. The forest trees, upon the smooth bark of which the Indian hunter commemorated his exploits in war, or success in the chase — the first rude efforts towards a written language — have withered in the lapse of time,...
Page 47 - ... never could have been designed for any such purpose. They are usually from three to four, but sometimes from six to eight feet in depth, and of proportionate size at the top. Their purposes become sufficiently evident upon excavation. They were the caches in which the former occupants of these works deposited their stores. Parched corn, now completely carbonized by long exposure, is to be discovered in considerable abundance in many of them. Instances fell under my notice where it had been found...
Page 41 - ... embraced within the limits of New England and the Middle States have left few monuments to attest their former presence. The fragile structures which they erected for protection and defence have long ago crumbled to the earth ; and the sites of their ancient towns and villages are indicated only by the ashes of their long-extinguished fires, and by the few rude relics which the plough of the invader exposes to his curious gaze. Their cemeteries, marked in very rare instances by enduring monuments,...
Page 54 - At the base appeared to have been a circle of stones, perhaps ten feet in diameter, within which were several small heaps of bones, each comprising three or four skeletons. The bones are of individuals of all ages, and had evidently been deposited after the removal of the flesh. Traces of fire were to be discovered upon the stones. Some chippings of flint and broken arrow-points, as also some fragments of deers' horns, which appeared to have been worked into form, were found amongst the bones.